Gretchen LeVan is headed into her tenth year as Director of Athletics at the University of Valley Forge, where she has become one of the most consequential figures in the institution's athletic history. A lifelong Patriot at heart — having first attended Valley Forge as a student-athlete in 2003 — LeVan brings an unmatched combination of institutional knowledge, competitive experience, and visionary leadership to the helm of the department.
Appointed to the role in January 2017 after serving as Associate Director of Athletics for nearly five years, LeVan immediately set about reshaping the identity and infrastructure of Patriot athletics. Among her first acts was the creation of a new departmental mission statement, vision statement, and a framework of core pillars that continue to guide the program. She also authored the Patriot Way, a comprehensive student-athlete handbook that codifies the values, expectations, and culture of Patriot athletics.
One of LeVan's most significant achievements came on July 1, 2020, when she successfully shepherded the University of Valley Forge into full core membership in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) — a landmark transition for the institution. Prior to this milestone, Valley Forge had held associate-member status in the CSAC for baseball only, while competing across nine other varsity sports in the American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). In fall 2023, the CSAC merged with a peer conference to form the United East, further elevating the competitive landscape in which Patriot student-athletes compete.
LeVan's tenure has been defined by deliberate, sustainable growth. She spearheaded the establishment of a formal athletic recruitment strategy and created the Patriot All-Academic Team, an initiative that recognizes student-athletes who exemplify excellence in the classroom. In 2021, she oversaw the addition of Men's Volleyball as a varsity sport, expanding competitive opportunities for Valley Forge students. Most recently, in 2025, LeVan elevated both Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field to full varsity status — bringing the department's total to 12 active varsity programs and marking another milestone in the continued growth of Patriot athletics.
LeVan has long championed the holistic student-athlete experience, understanding that success in competition and success in the classroom are inseparable. That philosophy produced tangible results in fall 2018, when the athletic department recorded a collective 3.24 GPA — the highest in department history. In February 2020, she also oversaw a complete redesign of the athletics website, modernizing the department's digital presence and enhancing the visibility of its programs and student-athletes.
Today, LeVan oversees a department of 12 varsity sports, more than 25 coaches, and over 150Â student-athletes. She manages the full athletic budget, recruits and evaluates coaching staff, oversees game-day operations and contract administration, leads the department's fundraising initiatives, and ensures compliance with all university, conference, and national association policies.
LeVan's administrative work is grounded in deep, hands-on experience as a certified healthcare professional and coach. Before her arrival at Valley Forge, she spent four years as a Certified Athletic Trainer at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, where she provided athletic training services across 16 schools and worked as a physician extender in Geisinger Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine alongside hand surgeon Dr. Joel Klena.
LeVan concluded an eleven-season tenure as Head Women's Basketball Coach at Valley Forge following the 2022–23 campaign, leaving behind one of the most accomplished coaching records in program history. Over eleven seasons on the sideline, she compiled 101 wins, posted five double-digit win seasons, led the Patriots to five postseason appearances, and produced a championship that rewrote the program's record books.
The pinnacle of LeVan's coaching career came in the 2017–18 season, when she guided Valley Forge to a 15-9 overall record and the ACAA Conference Championship — earning the program its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. Three Patriots earned all-conference honors that year, including Jhanel Brown's Defensive Player of the Year award. The historic run cemented LeVan's place in Valley Forge athletic lore.
The season prior was equally remarkable. In 2016–17, LeVan engineered a 19-5 record behind a program-record 14-game winning streak. Competing as an NCAA Division III Independent affiliate, the Patriots placed two players on the NCCAA First Team, one on the Second Team, and one with Honorable Mention. Jhanel Brown added a NCCAA 2nd Team All-American honor and Mikala Brinson earned NCCAA 3rd Team All-American recognition. LeVan herself was recognized as Coach of the Year by both the Association of NCAA DIII Independents and the NCCAA Mideast Region.
Beyond wins and losses, LeVan's impact is measured in the student-athletes she developed. During her tenure, she produced four NCCAA Scholar-Athletes (2013–2017), three ACAA All-Academic athletes (2018–2020), and five Patriot All-Academic Athletes (2016–2020). She coached three All-Americans, six players who reached the 1,000-point milestone, and two who achieved the 1,000-rebound milestone — a legacy of excellence both on and off the court.
LeVan additionally coached youth soccer at Phoenixville Soccer Club (2014–2018) and has served as a volunteer women's basketball coach through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the Kutztown, PA area.
LeVan earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008. She went on to complete a Master of Science in Exercise Science at Bloomsburg University, graduating in spring 2009. Before her time in Pittsburgh, LeVan was a student-athlete at Valley Forge (2003–2005), where she earned an Associate of Arts in Bible and distinguished herself as one of the most accomplished athletes in program history.
On the pitch, LeVan was a two-sport standout. As a two-year starter on the Women's Soccer team, she captured the Most Valuable Player award in both seasons and holds the all-time program record with 24 career goals in just 2 years — a mark that still stands. On the hardwood, she was a key contributor to the Women's Basketball team, leading the squad in assists and steals. Her basketball excellence earned her spots on the NCCAA All-Conference and All-Region teams, and she was named Co-Most Valuable Player in her final season. She also received the prestigious Obie L. Harrup Distinguished Honor Award, given annually to a student-athlete who exemplifies character, leadership, and commitment to the Patriot community.
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