The GLVC Student-Athlete/Support Staff Spotlight was created to shine a light on individuals in athletics at Conference institutions that aren't always recognized for their efforts behind the scenes. Each month throughout the academic year, the Conference will spotlight individuals that are nominated by their peers.
December/January |
November |
October |
September
2024-25
DECEMBER/JANUARY
Kurt Wehrle, Football Play Clock Operator & Basketball Statistician, McKendree
Kurt has done football play clock for three seasons (has not missed a game). He's done basketball official book for 13 seasons (only missed 2 games). For the official book, he types the rosters out ahead of time, is organized, shows up at least an hour before the game. "Kurt’s commitment to the game has been essential part of our basketball programs for years. His passion for accuracy and dedication inspires us all to approach the game with the same spirit. We appreciate his reliability and countless hours he’s devoted to our teams," –
Kari Kerkhoff, Women's Basketball Head Coach
"Kurt is what makes small college athletics so amazing. He has immense pride for his work, love for our student-athletes and staff, and a passion for all things McKendree. Support staff like Kurt make the experience of Division II athletics possible, and we are so grateful to have him," –
George Suggs, Men's Basketball Head Coach
Cody Bahl, Graduate Student, Baseball, Drury
Cody ran the Drury University blood drive that had 66 individuals from campus and the Springfield community donate for the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. Out of the 66 people that donated over a dozen were first time donors. "It is vital that we involve our guys in the community as we want them to have that contagious attribute once they become Drury graduates. We want to build up those around us and let them know that Drury baseball is always about bettering the community of Springfield, and alumni better their hometown communities as passionate former Panther. Cody is great at embodying what it means to be a Drury Panther and encouraging teammates to join him in making the community a better place!" –
Scott Nasby, Head Coach
Lance Ringhausen, Head Athletic Trainer, Missouri S&T
Lance and his staff provide outstanding medical care to the 17 sports and over 450 student-athletes at Missouri S&T. His unwavering commitment and expertise make him an indispensable part of our team, dedicated to both the performance and well-being of our athletes. From injury prevention to rehabilitation, Lance is deeply involved in every aspect of athlete care. Lance’s presence is felt far beyond the training room. He’s on the sidelines at practices and games, both at home and on the road, always ready to provide immediate support. What truly sets Lance apart is his ability to build genuine relationships with the student-athletes he serves. He creates an environment of trust and understanding, ensuring that each individual feels supported, and valued. His clear communication with coaches and medical teams fosters collaboration, making every decision in the best interest of the athletes. "Lance exemplifies professionalism, compassion, and a tireless work ethic. His contributions go far beyond the physical care of athletes; he helps them achieve their fullest potential while prioritizing their long-term health. Our programs are stronger and our athletes more resilient because of Lance’s extraordinary dedication." –
Mindy Bryson, Director of Student Health
NOVEMBER
Krysten Clardy, Assistant AD for Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator, Southwest Baptist
Krysten is crucial to the Bearcat athletic department in certifying all 450+ athletes. She is also a constant source for each athlete to seek help. She goes above and beyond to help every athlete at SBU making sure they feel supported and cared for. "Krysten is a blessing to our department at SBU. Being an alumni and former athlete, she embodies what it means to be a Bearcat. She is always looking out for the athletes and doing all that she can to assist them in their time as a Bearcat!" –
David McFeely, Assistant AD for Media Relations
Sean Dwyer, Success Coach/Athletics Specialist, Lewis
