Knox College Prairie Fire

An integral member of the athletics department for over three decades, Mendrek began her Knox career early in 1968 as the departmental secretary reporting to Dean Trevor, who was nearing the end of his 37-year term as athletics director. Then under Harley Knosher, she had a variety of jobs throughout his time as athletics director up to 2000 — administrative assistant, women’s tennis coach, women’s swimming and diving coach, physical education instructor for golf and assistant athletics director.

As the first women’s tennis coach from 1974-84, she guided the team to eight winning seasons, an overall record of 55-47 and a second-place finish twice at the Associated Colleges of the Midwest Tournament. Her stints as a coach and P.E. instructor were crucial to the establishment of women’s sports at Knox College.