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Kathy Haas retiring after 34 years of service to Monmouth College's athletic office

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, IL (05/21/2019) — Monmouth College's online Redbook officially lists Kathy Haas as "administrative assistant." But during her 34-year career, Haas was much more than an assistant to the hundreds of students and coaches who have been part of the College's athletics department.

"Clearly, Kathy has been the assistant athletic director for many, many years," Director of Athletics Roger Haynes said at a May 2 reception honoring Haas and other retiring Monmouth faculty and staff. She officially retires May 31.

In honor of Haas's contribution to Monmouth athletics, she received the Alumni Recognition Award at this spring's annual Fighting Scots Awards.

"Although not an official alum, Mrs. Haas is as much a part of the fiber of the Fighting Scots as any of those who earn degrees or become All-Americans," said Haynes. "She will be greatly missed in our office by coaches and student-athletes alike. Someone else will file the reports and someone else will keep me organized, but nobody's going to be the heart of our department like she has been."

Keeping Haynes and his director of athletics predecessor, Terry Glasgow, organized was certainly one of Haas's most important responsibilities. She also helped coordinate teams' travel arrangements, such as charter buses and hotels; scheduled officials; and ensured that bench staff, such as scoreboard operators and scorebook keepers, were assigned. She also took care of much of the paperwork relating to NCAA compliance, assisted with student-athlete eligibility and helped manage the department's budget.

Making copies, making progress

The athletics department has come a long way since Haas's first day on the job in 1985 which, unbeknownst to her at the time, followed a staff member who only lasted one day at the position.

"No one told me the first person quit after one day," she said. "Had I known that, I'm not sure I would have taken the job, but I'm sure glad I did."

In her early days, Haas had to walk to Hewes Library or Wallace Hall to make copies.

"We didn't have a copier in the office, and there were lots of copies to make, like when (football coach) Kelly Kane wanted copies of his playbook," she said. "Then Terry got us a printer that was something like what you'd have at home. It was a trial thing that didn't turn out very well. And we had one of those ditto machines. I got that carbon-y blue stuff all over me. I remember telling Terry, 'One of us has got to go - me or that stupid little machine.'"

The Fighting Scots family

The department, which had 16 varsity sports when Haas started, has grown to 24 varsity teams. Haas served as gatekeeper to the department for all visitors, primarily Monmouth's student-athletes. She said that has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of the position.

"I wish others could know the athletes like we do," she said. "I think of them as my kids."

Students who stopped by her desk soon learned one of Haas's cardinal rules.

"A lot of times they'll walk in and ask for a coach by their last name," she said. "I always correct them and tell them to put 'Coach' in front of that name. I think the coaches have earned that respect. The students need to know how to ask for someone when they get out of school and are in the business world, and they encounter a receptionist. I want to make sure they know how to do that."

What's ahead (hint: cookies)

As Haas transitions into her next chapter, she said she'll still do some of the things she enjoyed during her career - spending time with her two young grandchildren, playing golf and attending Monmouth games.

"I'll enjoy going to the games and not having to do anything," said Haas, who could frequently be found running the concession stand at football and baseball games and making sure a variety of boxes had been checked at other home events.

Because Haas is not leaving the area, she'll continue to see all the familiar faces, and it's likely that she'll even spend a bit of time behind the athletic office desk after May 31 to help her successor learn the ropes.

And for those with a sweet tooth, Haas had good news: "I told them that just because I'm retiring doesn't mean I won't be around. I'll still be bringing baked goods and coming to ballgames."

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