Rita Slinden serves as an assistant track and field coach and works predominately with the throws.

Slinden was a fixture in the athletic department before her retirement a few years ago. Slinden has served as a coach for many of the women's sports over the years and served a tenure as the athletic director in the early 1990s. Slinden was also an instructor in the physical education department.

Slinden, and her husband, Howie, have two adult children, Diane and Mark. Diane is also an assistant throws coach for the Blue Devils, one of the few mother-daughter collegiate coaching tandems.