Two Edmonds CC athletics leaders advance to new positions

Two of Edmonds Community College’s athletics leaders have advanced to new positions at the college –– Jorge de la Torre, former athletics director, has been named Dean of Student Success/Student Life and Development, and Spencer Stark, former associate athletics director, has been named Athletics Director.

Jorge de la Torre

About de la Torre

De la Torre served as the college’s athletic director for nearly five years before taking on his new role as Dean of Student Success/Student Life and Development on Jan. 3.

In his new position, de la Torre oversees the college’s Center for Families, housing, athletics, and the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership (CSEL).

Since January, de la Torre has settled into his new position, which he said came with a bit of a learning curve, so he’s spent time getting to know each department’s functions, needs, issues, and means of funding. 

De la Torre said he was up for the challenge, and it’s been a fun transition after being in athletics for nearly 18 years. 

“I’d been in athletics for a long time, since 1999, and I think I accomplished a lot,” de la Torre said. “Now, I’m trying to branch out into different areas of the college, and there’s some exciting things coming up in this department, including the new Diversity Student Center opening fall quarter.”

The new multicultural center will be four times its current size and will offer expanded student success services, and new services like a reflection room with space for the campus community to pray, meditate, or reflect; state of the art mediation offering multicultural film screenings; cultural displays created by Edmonds CC students; and others.

Over the next couple of years, de la Torre is looking forward to the college expanding its housing and, long-term, being a part of bringing a newly-constructed, up-to-date gymnasium to campus with a new weight room and fitness center, which he said is critical for recruiting top athletes. Seaview Gym, the college’s current facility, was built in 1977. 

“Those are three things that are on my future agenda,” he said. 

De La Torre has a bachelor’s degree in history from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in sport management from University of San Francisco. 

About Stark

Spencer Stark served as the college’s associate athletic director for nearly five years and oversaw game management, rentals, student-employment, facilities upkeep, and scheduling. He will now serve as Edmonds CC’s Athletic Director and also as a Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) Men’s Commissioner.

Spencer Stark

“Spencer is a great fit as the athletic director at Edmonds CC,” said Jorge de la Torre, dean for Student Success/Student Life and Development and former athletic director. “Spencer has an extensive background in athletics and in the community college system.

“He is dedicated to serving our students, our college, and the community. I believe he will take Edmonds CC Athletics to a new level of success.”

Stark brings many years of experience to the athletic director position. He played baseball for two years at Olympic College before transferring to play at York College in Nebraska. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management there, and later earned a master’s degree in sports administration at Concordia University Irvine.

After college, he returned to OC as an assistant baseball coach and served as the athletic specialist/recreation director for four years before coming to Edmonds CC.

“I would like to thank Jorge de la Torre and Christina Castorena for this incredible opportunity to lead Triton Athletics," Stark said. "I’m very passionate about the holistic development of our student-athletes, and I’m excited to continue to work with our outstanding coaching staff.

“We are going to work hard everyday to create the best student-athlete experience in the NWAC and positively represent our college and community. Our teams will compete with class."

Stark’s new duties include providing administrative direction and oversight for all intercollegiate programs at the college, as well as the intramural programs, facilities, and activities. He is responsible for ensuring compliance with NWAC, federal, divisional, and college athletics regulations; administering departmental funds and accounts in a fiscally responsible manner; and sustaining a culture of sportsmanship, inclusion, professionalism, and respect at all levels.

Stark took over as athletics director April 1.