Sean is essential to keeping student-athletes eligible, registering student-athletes for classes, and keeping track of athlete grades and grade reports. "Sean is a tremendous asset to the Lewis University student-athletes. As a former student-athlete himself, he knows what it takes to excel in the classroom, as well as on the playing field. He’s a great resource for the athletes, and he’s a major reason for their academic success." –
Ed Schaffer, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance
John Mastej, Athletic Communications Assistant, Lewis
John is an athletic communications assistant that helps out in the office with everything and anything that is thrown his way. He is willing to learn the profession as much as possible and he is like a sponge. He has grown our department so much. He is the main social media person as well, creating content, graphics and growing our brand as much as possible. "John is a valuable asset to Lewis Athletics Sports Information Office. He has gone above and beyond all the expectations set forth by him and he has helped grow the department grow and expand in many ways. His attention to detail and willingness to grow helps us get our message across." –
David Bork, Director of Athletic Communications
Hannah Herdklotz, Freshman, Women's Bowling, Quincy
Hannah is an active member of the marching band and the school's Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). "She has been an amazing addition to campus here at Quincy University. Her drive and overwhelming positive attitude help those around her feel like they belong and inspire those to be more involved." –
Kyle Egan, Head Bowling Coach
Chris Walker, Volunteer Assistant Bowling Coach, Quincy
Chris coaches the men's and/or women's bowling team at events, drives the van and supervises athletes to and from events. He also helps out athletes anyway he can, during or outside of team activities. "Chris has been an integrial part of this schools success when it comes to bowling. His selflessness when it comes to helping out the program in any way he can has proved vital to the achievements that we have garnered here at Quincy. We wouldn't be where we are today without his efforts, and for that I thank him for all he has done." –
Kyle Egan, Head Bowling Coach
Kivonte Houston, Senior, Football, Indianapolis
Kivonte is our football representative for SAAC on campus, where he meets with school administration and student-athlete leaders from other sports to discuss life as a student-athlete on campus, in the NCAA, and beyond. Kivonte was a guest speaker at an event for students at Vision Academy, a K-8 charter school on the west side of Indianapolis, spoke about the importance of his experience as a college student and student-athlete. He also works in the office of Inclusive Excellence on campus, and in the offseason helped organize the Juneteenth celebration on campus. Kivonte invited black leaders in the Indianapolis community to speak at the event, as well as invited local black-owned businesses (restaurants, clothing brands, jewelry brands, etc.) to attend the event, set up food or merchandise stands, and advertise to the students and faculty at UIndy. Kivonte also has his own clothing brand called "Love is Vital" and is a photographer in Indianapolis and back home in Chicago. "Kivonte is the most well-rounded student-athlete that I have ever coached. He is a true leader on the football field, as well as an all-conference player. His preparation in the film room, practice field, and training room is the best I've seen. He is also a high-achieving student, passionate about social justice on campus and in the Indianapolis and Chicago communities, and is a great role model on our campus. He is a 3-time All-GLVC player, and his impact as a person and leader in the future will far succeed his success on the football field, which is an amazing accomplishment." –
Logan Plumley, Co-Defensive Coordinator
Rahju Blackmon, Football Co-Defensive Coordinator, Indianapolis
Rahju is in his second year with UIndy and serves as the Co-Defensive Coordinator for the football team. As a member of Trader's Point Community Church, Rahju serves meals at homeless shelters through Wheeler Mission in Indianapolis. On the sideline, he mentored the UIndy defense to conference-leading marks per game in points allowed (16.5), yards allowed (273.2), rush yards allowed (75.9), along with total sacks (26).
