By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The face of Tennessee Tech athletics and spokesperson for thousands of student-athletes and coaches for more than three decades, Rob Schabert used his endless supply of energy and exuberance to imagine and initiate programs, services and honors designed to shine a spotlight on the Golden Eagles. His contributions as sports information director had an impact on every team and every Tech student-athlete for nearly 34 years.
Schabert will be inducted as part of the 2018 Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame class on Friday, Nov. 2 at the Multipurpose Room of the University Center at 6:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are available through the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, by calling 931-372-3940 or by visiting TTUSports.com.
Not only was he a force toward establishing some of the athletics department's most recognized and cherished honors, awards and traditions, he was able to evolve the TTU sports information department over his nearly 34-year span. His era began in the infancy of Title IX, adjusted and trudged along during the birth of the world wide web, and came to a close well into the upswing of social media and video programming. He retired from TTU May 31, 2016.
Arriving at TTU in 1982 as sports information director, he eventually rose to the position of Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Information and Broadcasting. His job title, however, doesn't begin to reflect on the wide-ranging effects he had on Tech's athletic program. He handled marketing, advertising and promotional duties, told the tales of Tech athletics on television, radio and in print, was a public speaker and emcee throughout the region, and became a familiar figure to three generations of Golden Eagle fans as the on-court host for a majority of Tech basketball on-court promotions
He accomplished all of that while producing award-winning work with Tech's news coverage, publications, posters and other printed materials.
Over his three decades, Schabert expanded his responsibilities into the digital age, adding the TTUSports.com website, multiple social media channels and the ever-growing and award-winning Golden Eagle Sports Network video operation. The network was responsible for the introduction of video opportunities to scores of Golden Eagle fans, from live streams, coach's shows, and highlight and team intro videos, as well as other special reports and programs.
Through all of that change in the platform, two things remained constant under Schabert's watchful eye – the quality of the writing and publications was kept at the highest level, and he never quit searching for additional opportunities to provide recognition to Tech's student-athletes, whether it was in action, in the classroom, or in the community
Just five years into his tenure, he created the Athletic Director's Honor Roll to help recognize the scholastic efforts of Tennessee Tech student-athletes, the first year any school in the league had such an honor roll. In 1991, he proposed and established the President's Awards program to annually promote the most well-rounded member of each Golden Eagle athletic team. Schabert also established the Man of the Year/Woman of the Year awards, as well as the Outstanding Male and Female Athlete awards, all four annual honors considered among the highest presented to Tech's student-athletes each year. In 2015, he and his staff helped conceive and construct the Golden Wings student-athlete awards, which has also grown into a Tech Athletics tradition.
He has served as Master of Ceremonies for the annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner for 35 years and all three Golden Wings Awards shows – two roles he has continued even following his retirement.
It was Schabert's steadfast desire for bringing recognition to Tech student-athletes that kept him preparing winning nominations for Academic All-America honors, as well as constant Ohio Valley Conference weekly, seasonal and annual awards. During his time, Tech student-athletes were named Academic All-America 33 times, and more than 100 received Academic All-District recognition, the most in the OVC during that span.
Schabert is known throughout the Cookeville community for his award-winning charm and charismatic attitude in promoting Tech athletics. A jack-of-all-trades, he has served as official statistician, record keeper, lead writer, emcee, radio broadcaster, camera operator, photographer, driver and many other unofficial titles too numerous to list
He covered, in their entirety, the careers of more than 8,000 Golden Eagle student-athletes, tracking their every accomplishment from the day of their official signing, to their last moments on the gridiron, hardwood, track, pitch or diamond, to the day they received their diploma as a graduate of Tennessee Tech University. He showed the same passion for Tech athletics across the board, driving tens of thousands of miles to cover all Golden Eagle events, from football games, to track & field meets, to Purple Pride Caravans
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 2004, he was voted the winner of the university's Outstanding Professional Award and in 2008 was inducted into the Hall of Distinction at Minnesota State University (Mankato), one of just two stops in his career journey prior to joining Tennessee Tech athletics
An active member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), he has attended the organization's annual workshop in 34 of his 39 years in the profession. He has served on numerous CoSIDA committees, including Ethics, Academic All-America, Writing, and Olympic Liaison.
In 2002, Rob represented TTU as a volunteer with the Salt Lake Olympic Committee as a member of the Press Operations staff.
Photo by TTU Sports Information
