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PEORIA — Nicole Schaefbauer was a renowned athlete in the past.
Now she’s committed to providing opportunity and development for young athletes of the future.
The former Princeton High School star and University of Notre Dame player took over as executive director of the Illinois Elementary School Association when longtime director Steve Endsley retired in June.
“I’m dedicated to providing activities for kids in this (grade school/middle school) age group,” she said. “For a lot of kids, this is their first competition. We are still regrouping from COVID-19 and we have our hands full right now, a lot on our plate.”
IESA’s financial woes — and recovery
The IESA was in dire financial condition last year as COVID shut down the organization’s postseason tournaments, the key money-maker to fund the operation.
More: IESA in financial trouble, ’might have to suspend operations, be dormant for a while’
What traditionally was a staff of four full-time administrators was reduced to two — Endsley and Schaefbauer — and remains at two today. Endsley wrapped up his decorated career at the IESA helm and passed the torch to Schaefbauer, who worked alongside him for more than 20 years.
The IESA, born in 1929, raised dues to its 959 member schools around Illinois to $300 this school year. Dues were $100 last year.
“Our board raised the fees out of necessity, and we’re hopeful we can get that back down in the future,” Schaefbauer said. “Being able to stage championship events is huge for us.”
The IESA so far this fall has crowned champions in golf, softball and baseball. Cross country wraps up the fall. The IESA is following Illinois Department of Public Health protocols for its events. That means masks worn by players, coaches and officials at indoor events.
Girls basketball is under way now and scheduled to conclude with championships in December.
You might like: IESA brings back fall sports: ‘It’s about giving hope to these kids’
“We went 1½ years without any tournament revenue,” Schaefbauer said. “It’s been a real challenge for us.”
The recovery continues with some activities scaled down. This year’s lineup will not include in-person workshops for athletic directors, speech or Scholastic Bowl workshop. ADs meet monthly by Zoom. The workshops are targeted for a return in 2022-23.
Princeton to Notre Dame
Schaefbauer, 50, is accustomed to facing challenges. She thrived as a four-sport star at Princeton High School, and led its 1990 Class A state champion volleyball team. She is the all-time program leader in kills.
The former Nicole Coates competed in track, cross country and tennis as well, earned three state track and field medals, competed in state finals in three sports, earned 15 letters and went on to Notre Dame to play volleyball. There, she was part of the Fighting Irish’s 1993 NCAA Elite 8 team and 1994 Sweet 16 team.
“I was a tiny outside hitter,” said the 5-foot-7 Schaefbauer, laughing, while detailing her role in NCAA Division I volleyball. “God blessed me with some pretty good athletic jumping ability.”
Schaefbauer comes from a sporting family. Her father, Gary Coates, was track and field coach at Princeton for years. Her mother, Bea, was a high school tennis coach, and her brother, Ryan, was a distance runner.
After Notre Dame, Schaefbauer earned a masters in athletic administration from Illinois State. While working as an intern in ticketing and marketing at the Normal school, she met ISU basketball player Skipp Schaefbauer.
The two married and settled in Normal, and today the family sports tradition continues. Daughter, Isabel, plays volleyball at Winthrop, and daughter, McKenna, plays at Van Der Meer Tennis Academy (S.C.), and is a five-star recruit who in late July committed to South Carolina.
“The lessons you can learn from being part of a team and the growth from that and competition drives me,” Schaefbauer said. “That belief in our mission to provide extra-curricular activities for kids is strong.
“I’ve had it, really, all my life.”
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.
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