OCTOBER
Gray Paholke, Athletics Communication and Events Assistant, William Jewell
Gray stepped up and took his work on the road to help with the golf teams after a last minute coaching exit. Gray willingly drove the teams to events and set up his office to work remotely to insure the players had the opportunity to compete in their fall events during the coaching transition. He has also been someone the players and coaches alike could count on for help both on and off campus. He anticipated the needs and was proactive in all aspects of his support. "Gray has done so much for our team. From driving us to tournaments, to picturing our moments on the course, and being supportive to the team when we needed it most, Gray has been a constant for our team. His dedication has been just what we needed this semester!" –
Madelyn Luttjohann, Women's Golf Player
Jessica Chandler, Senior Associate Athletic Director, Missouri-St. Louis
Jessie exemplifies a deep commitment to putting student-athletes first in every aspect of her work. Known for going the extra mile, Jessie consistently ensures that our student-athletes have the support and resources they need to excel both on and off the field. As a mentor, she leads by example, offering guidance and encouragement not only to staff members within our department but also to colleagues across the conference. Her dedication to nurturing talent and fostering a positive, student-centered environment makes her an invaluable asset to our program. "During my short tenure at UMSL, I have quickly recognized the invaluable impact Jessie Chandler has on our department, our conference, and most importantly, our student-athletes. Her unwavering commitment to ensuring the success and well-being of our student-athletes, both academically and athletically, is truly remarkable. Jessie consistently strives for excellence, always putting the best interests of our athletes first, and her leadership and dedication serve as a tremendous asset to our entire athletic community." –
Holly Sheilley, Executive Director of Athletics
Reese Martin, Senior, Volleyball, Upper Iowa
Reese is in her fourth season as a middle blocker for the Upper Iowa volleyball team. She is president of the Student-Athlete Association Council and over the past month, in addition to her regular responsibilities, Reese helped organize separate workshops for the male and female athletes on campus regarding mental health and mental health awareness. "I love Reese's commitment to the whole student-athlete experience. Her leadership is fabulous and she's going to be an amazing educator after graduation." –
Jim Dietz, Head Volleyball Coach
Bill Hart, Gameday Manager, Rockhurst
Bill has been a loyal Rockhurst worker for over 43 years. He has assisted with game day set up and monitoring, helping with officials, and ensuring our facilities are maintained. He has gameday experience with all of our sport offerings. "We can count on Bill to ensure our site is set up for the game, our operations are running smoothly, and that if there is an issue, he can troubleshoot it for us. We have a large sports sponsorship, so having another person to assist is extremely helpful. He is a valuable member of our operations." –
Kristy Bayer, Athletic Director
SEPTEMBER
Michael Koehler, Deputy Director of Athletics, Rockhurst
Michael is in his 13th year as Deputy AD with Rockhurst. He oversees the compliance program, as well as being heavily involved in facilities, budget, enrollment, game day, and all internal operations. He is involved in many NCAA committees and service opportunities, including serving on the Men's Soccer National Committee. Michael's work touches all facets of our daily operations. "Michael's loyalty to Rockhurst athletics is seen daily through his tireless efforts of having high standards. He is dependable, and the coaches, staff, and student-athletes can always count on him. He has his hand in every aspect of our department. His institutional knowledge is incredible, as is his work ethic." –
Kristy Bayer, Athletic Director
Maria Winter, Sophomore, Volleyball, Upper Iowa
Maria is in her second season as an outside hitter for the Upper Iowa volleyball team. As of October 3rd, she has recorded 107 kills, 128 digs, and 16 blocks in her two-year career with the Peacocks. Outside of sports, Winter is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), while also serving as a Resident Assistant in the Student Village residences on campus. "Maria always has a positive outlook and a willingness to help anyone in a bad moment." –
Jim Dietz, Head Volleyball Coach
Mike Doerr, Assistant Athletic Trainer, McKendree
Mike primarily serves as athletic trainer for the men's and women's basketball teams. He goes above and beyond to ensure the well-being and performance of our athletes. From providing daily care and injury prevention to coordinating doctor appointments, he ensure athletes receive top-notch medical attention. His dedication extends to being present at every practice, home and away, while traveling with both teams to offer immediate support. Each year, he works the GLVC basketball tournament, demonstrating his commitment to the sport and the athletes. "Mike Doerr is an outstanding athletic trainer who plays a pivotal role in the success of both our men's and women's basketball programs. He consistently builds authentic relationships with our athletes, ensuring they feel supported and understood. His communication with coaches and doctors is timely, allowing for optimal care and performance. Mike has a great personality and goes above and beyond, pushing our athletes to achieve their best while maintaining their health and well-being. We are incredibly fortunate to have him on our team." –
Kari Kerkhoff, Head Women's Basketball Coach
Jackson Janetski; Kaitlyn Parsons; & Mac Wissel, Sports Information Graduate Assistants, Indianapolis
In a matter of the first 10 days of the fall season, UIndy hosted a volleyball tournament, four soccer matches, a football game, and an on-campus triathlon meet. These three individuals were front and center with coverage and worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Also leading up to competition and since the year has officially kicked off, these three have been go-getters, taking initiative to help build UIndy Athletics. Kaitlyn has taken on cross country, golf, and volleyball this fall, while Jackson and Mac are both in their first weeks of working directly in an athletics communications office.
