STOCKTON, Calif. – Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Cherise Roberts announced the hire of Gretchen Hoekstre as an assistant coach on Monday afternoon.

"I am so excited to get to work with Gretchen!" Roberts said. "From the moment I first met her, she brought this energy that I wanted to be around. I was overwhelmed with excitement to have her come be a part of this team."

Hoekstre, a native of Seaside, Oregon, brings a plethora of success from BYU where she holds the school record in the discus with a throw of 57.04m/187-2 at the 2024 NCAA West Preliminary Round.

"I can't wait to take advantage of this incredible opportunity I've been given to be the first throws coach at University of the Pacific," Hoekstre said.  I'm excited to work with Coach Roberts to make this program as competitive as possible and build a precedence of hard work and success."

Earning All-America Honorable Mention honors twice while as a Cougar, Hoekstre excelled in the throwing department where she earned 22nd place at both the 2024 and 2025 NCAA outdoor championships in discus and placed 24th in 2025 in the shot put with a distance of 15.88m/52-1.25.

Further to her collegiate accolades at BYU, Hoekstre is No. 2 all-time in the outdoor shot put, throwing 17.46 m/53-7.5 and in the indoor shot put with a distance 17.17 m/56-4. Hoekstre was named the BYU Field Rookie of the Year in 2021.

Hoekstre graduated from BYU in 2025 with her bachelor's degree in exercise and wellness.

#PacificProud