Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with Barbara (Barb) Barrows
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Sports Stories - IHSA Oral History project
Interview # SIH-A-L-2017-031
Barbara (Barb) Barrows, Athletic Director for the newly created Neuqua Valley High School, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Sports Stores – Illinois High School Association Oral History project.
Interview dates & location:
Date: Apr 24, 2017 Location: Neuqua Valley High School, Naperville, IL
Interview Format: Digital audio
Interviewer: Philip Pogue, ALPL volunteer
Transcription by: _________________________
Edited by: _______________________________
Total Pages: ______ Total Time: 1:49 / 1.82 hrs.
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on June 22, 2017.
The interview is archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2017 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
Barbara (Barb) Barrows, Sports Stories-IHSA, SIH-A-L-2017-031
Biographical Information Overview of Interview Barb Barrows was born in Joliet, Illinois in March, 1960. She graduated from Plainfield High School in 1978, where she competed in track for four years, including the 4 x100 at the state meet. Barb was also on the school’s cheerleading squad. After high school graduation, she attended Lewis College and then transferred to University Wisconsin- LaCrosse where she majored in physical education, graduating in 1982. Returning home, Barb taught and coached soccer and softball at Waubonsie Valley High School for thirteen years. Earning a Masters from Illinois State in educational administration, Barb then became an assistant athletic director at Waubonsie Valley. In 1996 Barrows became the first athletic director at the new high school, Neuqua Valley. The school opened in 1997, initially with only freshmen and sophomores. She has served as the school’s athletic director for twenty years, overseeing twenty-eight team sports, 2000 student athletes, and 120 coaches. For her accomplishments, the Indian Prairie School Board renamed the athletic stadium after her. Barb also had served in an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) advisory capacity for the sports of badminton and gymnastics. In 2016, Barb received the Illinois Athletic Directors Award.
This interview covers Barrows’ involvement with the IHSA through her experiences as a high school athlete, coach, and athletic director. She discusses the responsibilities of the athletic director for a brand new high school. In the twenty years of Neuqua Valley history, the school has won thirty-seven IHSA State Trophies in thirteen different sports, ten of which were state titles. Barb also discusses a typical day for an athletic director, and the major duties of budgeting, scheduling, hiring and evaluating, maintaining facilities, partnering sport facilities with park districts and private golf/bowling locations, and working with parents and booster groups. She also discusses the difficulties involved with conference affiliation, including school size, football playoff challenges, and school compatibility. Many new programs were added over the years, the latest being lacrosse. Barrows also looks at the role IHSA plays in establishing by-laws that create a uniform standard statewide as well as future challenges that may impact school sports.
Subject Headings/Key Words: Neuqua Valley High School; Creating a sports program at a brand new school; duties of an athletic director; Illinois High School Association; high school badminton; high school level special Olympics; conference realignment for IL high schools;
Note to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.
COPYRIGHT
The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone (217) 785-7955