David Edwards, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Missouri S&T
David is in his fourth year as the strength and conditioning coach at Missouri S&T, helping to train student-athletes on strength, power, and speed. "Coach Edwards' dedication to training over 450 student-athletes across 17 sports every week is nothing short of inspiring. Starting each day as early as 5:30 AM, he brings high energy and positivity to the varsity weight room, setting the tone for the team's training sessions. His extensive knowledge of the science behind strength, speed, and power that not only enhances our student-athletes' performance but also earns him immense respect from the student-athletes he trains. Last year, he hosted the "Strongest Man and Strongest Woman" event, which not only showcased the talents of our student-athletes but also fostered a sense of community and camaraderie among the Miners. Beyond his technical expertise, he has developed strong, meaningful relationships with our student-athletes. He is a key component in building success and helping our student-athletes and teams perform at the highest level. His commitment and passion for their development truly makes a difference in their athletic journeys. This coach embodies the spirit of mentorship and excellence and is very deserving of this spotlight." –
Melissa Ringhausen, Athletic Director
Cheyanne Bonnett, Business Administrative Associate, Illinois Springfield
Cheyanne provides essential administrative support to our coaches and staff, playing a critical role in managing the financial and operational aspects of our department. Her dedication and attention to detail significantly contribute to our overall success. "Cheyanne is the backbone of our athletic department. Her dedication and attention to detail help keep our operations running smoothly, allowing our coaches and staff to focus on supporting our student-athletes. We greatly appreciate her contributions!" –
Libby Price, Assistant AD for Strategic Communications & Operations
2023-24
SEPTEMBER
Women's Basketball Team, Missouri-St. Louis
The UMSL women's basketball helped organize 30 pallets of food during the time they spent at the St. Louis Area Food bank. Community engagement is an important part of the UMSL experience and the women's basketball team enjoyed their afternoon serving the St. Louis community.
Jordan Weldon, Women's Soccer Athletic Trainer, Missouri S&T
Though Jordan is only entering her second season with the program, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. She spends countless hours keeping our players healthy, from pre-hab to re-hab, which is critical with a small roster of 28 players (with four knee injuries included). Her new favorite method is dry needling, which she was recently trained to perform this summer, showing her commitment to continuous growth in the field. Both the players and coaches trust Jordan with our lives (quite literally) and wouldn't be able to have a successful program without her support.
George Gunn, Women's Soccer Assistant Coach, Missouri S&T
George is a volunteer coach for us, but you wouldn't know it based on his level of commitment. He does not miss a single event, from training to film review to being on the sideline for game day. Without the budget to pay an Assistant, we wouldn't be able to provide the same experience to our roster of 28 players without his support. His passion, humor, and approachable personality have really allowed our culture to flourish, creating a competitive but welcoming environment where players strive to both push and empower one another. He is a major advocate for Women's athletics and creating "bad a--" women to conquer their career field once their time on our field at Missouri S&T comes to an end. He is always available to lend a hand, whether spending extra time with a player to help refine a skill, lining and painting our grass field, spending time away from home to recruit prospective athletes, or even stopping by to check-in on an injured or sick athlete to ensure they have everything that they need. George is willing to roll up his sleeves to help the program because he cares for and believes in the players, and wants to see them succeed in life both on and off the field. Our team would not be able to have the same level of experience if it was not for his support.
