COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Executive Director of the American
Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), a 23-year coach and
administrator in college athletics, a former professional
basketball player, and one of the nation's top speakers on gender
roles and impact in competition, Kathleen DeBoer will be the guest
speaker at the Dr. M. Dianne Murphy Leaders for Life program at
Tennessee Tech University Monday night. She will address Tech's
female student-athletes.
The event, which is also open to the public, is scheduled for 7
p.m., Monday in the Don Ervin Auditorium of Johnson Hall on the TTU
campus. Admission is free.
The AVCA is a member-funded, non-profit organization that
advocates for the sport at all levels by providing training, awards
programs, programming and publications that serve the volleyball
coaching community.
Prior to her AVCA appointment, DeBoer spent three years as the
Commissioner of General Services for the Lexington-Fayette Urban
County Government. In that capacity she managed a $25 million
budget, 375 employees, and oversaw the Divisions of Parks and
Recreation, Building Maintenance and Construction, and Fleet
Services. DeBoer reorganized General Services resulting in a
savings of $700,000 annually. She is also the architect of an
$800,000 public/private partnership called the Tubby’s
Clubhouse/Dell TechKnow project. The program, funded in part by the
Tubby Smith Foundation and Dell, Inc., provides computer equipment
and training to underserved populations in Lexington’s
Community Centers.
Before her government work, DeBoer spent twenty-three years in
intercollegiate athletics serving as a coach, administrator and
fundraiser. She spent eighteen years at the University of Kentucky,
finishing her career as the Senior Associate Athletics Director. In
that capacity DeBoer directed a $30 million capital campaign and
raised over $10 million in private gifts to build an academic
center, a softball/soccer complex, an outdoor tennis stadium and a
football office complex. She was the creator of the endowment seat
program accumulating $3.5 million in endowment money for
student-athlete scholarships, and the “Eruption Zone,”
a section of Rupp Arena that increased student access and
participation at basketball games. DeBoer also oversaw the Blue and
White Fund, increasing annual giving from $2 million per year to $5
million per year.
From 1999 to 2002, DeBoer served as the Southeastern Conference
representative to the NCAA Division I Management Council. From 1997
to 1999 she was the chair of the Finance Committee of the NCAA
Division I Business and Finance Cabinet.
Prior to her administrative career, DeBoer spent thirteen years
coaching volleyball. In her nine years as Kentucky’s head
coach, the Wildcats compiled a 212-96 record, won three
Southeastern Conference Championships, and advanced to the NCAA
Tournament four times. In 1987, DeBoer was named National Coach of
the Year. From 1980 to 1983 she coached the Ferris State University
volleyball team to three conference championships and two NCAA
appearances.
From 1988 to 1996 DeBoer served as an advisor to the USA
Women’s National Team. She was part of the coaching staff for
three Olympic Sports Festival Teams and the 1989 World University
Games Team. She assisted with the 1993 Grand Prix in Seoul, South
Korea, the 1994 World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil and the
1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
From 1978 to 1980 DeBoer played two years of basketball in the
Women’s Basketball League, one of the first professional
leagues for women in the United States. While competing at Michigan
State University she was a finalist for the Wade Trophy, the
highest award given annually in women’s basketball. Michigan
State University honored DeBoer with the Nell Jackson Outstanding
Alumna Award in 1989 and the Alumna Scholar Athlete Award in
1999.
DeBoer is a nationally known public speaker on the impact of
gender on competitive behavior. She also does popular programs on
motivation, teamwork and 21st century leadership. She has written
extensively on issues of competition, gender, coaching, and
intercollegiate athletics. Her articles have appeared in The NCAA
News, the National Federation News, Women in Higher Education,
Coaching Volleyball, Coaching Women’s Basketball, and The
Soccer Journal. She has authored book chapters for a sports
medicine text entitled The Female Athlete and USA
Volleyball’s Annual Manual. She also has produced numerous
videotapes on volleyball skill development and coaching. Her first
book, Gender and Competition: How Men and Women Approach Work and
Play Differently, was published by Coaches Choice in 2004.
She has a B.A. in Humanities from Michigan State University (1978)
and her M.B.A. from the University of Kentucky (1988). She is
married to Mark Pittman and resides in Lexington, Kentucky.
Dr. M. Dianne Murphy Leaders for Life
Program
Each semester, Tennessee Tech University Athletics hosts an event
as part of the Dr. M. Dianne Murphy Leaders for Life program,
inviting distinguished guests to speak to all TTU female
student-athletes, along with faculty and community members, on the
role of successful women in athletics. The establishment of this
lecture series has been made possible by a generous gift to
Tennessee Tech Athletics by one of our alumni, Dr. M. Dianne
Murphy, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical
Education at Columbia University in New York City.
Recent speakers in the Leaders for Life
Program:
Spring 2011 / Dr. M. Dianne Murphy
Spring 2011 / Dr. Lanise Rosemond
Fall 2011 / Beth DeBauche
Spring 2012 / Natalie Ivey and Kristen Schabert
Fall 2012 / Pam Kilday
Spring 2013 / Donna Lopiano
Fall 2013 / Joetta Clark Diggs
