MEDIA RELATIONS Career Best Times/Distances Rob
Key Telephone Numbers Area Code is 931
Tony Cox - Head Coach: 372-3749 Mark Wilson - AD: 372-3961 Rob Schabert - SID: 372-3088 Matt Dexter / Tyler Birdwell - Facilities: 372-3945 Joe Erdeljac - Trainer: 372-3934 Ticket Office - 372-3940
Sports Information Sports Information Suite located on upper level of Eblen Center (Rooms 442-446) Rob Schabert: (931) 372-3088 Mike Lehman: Sports Information: (931) 372-6139 Dylan Vazzano: Sports Information: (931) 372-3293 Jocelyn VerVelde: Sports Information: (931) 372-3293 Matthew Wagner: Video Production: (931) 372-3883 Press Box Phones: (931) 372-6030, (931) 372-6031 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5057 TTU, Cookeville, TN 38505 Overnight Address: 1100 McGee Blvd Email: sportsinfo@tntech.edu
CREDITS: This guide is a publication of the Tennessee Tech University Sports Information Office. Writing, designed and produced by Rob Schabert, with assistance from Mike Lehman and Jocelyn VerVelde. Special thanks to Roman Stone and his staff. Tony Marable, Brenda Taylor, opponent SIDs and Kyle Schwartz at the OVC office. Cover design: WD Stone and Associates. Photography: TTU Photo Services, Tony Marable, Jim Dillon, Rob Schabert, Mike Lehman, Jocelyn VerVelde, and Eric Roth.
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SCHABERT
v Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Information and Broadcasting St. Cloud State, 1977
Now in his 32nd year on the Tennessee Tech athletics staff, Rob Schabert is assistant athletics director for sports information and broadcasting. He joined the Tech staff on Sept. 8, 1982, and has been going full-speed ever since, working not only in publicizing Tech’s student-athletes and staff but also in promotions and marketing for the athletics department. In September 2008 he was inducted into the Hall of Distinction at Minnesota State University (Mankato). An active member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), he has attended the organization’s annual workshop in 31 of his 36 years in the profession. He has served on numerous CoSIDA committees, including Ethics, Academic All-America and Writing, and he currently serves on the Olympic Liaison Committee. In 2004, he was voted winner of the university’s Outstanding Professional Award, and in July 2005 was promoted to his current title. Schabert has won dozens of national publications and writing awards, including “Best in the Nation” from USA Volleyball for his annual media guide six times. In addition to award-winning publications, he has kept pace with the fast-changing world of the sports information profession, moving Tech smoothly into the digital age and the exploding world of social media. Schabert, 57, has established several programs within the department. He created the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in 1987 and initiated the President’s Awards program in 1991. He also established the Woman of the Year/ Man of the Year awards along with the Outstanding Male and Female Athlete awards. He is active in the TTU Sports Hall of Fame selection process and serves as the emcee of the annual Hall of Fame Dinner. Schabert has promoted the selection of numerous Tech Academic All-Americans and is extremely active in promoting both the academic and athletic accomplishments of Tech’s studentathletes. Another wing of his operation is the day-to-day production and operations of the vast Tech athletics web site, TTUsports.com. Rob and his staff also serve as the hosts to all media attending athletics events on campus. Over the past several years, many of the interns who have worked for Schabert have moved into full-time positions in the Sports Information profession at a wide variety of colleges and universities, including Appalachian State, UAB, Xavier, Idaho, Texas State, New Mexico, Minnesota State (Mankato) and FLorida Atlantic. A Minnesota native who learned the trade under the guidance of his father, Bob (a long-time Minnesota Sportswriter), Rob earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from St. Cloud (Minn.) State University in 1977, spent one year in the Minnesota Twins public relations office, and was SID for five years at Mankato State University. He was a charter member of the St. Cloud chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2002, Rob was a volunteer with the Salt Lake Olympic Committee as a member of the Press Operations staff. Rob and his wife, Joan, have two grown children who are also in the public relation business -- Matt (Morehead State sports information) and Kristen (U.S. Army public affairs). They also have one grandson, Jacob.
GOLDEN EAGLE 2013 CROSS COUNTRY / 2014 TRACK & FIELD