December 14, 2009
Stacey (Stegeman) Lambert, a 2001 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Quincy, Illinois and IHSA volleyball state champion, will be promoted to the role of Assistant Executive Director for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) effective on July 1, 2010. Lambert will be the 31st member to serve on the IHSA administrative staff after being officially appointed during an Association Board Meeting on December 14, 2009.
“Stacey has been an integral part of our team since she started at the IHSA and we are excited to have her join our administrative staff,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “She has been successful in all her endeavors thus far at the IHSA and exudes the confidence, intellect and drive to be a terrific administrator.”
Lambert is currently serving as the IHSA’s Coordinator of Marketing & Special Events. She served as an intern at the IHSA in the spring of 2007 and was hired in her current role in February 2008. Lambert follows Sue Hinrichsen, who announced she will retire at the conclusion of the 2009-10 school year after 18 years of service. She will serve as the administrator for the sports of girls and boys volleyball, with further sports to be assigned before the start of the 2010-11 school term.
“I am very appreciative of the opportunity to join the IHSA administrative staff and am confident that my previous experience here will help me transition into my new position,” said Lambert. “I believe that having the ability to learn from a legend like Sue (Hinrichsen) over the remainder of this school year, coupled with my positive attitude and work ethic, will help put me in a position to successfully serve our member schools.”
Lambert’s current duties at the IHSA include the preparation and execution of two of the organization’s largest events, the March Madness Experience and the IHSA Academic All-State Team presented by Caterpillar. The March Madness Experience is held annually at the Peoria Convention Center in conjunction with the IHSA Boys Basketball State Final Tournaments. It features over 20 interactive family fun basketball activities that encompass the 100,000-plus square feet of the Convention Center’s four exhibit halls. The Academic All-State Team annually selects 26 of the top students in the state from a pool of over 500 applicants and culminates with a banquet in their honor.
“My experiences as a student-athlete in high school and college have helped shape my career path and who I am today.” added Lambert. “The opportunity to administer programs like the Academic All-State Team and March Madness Experience, and have a hand in countless other IHSA initiatives, has allowed me to see firsthand the positive impact the IHSA has on so many people.”
Lambert was a member of the 1998 Quincy (Notre Dame) volleyball team that won the IHSA Class A State Championship. She continued her education at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, where she enjoyed a decorated volleyball career that included CCIW All-Conference honors in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Lambert earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Athletic Training from Millikin in 2005 and went on to receive a Masters of Science Degree in Sports Management from Illinois State University in Normal in 2007.
During her time at Illinois State, Lambert served as a Graduate Assistant in the school’s Department of Recreation Services, where she managed a multitude of recreational sports leagues and helped promote the Recreation Services programs. In addition, she served as the junior varsity volleyball head coach at University High School in Normal in 2006 and 2007.
Stacey and her husband John reside in Bloomington.
1. The Board approved a recommendation to extend the IHSA’s State Final Merchandise Contract with Minerva through the 2014-15.
2. The Board approved a recommendation for the following Board Meeting dates for 2010-11:
Monday, August 9 at IHSA Office
Monday, September 13 at IHSA Office
Tuesday, October 12 at IHSA Office
Tuesday, October 19 at IPA Conference Luncheon
Monday, December 13 at IHSA Office
Monday, January 10 IHSA Office
Monday, February 7 at IHSA Office
Saturday, March 19 at Peoria
Tuesday, April 19 at IHSA Office
Monday, June 13 at IHSA Office
3. The Board approved a recommendation to approve a plan to require online registrations, renewals, testing and rules meetings for IHSA Licensed Officials beginning with the 2010-11 school term.
4. The Board approved a recommendation to revise the Foreign Exchange Student Eligibility Policy. The new policy will allow direct placements to participate during the regular-season, provided there is no evidence of recruiting. They will be ineligible for State Series competition. Conferences can continue to choose to limit a Direct Placement student’s ability to participate in conference play.
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the December 14, 2009, agenda: