By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University women's soccer Head Coach Hillary Arthur has been chosen as a finalist in the NCAA Division III LGBTQ One Team Awards program. Arthur is among 10 finalists for the NCAA Division III LGBTQ Administrator/Coach/Staff of the Year Award. 

The Administrator/Coach/Staff of the Year Award honors the service, leadership, and promotion of LGBTQ inclusion by an LGBTQ athletics administrator, coach, or staff member. Winners of the One Team Awards will be notified in November and honored at the virtual NCAA Convention in January of 2021.

"I'm honored and humbled to have been nominated for the 2020 NCAA Division III LGBTQ Administrator/Coach/Staff of the Year Award," Arthur commented. "Creating space and lifting the voices of our LGBTQ+ and underrepresented students and student-athletes is very important to me. Living my life as my authentic self hasn't been easy, it's been a journey and I thank those who have helped me and continue to support me. I hope that I can be that support and advocate for our students and student-athletes here at Willamette."

"Our department is grateful to have Coach Arthur as a partner and a leader in LGBTQ+ inclusion," Associate AD/SWA Leslie Shevlin said. "I personally value the partnership I have with Coach Arthur and her willingness to share her voice in our department and on campus. She truly wants each and every one of our student-athletes to have a great experience at Willamette University. We are lucky to have her working to create space where the voices of our LGBTQ+ student-athletes and coaches can be heard now and in the future."

Arthur is in her 13th year as the head women's soccer coach at Willamette. Over the past 12 seasons, she has led the team 107 victories and her teams have achieved third place finishes in the Northwest Conference five times (2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019).

"Serving on the Trans* Advocacy Committee here at Willamette has provided me the opportunity to meet and work with remarkable and inspiring students, staff, and faculty, of which I'm very grateful," Arthur said. "In the spring of 2019, I attended the NCAA Inclusion Forum in Atlanta, Georgia, which really helped to galvanize and springboard the direction I wanted to take my team for the Fall 2019 season.

"In Fall 2019, our motto and hashtag was #ICEU (I SEE U) ... I = Inclusion, C = Community, E = Excellence, U = United," Arthur continued. "Our motto was all about inclusion, and really seeing each other and embracing and supporting one another as individuals, students, athletes, and teammates. Also, in Fall 2019 we dedicated one of our home games to the United Soccer Coaches initiative "Play With Pride" where we honored our LGBTQ+ students, student-athletes, staff, and faculty.

"I'm also involved with the United Soccer Coaches LGBTQ+ Allies and Advocacy Group, which is committed to helping all members of the United Soccer Coaches Association learn the importance of inclusion," Arthur added.

The Bearcats earned an 11-7-2 overall record and a 10-4-2 mark in the NWC in 2019-20. Willamette shut out eight opponents on its way to a 0.90 goals against average. The offense scored 27 goals. Willamette finished 2018 with a 12-4-4 overall record while earning 10 shutouts. The Bearcats completed 2017 with a 13-4-3 overall record and were ranked #7 in the West Region of NCAA Division III.

Arthur was named NWC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year in 2011. During that season, Willamette achieved an 11-8-1 record, including 10-5-1 in the NWC.