Pacific Index

Nick Veach breaks down his role as Director of Athletic Facility Operations and how he got there 

   One thing about Nick Veach that is certain: He knows his way around campus sports. 

   While an undergraduate at Pacific, Veach was an athlete, a formidable linebacker. And he was a student, a Sports Leadership (SLAM) Major. And now, he has combined that background as a student-athlete into a full-time job as Pacific’s Director of Athletic Facility Operations.

   “Originally,” he recalls with a smile, “I wanted to be a history teacher and coach high school football, that was my dream, and then when they came out with the SLAM program I was like ‘Oh, wow, there’s actually a lot more to sports than just coaching and all that stuff.’” 

   Veach switched from a history major to SLAM—for which, part of his requirement for a SLAM major was doing an internship, which he did with the Director of Facilities for Athletic at Pacific. His experience with that internship helped train him with professional skills—and it also impressed the higher-ups in the Athletic Department. 

   Veach graduated in 2024 and moved back home to San Diego, but soon was back in Forest Grove. “(Athletic Director) Keith Buckley called me and said ‘Hey, this position’s open, do you want it?,’ and I was like sure I’ll come back,” Veach recalls.

   Now he plays a vital role in Pacific’s sports; after all, how can athletes play if they don’t have a field or court to play on? 

   “I’m in charge of all the athletic facilities at Pacific so that’s the football field, baseball field, softball field, the tennis courts, and then Stoller as a whole,” he explains. His responsibilities range from ensuring facilities are up to NCAA standards, handling outsourcing of labor for maintenance, and a special mention of his, cleaning the gym floor. “I get to use this big, like, zamboni kind of thing on the gym floor, which is really cool. Anything that people need around the building I kind of take care of.” 

   Another aspect of Veach’s job includes working with Director of Athletics Buckley on the upkeep of facilities. Veach has worked with contractors on projects such as the repainting of Stoller this summer and replacing wall padding in the wrestling room. He adds, “I’ve had the opportunity to be part of some of the meetings for the Stoller remodel. Obviously that’s a little ways out, but being able to be in those meetings and kind of have the perspective of being a former student and a former athlete here, to add my opinions… has been super helpful.” 

   As a former student athlete and recent graduate, Veach’s coupled knowledge of Pacific athletic facilities and what students want equips him to be effective at his job. It gives him insight on what students need and want in their facilities, and allows him to recommend what projects should be prioritized. 

   Veach enjoys the challenge of his job. “My Tuesdays are never the same, and so being able to come in and have something new on my desk, somebody asking for something new, a new project that, you know, again I might not even know how to do it, but I get to sit and figure it out and kind of tinker with things and figure that stuff out, is super fun for me… just working with people who care about Pacific is awesome.”