Cheryl Mingrone, Office Manager, Rockhurst
Cheryl handles the travel and purchasing for 23 sports, assists AD and all coaches with all administrative duties, handles all athletic facility reservations. She is the glue that keeps the athletic department together. Cheryl juggles many different tasks, and she takes care of all the coaches and staff. Not only is she the friendly face at the entrance of the office, she also gets stuff done! We wouldn't be able to function without her efficiency and institutional knowledge, and she is also just great at her job!
OCTOBER
David McFeely, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations and Event Management, Southwest Baptist
David has a high work rate, a standard of excellence within all of his work and shows great care for each task and individual that he works with. He demonstrates what it means to work with excellence and care with every big and small task that he oversees.
Amy Pruitt, Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Experience, Illinois Springfield
Amy acts as UIS' SAAC staff liason and is indespensible in planning events (including programming for freshman athletes), is a department connection to admissions and advising, and helped to start the UIS Chi Alpha Sigma chapter of the National College Athlete Honor Society. She is always open to hearing new ideas and finding ways to add to the experiences of student-athletes and staff members. Amy is always looking for new and creative ways to elevate the student-athlete experience. She goes above and beyond meeting with individuals, working closely with SAAC, and generally doing everything she can to better the lives of UIS athletes.
Trent Johnson, Women's Soccer Team Manager, Missouri S&T
Trent consistently goes above and beyond his post to help the team. Most recently, he took it upon himself to create Woman of the Match trophies using his 3D printer. These are shaped like a soccer ball and he's using white, gold and green filament colors to customize each trophy for the recipient each game. Beyond this, he is fantastic with data, creating valuable graphics, scouting reports, etc. to support the program. Trent has been a valuable addition to our program.
Morgan Smith, Women's Soccer Goalkeeper Coach, Missouri S&T
Morgan is a current student studying Computer Science, as well as an RA and member of our ROTC program. Even with all of that on her plate, she has stepped into the role of our Goalkeeper Coach for this season. This has been a major gap for our program, and with Morgan's help, we have seen immediate improvements. Currently, our goalkeeper (Asia Barcom) sits sixth in the GLVC for saves which is largely attributed to the time and effort that Morgan has put forth to help our goalkeepers develop further. Having Morgan on staff has had an immense positive impact on our program. She has fully stepped into this leadership role, executing frequent goalkeeper sessions and establishing strong relationships with the players to help them improve. We have seen an immediate impact on the field and look forward to her continued growth with the program and as a coach moving forward.
NOVEMBER
Maddi Moon, Head Women's Soccer Coach, Missouri-St. Louis
Bruce Smith, Head Athletic Trainer, Missouri-St. Louis
Alex Langella, Assistant Director of Athletics for Facilities and Game Management, Missouri-St. Louis
Maddi, Bruce and Alex worked to save the life of a fan who entered into diabetic coma at a home women's soccer event. The group administered CPR, coordinated the response with EMS, and worked with the visiting team to ensure that their students and coaches were taken care of.
Abby Vaughn, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Upper Iowa
Abby enters her third year at Upper Iowa as an Assistant Athletic Trainer. Since August 6, 2023, Abby has managed athletic training for Football, Volleyball, and Women's Basketball. She attended all away games for Football, while managing athletic training operations for Football, Volleyball, and Women's Basketball while in Fayette. She has taken the lead on a multitude of critical injury situations throughout the Fall. Also, Abby was a panelist on SAAC's Mental Health Panel, which shows that she's an advocate for our student-athletes overall well-being. Abby gives her all to UIU and the student-athletes and her efforts don't go unnoticed! We appreciate everything that Abby does for UIU. She goes above and beyond for her student-athletes and works endless days to provide her teams with the best care. An AT's job isn't easy; they are forced to make tough, critical decisions and Abby does so with ease and a level-head each and every time. We are grateful to have Abby as a part of our staff!
