Her title is a mouthful-Athletics Coordinator for Administration, Travel and Special Events. "Basically, I manage the 'nuts and bolts,'" Lybbert said.
That includes often being the point of contact for the Athletics Department and the coaches of 23 varsity sports. It means arranging travel, helping organize such events as the NAIA National Invitation Tournament for dance and cheerleading hosted by St. Ambrose in March, and working very closely with Athletics Director Ray Shovlain '79, '82 MBA.
"Ray and I collaborate a lot," she said. "We are intentionally, literally, feet apart in our workspace."
All in a Day
Do some budgeting. Welcome prospective students. Pay bills. "Can I get a basketball?" Set up travel to Indiana for the basketball team. An urgent request to reach coach so-and-so. A call-"Ma'am, where do I deliver the 1,000 pounds of dance flooring?" Said a smiling Lybbert, "My days go by fast."
Bring on the New
Until recently, Lybbert's "office" was a 4-feet by 2-feet section of reception counter in the filled-to-capacity suite of offices SAU coaches shared with Kinesiology Department members on the second floor of the PE Center.
In advance of construction on the new Wellness and Recreation Center, the kinesiology staff relocated to Hayes Hall last fall. So Lybbert now has the whole counter to herself.
Several coaches still share small offices with graduate assistants.The new construction will create space for 11 offices, an athletics director's office, a conference room, a group area for GAs and dedicated places for storage.
"We are very excited and looking forward to it greatly," said Lybbert.
In the Lead
Lybbert earned her Master of Organizational Leadership degree from St. Ambrose last year.
And for Fun?
Lybbert cross-stitches, knits and sews, the latter a skill she's occasionally put to use on the job. Those uniforms that sat too long in the dryer, leaving letters all stuck together?
Yup. Lybbert is on it.
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