December 11, 2025  

Media Contacts:     
Dr. Diana Garza, Vice President, Student Affairs, 509-682-6805, dgarza@wvc.edu  
Marcine Miller, Executive Director, Public Information Office, 509-682-6582, mmiller2@wvc.edu 

Wenatchee Valley College is pleased to welcome Greg Sparling as the new director of Athletics, Exercise Science, and Recreation. He started in his new role on Dec. 1.  

Sparling will oversee the seven Knights athletic programs; aid in the recruitment, development, and retention of student athletes; and serve as the bridge between WVC Athletics and the community. 

“At WVC, our priority is creating environments where students can thrive, academically, personally, and athletically,” said Dr. Diana Garza, vice president of Student Affairs. “Greg’s commitment to student development and history of building strong, supportive athletic cultures make him an invaluable addition to our team. We look forward to the energy and leadership he will bring to the Knights community. I also want to thank acting Athletic Director Levi Vega and Coach Vaughn for stepping in during this time. They have provided high touch services for our student athletes aiding in a quality experience.” 

WVC invites the community to a meet and greet to welcome Sparling at 1 p.m. on January 17 before the Knights men’s basketball game against Walla Walla Community College, which starts at 2 p.m.  

"I would like to thank President Harrison, Vice President Dr. Garza, and the search committee for this incredible opportunity,” Sparling said. “I also want to thank Levi [Vega] and Aaron [Vaughn] for their leadership of the athletic department. I look forward to working with them and the rest of the coaches, as well as the campus community, local community, current and former student-athletes, and alumni. My goal is to build a strong bond between the athletic department, the campus, and the local community to bring WVC back to its glory days and make people proud to be associated with WVC athletics. I am committed to supporting student-athletes both on the field or court of competition and in the classroom by creating a culture everyone can be proud of." 

Sparling has over 30 years of experience in collegiate athletics, including as head men’s basketball coach at Central Washington University (CWU) and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).   

As part of his role as the Knights athletic director, Sparling has been charged with revitalizing the Knights program through community engagement, fundraising, and recruitment activities. His past experiences at CWU and UAF will support those efforts. As a member of the UAF Gold Rush Committee, he helped raise over $60,000 annually, in addition to raising revenue through basketball camps, a Day of Giving, and university-wide raffle fundraising. 

At CWU, he boosted campus visibility, engagement, and revenue through an annual basketball team camp, and he helped to orchestrate multiple fundraising initiatives, including the Jon Kitna Golf tournament, Day of Giving, and the Hall of Fame Banquet.  

Sparling also took steps to support student athletes to ensure their academic success: he collaborated with academic advisors and faculty to develop retention strategies, secured funding to stock a food pantry for student athletes, and he implemented wellness initiatives and advocated for mental health resources.  

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from CWU, where he also played on the men’s basketball team, and an associate degree from Highline Community College.   

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 Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington and delivers relevant, innovative, and experiential educational opportunities for thriving and healthy communities. Visit our website, wvc.edu.  

Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. 

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses: 

To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources, Wenatchi Hall 2322M, (509) 682-6445, title9@wvc.edu. 

To request disability accommodations: Student Access Director, Wenatchi Hall 2133, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: dial 711, sas@wvc.edu.