Allison Thornley, Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Planning and Finance/SWA, Illinois Springfield
Allison serves as the Senior Woman Administrator at UIS, as well as handling business processes and strategic planning within our department. She has been with the department since 2011 and has been a crucial resource as UIS Athletics has grown into what it is today. Allison has made a lasting impact on UIS Athletics!
DECEMBER/JANUARY
Jake Fitts, Strength and Conditioning Coach/Human Performance Lab Coordinator, Maryville
Fitts is the first full-time strength and conditioning coach for the Saints athletics teams and a valuable member of the Exercise Science Staff. He works with all 25 Maryville NCAA sponsored teams as well as numerous club sports teams. Fitts has coached 18 Saints to National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American status, including four in 2022-23. In addition, he works for the University as the Human Performance Lab Coordinator.
John Dodderidge, Assistant Athletic Director of Athletics Communication, Rockhurst
Dodderidge is the lone full-time Sports Information Director in our department. We currently sponsor 22 NCAA sports and 2 non-NCAA sports. John is present at every home contest. He is stellar at the traditional sports information duties, and he has embraced the new technology of college athletics. He also oversees our social media and streaming efforts. He has valuable historical institutional and athletic department knowledge that we greatly rely on. John has a large workload with all of our sports. We greatly appreciate his willingness to devote many hours to our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. Athletic communications may be behind the scenes, but it is important to recognize all John does to keep our fans informed and our content relevant.
Mike Wolhoy, Head Athletic Trainer, Southwest Baptist
Wolhoy has been the SBU head athletic trainer for SBU for 18 years assisting with football, basketball, cross country, and tennis teams. He has helped develop and progress all athletic trainers within the department for each and every team.
Samantha Kaestner, Women's Basketball Athletic Trainer, Missouri S&T
Kaestner goes above and beyond to serve our student-athletes and staff. She is always accessible for treatment, an ibuprofen, a band-aid, a vent session, etc. Sam goes beyond her required duties to research the best way to treat our student-athletes and is proactive in seeking out preventative care for our team. Furthermore, she and the other S&T training staff take their extracurricular education seriously as they learn the latest techniques and methods to keep their practice up to date and to give our athletes the best possible care. We are very appreciative of Sam and how much she cares about our student-athletes and the work she does to serve them and provide the best experience and health care possible.
David Edwards, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Missouri S&T
Edwards (Coach E), is our lone strength coach at S&T. He designs strength programs for each sport, specific to the demands of each sport. He is also mindful of the specific needs of each gender. Furthermore, he goes above and beyond to accommodate the rigorous class schedules of our student-athletes and maintain availability throughout the day. Coach E stays adaptable to student-athlete injuries and will tailor his programs to best suit individuals' needs and ensure that they can build the strength they need to return to their sport successfully. David is a huge asset for our athletic department as serves our student-athletes selflessly. It is great to have a positive role model and additional coach to push and encourage our athletes from a different vantage point.
FEBRUARY
Jacob Walton, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, Indianapolis
Walton is in his fifth year with the sports information department and second as a GA, serving as the primary contact for baseball, wrestling, women's soccer, and men's and women's tennis. Jacob's skillset of visual storytelling, whether it be still frames or video, provides so much value to our department. He works nearly every athletic event on campus in some capacity and manages team social media accounts for most of our programs for in-game coverage, even if he is on the field/court during the game taking pictures/video. We trust him to get the job done, including any applicable stats recording & upload, as well as writing an engaging recap/release. Jacob works tirelessly to promote and engage UIndy student-athletes across various social media platforms, most notably with video storytelling. His efforts behind the lens, on the call, and at the stats laptop provides an unquantifiable value to our athletics department.
