Now in his 30th 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 30 of his 336 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, 56, 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 student-athletes.

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 and the University of New Mexico.
   
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.