NJCAA Insider - August 2017
REGION 24
Region 24 serves central and southern Illinois and is led by Rod Lovett (men’s director) and Sue Sinclair (women’s director) and are assisted by Doug Stotler (men’s assistant) and Johnna Kinney (women’s assistant). Lovett is the athletic director at Parkland College, while Sue serves as the athletic director and head volleyball coach at Illinois Central. Lovett has been at Parkland for 27 years and has served the NJCAA for a dozen years. He also serves as an at-large member of the NJCAA Executive Committee while chairing NJCAA Division II baseball and Championship Events Committee. Sinclair has also been with Illinois Central for 27 years and has won more than 500 volleyball matches. She chairs the NJCAA Districting Committee. Rod is an avid Chicago Cubs fan and loves the game of baseball and was the former head coach at Parkland. Sue loves the sport of volleyball and has been coaching for all 27 years at Illinois Central.
When asked the following questions, these two had following insights:
Why do you recommend the NJCAA to student-athletes?
Rod: I truly believe the NJCAA is the best place to begin your education and continue your athletic career. The NJCAA also allows the student-athlete an easier transition and allows them to make a better decision about their athletic and academic futures.
Sue: It's a great place to start their academic and athletic collegiate experiences. They can solidify what they want to study and compete as freshmen and sophomore. The experiences and exposure during those two years often times open more doors and scholarship opportunities for them, while saving money the first two years.
What do you enjoy the most about being a Region Director?
Rod: The opportunity to see and interact with so many student-athletes from so many different sports.
Sue: The relationships and learning from each other. It's important to understand where we have come from and to see the big picture to move forward. Bringing that knowledge and resources to our region for national participation and hosting of events.
What do you enjoy the most about the NJCAA?
Rod: I thoroughly enjoy working with others to help make the NJCAA the best possible organization that we can be for all of our student-athletes
Sue: The association's focus on student-athletes first and providing opportunities for ALL.
Tell us something special about your region.
Rod: The last two years, we have seen two rival Region schools compete for the Division II Volleyball Championship – Parkland and Lincoln Land.
Sue: Wabash Valley softball coach Paul Schnarre recently became the winningest coach in the NJCAA and top five nationally across all collegiate divisions and associations.