Lundvick named Hilo High AD

Sondra Lundvick, a former Division I basketball player with coaching experience at the college and high school ranks, has been named Hilo High’s athletic director.

Hilo High principal Robert Dircks announced Lundvick’s hiring Wednesday. Her first official day on the job is July 1. She takes over the permanent position from Leroy Simms, who retired Oct. 1, 2011, after 11-plus years on the job.

Lundvick was chosen for the position over three other finalists.

“Sondra has a wealth of experience in athletics and coaching at both the high school and collegiate levels,” Dircks said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to work with her and move our athletic department forward. She has a proven record that she can work with others, and we know she’s excited about the challenges that Hilo High offers.”

Dircks said Lundvick will work with interim AD Heidi Pana as the school finalizes its athletic staff and scheduling for the 2012-13 school year.

Lundvick, 40, is thrilled about coming to Hawaii.

“I’ve been to Hawaii on several occasions, working in basketball camps and for vacations,” Lundvick said. “My husband and I were married in Hawaii, in Hana. We love Hawaii and truly believe Hilo is the perfect fit for us.

“I’m really looking forward to working at Hilo High, with Mr. Dircks and Heidi. They’ve made me feel real comfortable, and I’m amazed that the school has so many opportunities for its student-athletes.”

The new Vikings AD believes athletics provide a special incentive for students.

“I’ve been coaching basketball for 18 years,” Lundvick said. “Some of the greatest life lessons come from sports, and the more sports you have, the more opportunities there are for learning valuable lessons.”

As AD, Lundvick won’t be allowed to coach. But she said basketball will always remain a part of her life.

“I may not be coaching, but I’ll be there as a fan or maybe helping out in some other way in the community,” she said.

Lundvick will arrive in Hilo in early June and get ready to assume her new job.

“It’s going to be a learning process,” she said. “I’m going to be getting my feet wet in the school and adjusting to the system. But I look forward to working with the Hilo High staff and the student-athletes, and hopefully continue the Vikings’ outstanding tradition.”

Lundvick was a top-notch student-athlete in high school, carrying a 4.0 grade point average at Orangefield High in Orangefield, Texas, and a 3.79 GPA while earning her bachelor’s degree at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

She later earned master’s degrees in physical education/sport management (Northern Illinois University, 1996) and educational administration (Lamar University 2005).

Lundvick played basketball at Orangefield High and excelled in college at Lamar University. She was a two-year starter at Lamar, helping lead the Cardinals to two conference titles and a trip to the Elite Eight. Lundvick ranked in the top 20 in free throw percentage (90 percent) in 1994.

At Lamar, Lundvick was a four-time all-academic selection, the school’s 1994 Mary Gray Student-Athlete of the Year and a Babe Zaharias Award Finalist.

She later coached basketball as a women’s assistant at Northern Illinois University (1994-98), Texas Christian University (1998-2000) and North Crowley High (2000-01) in Fort Worth.

Lundvick was the head varsity girls coach at Hardin-Jefferson High (2001-02) in Sour Lake, Texas, and Orangefield (2002-07) before returning to Lamar University (2007-09) as the associate head coach.

In 2009, Lundvick accepted a job as an assistant principal/district athletic director with the Annette Islands School District in Metlakatia, Alaska, and remained there until accepting the Hilo High AD position.

Lundvick and her husband, James, have a 2-year-old daughter, Rihana.

“We’re all packed up and ready to come to Hawaii,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for our family, and we look forward to working at Hilo High and becoming a part of the community.”