By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The end of an era. One that has seen over three decades of service, the establishment of numerous programs, and won multiple national awards.
An era that began in the infancy of Title IX, adjusted and trudged along during the birth of the world wide web, and comes to a close in the middle of the upswing of social media.
An era that saw droves of interns, coordinators and assistants come and go, but the endless production within the office continued to expand and grow.
The era? That of one Robert E. Lee Schabert. Following nearly 34 years as a member of the Tennessee Tech athletics staff, most notably as its assistant athletics director for sports information and broadcasting, the St. Paul, Minnesota native has announced his retirement, effective May 31, 2016.
After joining the Golden Eagle family in the fall of 1982, Schabert used his endless supply of energy and exuberance to evolve the Tennessee Tech sports information department with the times. Over the next three decades, his office expanded 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.
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. In 1991, he initiated the President's Awards program to help promote the most well-rounded members of each of the Golden Eagle athletic teams. Schabert also established the Man of the Year/Woman of the Year awards, as well as the Outstanding Male and Female Athlete award. He helped conceive and construct the first-ever Golden Wings student-athlete awards night just this past month, as well.
Perhaps recognized best as the emcee of the TTU Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and the majority of Tech basketball on-court promotions, 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 also covered, in their entirety, the careers of nearly 10,000 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.
Never forgotten in the journey of Mr. Schabert is his family, who has dedicated so much time themselves over the years in helping spread the word of Golden Eagle athletics. His wife, Joan, and children, Matt and Kristen, have spent countless hours serving as volunteer statisticians and runners in addition to serving any other role needed throughout his tenure.
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.
His accomplishments and contributions too numerous to ever completely divulge, the legacy of the "Rob Schabert" era will be one not soon forgotten and one treasured by the infinite numbers of lives that have been impacted through his writing, broadcasting, design and overall bubbly personality.
The end of an era. He will certainly be missed by all in the Golden Eagle family.
The Tennessee Tech athletic department will host a Retirement Reception for Rob Schabert on May 19, beginning at 3 p.m. CT in the Eagle's Nest of the Hooper Eblen Center. Anyone wanting to wish Rob luck and congratulations on his retirement is invited, but are asked to please RSVP here by May 12.
Photo by Jim Dillon