Susan Cochran, Assistant Athletic Director for Alumni & Community Relations, Missouri S&T
Cochran is in her seventh year at S&T and second year in her current position. Susan handles many of S&T's external engagement events, such as Military Appreciation Day, S&T's Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony, Academy of Miner Athletics and the Miner Corporate Club. She serves as the primary contact person for alumni and community relations and also handles game management duties on occasion. "Her responsibilities have grown to primarily center around building relationships with alumni and members of the community, increasing corporate club sponsorships, assisting with the Academy of Miner Athletics and more. She has great relationships with many of our alumni and is well-known in the community. She has become an integral part of the administrative team and I am happy to have her on-board in this capacity." - AD Melissa Ringhausen
Jordan Roths, Head Assistant Wrestling Coach, Upper Iowa
Roths is in his second year as head assistant coach of the UIU wrestling program, returning to his alma mater after starting four seasons for the team during his collegiate career. Jordan is active in all phases of our program. He is our recruiting coordinator. He helps run practices. He assists in academic monitoring. He is active in communicating with alumni. He is our design guy when it comes to artwork for singlets, warm-ups, and more; he's the best. We were thrilled to welcome Jordan back to Upper Iowa as our Head Assistant Coach. He brings the passion and pride for UIU wrestling when engaged with any facet of our program. It's hard to replace pride with any other skill set. He holds himself to a high standard and expects the same from our athletes.
MARCH
Vicente Blanco, Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field Coach, Maryville
Blanco is in his third season as an assistant coach with the Saints. Blanco has put in countless hours to coach each distance athlete to their individual goals. He generates numerous individual training plans to best suite the athlete and bring them to the next level. Recently, he coached Caleb Pyle to a DII National Provo in the 10,000m at the WashU Distance Carnival, where Caleb ran 1:22 seconds faster than last year at this meet. He also coached 18 all-time distance PR's in the first 2 meets of outdoor season with this athletes. Coach Blanco also helps out with high jump, pole vault and throws as needed in practice and at meets. "Here at Maryville, we have created history together building the most successful team Maryville TF has ever seen and I couldn't have done with it without Coach Blanco's help. His relationship approach to really building the individual as a young man or woman feeds into the success the athletes are having on the track. He has coached our sole DII National Provo mark so far already this outdoor season and he deserves recognition for all the behind the scenes work he puts in as our sole full-time assistance coach." - Kayla Kregel, Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
Olivia Kindt, Director of Sports Information, Quincy
Kindt is in her second year as Director of Sports Information, following a three-year career with the Hawks' women's soccer team. "For swimming's perspective, Olivia totally revamped our social media, giving posts for prelims and finals for every session of the GLVC Championship, and took over 400 pictures of our athletes to use for future promotional materials. When I asked our team what thing they would most like to see return next year, they all said Olivia!" - Bryan Christiansen, Head Swim & Dive Coach
Barbara Cowherd, Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator, Drury
JaeLynn Ellison, Assistant Athletics Director for Communication/Senior Woman Administrator, William Jewell
Cowherd has served Drury for nearly 40 years and was brought out of retirement in March 2022 to return to the office as the Associate Athletic Director & Senior Woman Administrator. She coached both volleyball (1980-99) and women's tennis (1981-84) before becoming an administrator in 1999. Under Cowherd's guidance, Drury's women's sports flourished from two to 14 teams, including the basketball team that has seen sustained success since its inception in 2000. Additionally, she has served on regional and national ranking committees for Division II and NAIA, along with aiding in the design and transition into the O'Reilly Family Event Center that was built on campus in 2010. Cowherd has been inducted into three Hall of Fames in the past decade: Drury, Missouri Sports, and Springfield Area Sports.
Ellison played softball for two seasons (2013-14) at Drury during Cowherd's first stint as SWA. She was named Jewell's SWA in 2023, joining Cowherd at league meetings as a high-level administrator just nine years after her athletic career.