After juggling both the responsibilities of athleticdirector and women?s volleyball coach for the past twoyears, Sacramento State?s Debby Colberg recentlyannounced that she will be vacating the athleticdirector position -? a position she has held sinceFeb. 10, 1999.

Colberg, however, will remain as coach of the women?svolleyball team.

“I like coaching and I want to stay coaching,” saidColberg, who will not fully relinquish the positionuntil her successor is named. “I knew I didn?t want tobe (athletic director) for a long time. I love tocoach and it?s too hard to do both.”

Though the rigors of handling both positions may havebeen strenuous at times, the juggling act had littleeffect on the success of both roles. During Colberg?stenure as athletic director, 10 athletic programs haveenjoyed their best seasons since making the transitionto Div. I play.

And, at the same time, her women?s volleyball team hasnever missed a beat, continuing its dominance over theBig Sky Conference. Sac State garnered a share of itsfifth-consecutive regular season championship thispast season, riding a season-best eight game winningstreak while finishing with an overall record of 20-9.

“I don?t think it really affected what we were doingon the court,” said Colberg, who has enjoyed a 63-31overall record and a 37-9 conference record sincetaking over as athletic director.

While multi-tasking didn?t seem to have an affect onher teams? performance on the courts, Colberg began tonotice subtle internal changes in her volleyballprogram. And, for a program that has amassed nearly700 wins under her tutelage, change isn?t necessarilya good thing.

“In recruiting, I had to rely on my assistants a lotmore,” Colberg said. “Also, I wasn?t able to give myplayers the individual attention away from the court.”

Despite making some personal and professionalsacrifices along the way, Colberg relished her timespent as athletic director. With the weight andwelfare of the athletic programs under her wing,Colberg seemed to flourish. After making $400,000worth of renovations to Hornet Gym (switching fromtraditional wood bench seating to chair-back seating),she was able to bring both the men?s and women?sbasketball programs back to the Sac State campus andits students.

Both the men and women?s basketball programs shiftedtheir home court to Memorial Auditorium just beforethe 1996-97 season, after Hornet Gym was deemedunsuitable for Div. I basketball by the Big SkyConference. The Big Sky?s biggest criticism of HornetGym was its seating arrangements and aesthetic value.

After making the necessary adjustments, the women?sprogram returned during the 1999-00 season while themen?s program returned a year later.

Colberg?s cosmetic touch-ups didn?t end there. Asidefrom receiving a scoreboard, Hornet Field ? which ishome to both the men?s and women?s soccer programs -?is scheduled to recieve new sod next fall.

She also improved the academic support given toathletes, expanding upon both the full-time staff andathletic advising program.

“It has been fun being the athletic director,” Colbergsaid. “Having significant input in the way ( theathletic program) goes was fun. It?s going to be hardletting go of some areas.” Namely the social andprofessional circles she has been introduced to alongthe way.

During her two-year stay as athletic director, Colbergworked on building relationships with those within thecampus community that volleyball sometimes shelteredher from.

“I enjoyed meeting with the different constituents oncampus, working with different professors, deans andsuch,” Colberg said. “I enjoyed making thoserelationships.”

Though there has been speculation about who might bestepping in as Sac State?s new athletic director,Colberg is confident her successor won?t be nameduntil June. Until that time she will remain as thetemporary athletic director.