LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College Director of Athletics
Jason Fein announced Monday the appointment of
Adrienne Shibles '91 as Associate Director of Athletics, effective July 3.
Following a legendary women's basketball coaching career of 29 years, Shibles now makes the transition from the coaching ranks to a full-time role as an administrator.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Adrienne back to Bates," Fein said. "From her days as a star student-athlete with the Bobcats, to her incredible tenure as head coach with Bowdoin College, Adrienne knows the intricacies of the NESCAC student-athletes, coaches and staff extremely well. She will have a chance to make an immediate impact in building, working, and mentoring relationships with the Bobcats!"
Upon her arrival, Adrienne will provide strategic leadership for the department, as well as vision in the design, implementation, and assessment of student-athlete growth, with a focus on leadership development, academic success, health and well-being, and equity and inclusion.
Adrienne will also serve as a bridge between the Advancement and Athletics departments, assisting in the cultivation of fundraising efforts, and will help further the development of the Friends of Bates Athletics giving program. Further, she will oversee a coach development program, focusing on the successful onboarding and support for head coaches and assistant coaches during their tenure at Bates.
"I am thrilled for the opportunity to return home to Bates and to collaborate with passionate and principled coaches, administrators, and campus partners," said Shibles. "I would like to extend a special thank you to
Jason Fein and (Deputy Director of Athletics)
Celine Cunningham for their support throughout the process; I'm so excited to work alongside these two progressive leaders in serving the athletic department and greater Bates community."
"From its inception, Bates welcomed all to its campus and continues to promote inclusivity, equity, and social justice as its guiding principles. I am honored to work at an institution that has always embraced these values, and I'm eager to give back to the community that provided me such a transformational life experience as a young woman."
Originally from Knox, Maine and graduate of Mount View High School (Thorndike, Maine), Shibles brought her talents to Lewiston where she netted over 1,000 career points for the Bobcats.
Shibles earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Bates before moving on to Smith College to achieve a Master of Science in exercise & sports studies.
After a successful nine-year tenure as Associate Professor of Physical Education and Head Women's Basketball Coach at Division III Swarthmore (PA) College, Adrienne returned to her home state to serve as Dean of Athletics and Co-curricular Programs at Gould Academy, a college preparatory school in Bethel, Maine.
It would then be off to Brunswick, Maine where Shibles would make an indelible name for herself as Head Women's Basketball Coach for Bowdoin College. Adrienne proceeded to collect the most career wins in program history (281-67) while recording two NESCAC championships, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, and back-to-back NCAA Division III title game appearances (2018-19).
An August 2022 inductee into the Maine Basketball Hall-of Fame, Shibles capped her coaching career serving two seasons (2021-23) at the helm for Division I Dartmouth College.
"My twenty-nine years as a collegiate coach were incredibly rewarding, and over that time I was privileged to collaborate with dedicated and passionate student-athletes," added Shibles. "Through the wins and losses, the relationships built through coaching have always been the most fulfilling part of the job, and serving the Bates Athletic Department will give me the opportunity to continue to coach and mentor in a different capacity. Though my role has changed, my purpose as an educator remains the same: to support and empower others."
