Sonia Hahn Named Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer for CSUN Athletics
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - CSUN Director of Athletics Shawn Chin-Farrell has announced the hiring of Sonia Hahn as Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer. Hahn will also serve as CSUN's Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) with oversight of several sport programs in addition to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, among other duties.
"We are thrilled to have Sonia Hahn join the Matador team," Chin-Farrell said. "We got better today. She brings to CSUN a wealth of experience and knowledge of the college athletics landscape, and her presence on campus will strengthen our student-athletes, staff, faculty and community."
Hahn comes to CSUN from Southern Utah University, where she most recently served as Thunderbirds' Deputy Athletic Director for Competitive Excellence/Senior Woman Administrator/Chief Diversity Officer. Initially hired to be the Associate Athletics Director for Sports Administration Hahn was promoted in 2019 to her most recent position.
In her role, Hahn served as the athletics representative for the Title IX committee, Equity and Inclusion Executive Committee, and the Clery Advisory Compliance Committee on campus. In addition, she was the direct sports administrator for Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Volleyball, Softball, and Track & Field/Cross Country.
Additionally, she had oversight of the Southern Utah strength and conditioning performance center, and the media/marketing/communications department.
"Words cannot express how thankful I am to Shawn for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to build an awesome culture that supports the well-being and the positive experience of our student-athletes," said Hahn. "I knew from my first phone conversation with Shawn that his vision and leadership for the student-athletes was the perfect fit for me and that was confirmed when I stepped on campus and met all the awesome CSUN Athletics staff. The support and camaraderie everyone has for each other are overwhelmingly evident, and I look forward to working with everyone in athletics and on the campus side of CSUN."
A former tennis student-athlete at the University of Kentucky, Hahn earned ITA All-America honors in both singles and doubles in 1987 and 1988. Hahn's career highlights include the 1987 ITA National Indoors Champion in singles, 1987 SEC Singles Champion and conference player of the year, 1987 University of Kentucky female athlete of the year, 1987 Gold medalist at the Pan American Games, and 1987 Bronze medalist at the World University Games.
Following her outstanding career as a student-athlete, Hahn became the Co-Head Women's Tennis Coach at the University of Tennessee, a position she held from 1997 to 2016. During her time at the helm of the Volunteers' program, she was named the ITA National Coach of the Year and SEC Co-Head Coach of the Year in 2002, in addition to earning the title of Ohio Valley Region Co-Head Coach of the Year.
Hahn led the Vols to NCAA tournament appearances in 16 of her 19 years with the program, including Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four finishes.
After her time at Tennessee, Hahn was named the head coach of the women's tennis program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2016. Hahn had a highly successful run with the Vaqueros that included a Western Athletic Championship in 2018 in a season where she was named Coach of the Year for the conference.
"Sonia has the unique experience of being a student-athlete, a coach, and an administrator at the collegiate level," added Chin-Farrell. "She has mentored hundreds of student-athletes throughout her coaching and administrative career, and we can't wait for Sonia to get started at CSUN and for our student-athletes, coaches and staff to be the beneficiaries of her commitment, expertise, and energy."
A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Hahn received her bachelor of arts degree in communications in 1989.
#UniteTheValley
Latest Athletics
- Matty Awards Honor CSUN Student-Athletes in Year-End CelebrationNORTHRIDGE, Calif. - CSUN celebrated the best of Matador Athletics on Monday night (May 5) as CSUN student-athletes and staff gathered at Pinstripes in Woodland Hills for the second annual Matty Awards and Senior Sash Ceremony.
- CSUN Celebrates Scholar-Athletes at 43rd Annual Varsity N CeremonyNORTHRIDGE, Calif. - CSUN Athletics celebrated the academic excellence of 130 student-athletes at the 43rd annual Varsity N Athletics Honor Roll Ceremony on Wednesday evening (April 30).
- CSUN Men's Volleyball Honors Most Valuable Professors on Apr. 4NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - In the sixth MVP (Most Valuable Professor) Day of the 2024-25 academic year, the Matador Men's Volleyball team paid tribute to 12 CSUN professors on Feb. 22 at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
- CSUN Announces Leadership Transition in AthleticsNORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The University has announced a leadership transition within CSUN Athletics. Director of Athletics Shawn Chin-Farrell is no longer with the University. We thank him for his service to CSUN and our student athletes and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Former CSUN Provost and VP for Academic Affairs Mary Beth Walker has been appointed to serve as Acting Director of Athletics. The University will commence a search for its next Director of Athletics immediately.
- CSUN Inducts 2025 Hall of Fame ClassWOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – CSUN Athletics inducted its first Hall of Fame class in seven years on Friday, February 28, as three individuals and one team were honored at a dinner and ceremony at the Warner Center Marriott.
- Men's and Women's Basketball Honors CSUN Faculty on MVP DayNORTHRIDGE, Calif. - In the fourth and fifth MVP (Most Valuable Professor) Days of the 2024-25 academic year, the CSUN men's and women's basketball teams paid tribute to 38 professors on their respective MVP Days (Feb. 22, Mar. 1) at Premier America Credit Union Arena.