Photo by Jessica Maloney,
UNH Human Resources

Motivation. Pride. Teamwork. Competition. Accomplishment. These words are often bandied about in the sports arena but they extend beyond playing fields. They are also indicative of the values that guide the athletics department, as is exemplified by Mark LaBarbera. As Mark himself states, "the Athletics Department is no different than any of the teams, it takes the efforts of many people to be successful. Working with the other staff in the department to find ways to help our sports programs improve is the most satisfying aspect of my job."

Mark came to the University of New Hampshire by way of North Carolina State University, where he had served as both the Associate and Assistant Athletics Director. As a matter of fact, he was initially interviewed at NC State by the legendary Jim Valvano. While the decision to leave one of the largest and most well known athletic colleges in the country for a job in Durham, NH may have been a difficult one for some, for LaBarbera it wasn't. "When you're at a school of that size (NC State) everyone seems to be more specialized," he says. "Here (UNH) I get to be involved with many more areas and broaden my knowledge base.

The responsibilities for Mark's current position are vast and include oversight of all the business operations of the Athletics Department, such as: the department's budget and finances; personnel; the BSC, and the Equipment Room. Mark is also responsible for serving as a hands-on administrator for several of the athletic programs. In this capacity, he not only attends games and meets, but also works directly with the coaches for the men's and women's basketball programs, the gymnastics program and the women's crew program to assist them in problem solving and planning. Mark solicits feedback from student athletes for each of these programs as part of a year-end evaluation process. He remains consistently impressed with the students, with their discipline and their ability to achieve in the classroom while maintaining a commitment to their chosen sport. He states "the students here are legitimate student athletes. The education they receive gives them abilities to fall back on…abilities that will allow them to contribute to the world in a meaningful way. Not only do they do well in the classroom, but their formal education is enhanced by their athletics. They must succeed at time management, setting goals and working as a team in order to participate. These are skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives." Mark states that the most enjoyable part of his job is "watching the student athletes improve during their time here and compete successfully."

In his spare time, Mark "loves to play golf". He and his wife have three children, 2 sons who are both in high school, and a daughter who is in first grade. He is also involved in the Young Life Program. "It's a Christian outreach program for high school kids. It gives them the opportunity to explore spiritual things. It's a way to have a positive influence on high school kids."

When asked who at the university has had a positive impact on him, Mark credits the UNH coaches. He has first-hand knowledge of their hard work and tremendous commitment. I'm constantly amazed at what our coaches have been able to accomplish with our often limited resources," he states. "They find a way to get it done. A tremendous testament to that is Robin Balducci (field hockey coach). Two years ago she took our women's field hockey team to the NCAA playoffs and we were the only school who played our games on grass. That's a HUGE accomplishment because field hockey is played on artificial turf!"