Knox College Prairie Fire Staff Spotlight: Lexie Vernon

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Lexie Vernon is the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance, Business, and Internal Operations/Senior Woman Administrator and serves as a member of the Athletics Department Senior staff. Vernon joined the Prairie Fire in 2010 as the Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer and has held the positions of Assistant Athletic Trainer (2011-2016), Assistant Softball Coach (2012, 2014, 2019-present), Assistant Director of Athletics (2016-2018) and Interim Co-Director of Athletics (2017) before assuming her current title in February 2019.

As the Department’s NCAA Compliance Administrator, Vernon monitors student-athlete eligibility, has oversight of all departmental NCAA and Midwest Conference compliance activities, provides regular compliance education to athletics department staff and student-athletes, and works closely with student-athletes and faculty to ensure academic success. Additionally, she has oversight of the day to day fiscal management of the athletics department and compiles information for various reports. Vernon has sport oversight of Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Cross Country, Track and Field, and Softball as well as day to day operational oversight of Men’s and Women’s Basketball.

As the Senior Woman Administrator since 2015, Vernon represents the department at MWC legislative meetings, serves as the Chair of the MWC SWA working group and served as the SWA representative on the 2019 MWC Strategic Planning Steering Committee.  Working closely with the Title IX coordinator and the Athletics Diversity & Inclusion Designee, Vernon is heavily involved in student-athlete and staff Title IX and Diversity and Inclusion education, awareness, and reporting and serves on various campus committees. She is also an NCAA Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Facilitator and has presented for athletics departments across the region since attending the inaugural training workshop in 2018.

1. What is your favorite Knox memory? 
November 3, 2018 – The women’s soccer team secured their third straight NCAA tournament berth by defeating St. Norbert 2-1 on Prats Field in the MWC Tournament Championship game. At the same time, Men’s Soccer was also playing for their first ever NCAA tournament appearance AT St. Norbert, vs St. Norbert in the Men’s MWC Tournament Championship. While watching the women’s game live from the sideline, we were streaming the men’s game to the soccer shed and getting a text update from Professor Welch. Both games were extremely intense, well played games. While on the field celebrating the women’s championship, we got news that the men’s team won! I ran up to President Amott and told her, “They did it! The men did it! They won!” and she immediately teared up. We announced over the speaker on Prats that the men had secured their championship, and the crowd went WILD! It was a great day for Knox
Athletics!

2. How has your experience coaching/ job changed over time? 
Well, I’ve held eight different titles in my ten years at Knox! When I started at Knox ten years ago, we had a much smaller staff, many part-time coaches, and limited administrative staff. With a commitment from the College and our amazing staff, we have been able to make amazing strides to provide a top-notch DIII student-athlete experience.  

3. If you could coach any sport (that you do not already coach) what would it be? (does not have to be a sport at Knox) 
Bowling!

4. What do you enjoy most about Division 3? 
I think Division III is the most pure form of sport. Student-athletes have trained their
entire lives to be able to compete at the College level – and so many do it just for the
love of the game. All while prioritizing their education. What could get better than that?

5. What advice would you give your younger self knowing where you are today? 
Be confident, but humble. It’s alright to not have all the answers, but be willing to put your thoughts and ideas out there. Your perspective is important.

6. What do you love most about your job? 
Our amazing student-athletes, faculty, staff that challenge me in new ways every single day. That sounds tough, but it has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally in ways I never could have imagined.  

“Campus is coming back to life this week with our students and athletes returning for fall term. They truly are the life of this place – Campus just isn’t the same without them. I am so proud of the way they have persevered through these challenging times,” said Lexie Vernon. “I’m also anxious to get back on the field with Knox Softball Team #45 to build on the progress from the spring and leave our legacy.” 

“Lexie is a very important member of this senior staff. Her responsibilities are mission-critical for us. She is organized and efficient and helps in so many ways beyond her administrative assignments,” said Director of Athletics, Daniella Irle. “I might be the luckiest Director of Athletics in the world to have an administrator of her quality to work with daily.”

***Story courtesy of Annie Gerdes & Knox College***

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