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Smith AD Wins Athletics Award

Lynn Oberbillig, director of athletics, is named the recipient of the second annual Heights Award, which recognizes leaders in Massachusetts women's sports.

Excerpted from a press release from the Mass. State Lottery, Jan. 7, 2008.

BOSTON—The Massachusetts State Lottery and Boston College Athletics today announced that Belchertown’s Lynn Oberbillig is the recipient of the second annual “Heights Award.”

The Heights Award, presented by the Massachusetts State Lottery, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of women's sports and who inspire girls and women through influence or personal achievement. The award is earned by long-term commitment, demonstration, and dedication to the growth of women’s athletics.

“The Heights Award honors people who create opportunities and inspire others to become involved in women’s athletics,” said State Treasurer Tim Cahill, who serves as Lottery Chairman. “Ms. Oberbillig is a longtime teacher, coach and organizer of women’s sports in Western Massachusetts. Her efforts reflect the Lottery’s commitment to helping improve our cities and towns.”

Oberbillig, the Director of Athletics at Smith College, is a highly accomplished athletic administrator, college professor, coach, official and volunteer. She has worked at the youth, high school and collegiate levels for more than 16 years in a variety of women’s sports, including softball, basketball and golf.
 
Oberbillig teaches in the Exercise and Sport Studies Department at Smith and is a board member of several athletic committees, including the Northampton Suburban Girls Basketball Board and United Way Golf Tournament Committee.
 
For ten years, Oberbillig served as the softball head coach and assistant basketball coach at Division I Nicholls State University. She recorded more than 300 wins with her softball team and helped lead the basketball squad to two NIT tournaments.
 
In 1996, Oberbillig initiated the National Girls and Women’s Sports clinics to promote the benefits of physical fitness. More than 2,000 girls from the third through sixth grades have attended her clinics throughout Western Massachusetts.