In an email sent to students on December 10, 2024, President Jenifer Ward announced that Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Head Softball Coach Renae Hartl will be stepping down as athletic director but will continue with the Norse as head softball coach.
Luther College will start an external search for a new athletics director in January, and Hartl will continue in her current position until a new candidate is selected. When that happens, Hartl will be the associate athletics director for facilities development, as well as the senior woman administrator and head coach of the softball program.
“It’s been an honor to lead the athletics department over the past decade,” Hartl said. “I am so thankful to former President [Richard] Torgerson and former Athletic Director Joe Thompson for giving me an opportunity as an interim early in my career, and both former President [Paula] Carlson and President Ward for trusting, leading and mentoring me the last ten years. This was a difficult decision, but one that I made. I’m extremely proud of the achievements and improvements that were made for all our Luther Norse teams.”
Under Hartl’s leadership, Luther College athletics added three new sports, re-turfed Carlson Stadium, renovated the Robert and Ann Naslund Sports and Recreational Center and began the process of remodeling the Regents Center into the Gerdin Fieldhouse for Athletics and Recreation.
“From the time of my arrival at Luther, I’ve had tremendous respect for the work Renae has performed in her dual appointment,” Ward said. “On behalf of Luther College, I want to express our thanks to her for her tireless work leading the Norse while still providing championship-level coaching to our softball team. Higher education, including Division III collegiate sports, is in a state of rapid change and increasing complexity. Going forward, a program as large and robust as the Luther Norse will have an administrator with undivided focus, and our softball team can continue to build on its extraordinary reputation with its accomplished and long-serving coach at the helm.”
