Staff Spotlight: Liz DeFelice

This is the second in a biweekly series spotlighting the men and women behind the scenes supporting Temple Athletics.

Liz DeFelice joined the Temple Athletics as the Head Equipment Manager for Olympic Sports in July, 2014, and was promoted to Director of Equipment Operations in June, 2017. In her role, she oversees the equipment operation for all 19 varsity sports teams at Temple.

Prior to coming to Temple in 2014, DeFelice worked as an assistant equipment manager at Northwestern University for seven years. She also served in a similar role at the University of Central Florida from 2006-07 and was an intern at UCF for one year before that.

DeFelice earned a bachelor's degree in physical education, sport and fitness from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., in 2005. She also earned a minor in business administration.

You are in your ninth year here at Temple. Can you talk about your decision to leave Northwestern and join the Owls' equipment staff?
"Cecilia Snipes, who worked here as my direct supervisor when I arrived, asked me if I would come and help her out at Temple as the equipment room needed some reorganizing. I said sure. I did not feel I was going to move up at Northwestern, so this was an opportunity for me to move forward in my career. So that was my reason for coming here."

Talk about the transition from assistant to head equipment manager. How difficult was it at the start and how is it going now?
"When I first came here, I was head of Olympic sports, so I had everything but the basketball teams. That was a big role change for me from Northwestern as I only had seven sports there and I was an assistant. So, coming here was a big change. More work, but also more fun. I was able to work with other teams that I had not worked with before so that was fun. Some teams that I had never had the opportunity to be around I now had the chance to be around.

Then once I moved up to the director's position that was an even bigger change. In this role I have more duties. I deal with more people across campus which is nice, the President's Office, etc. People that I was never known as an equipment manager here. So, I get to deal with more people now in an administrative role but being around the student-athletes still is the best part of it. I am glad I still have that part of the job. I still do game days. I still do laundry, which I know does not sound like fun, but it is simple, and I like to be there for the athletes and do stuff for them. I also order the apparel, which is fun, but not in the same aspect. I just try to make everyone happy."

There are so many things that go into preparing teams for their season from an equipment standpoint. Can you talk about all that goes into your department that a fan may not realize?
"For equipment we must order six months in advance, so I am ordering in November for the next season. That is very tough. Not knowing teams' rosters, not knowing who will be on the roster, has become harder post-Covid because of the transfer portal. So now we are dealing with not knowing who is still going to be on the team the following year.

I am really getting better at ordering sizes, a little extra to provide a buffer for the next year as you have no idea who is coming in on your team. That has been the biggest challenge behind the scenes that people do not realize that we must order so far in advance.

Then game day we are there two hours before the game and then we are there until the laundry is done at the end. And the laundry after the game is not fun, especially if it is a tough game. So, we are here all day, and we are always here for the athletes. We are 24/7 for them. That is how I operate and how Ceci (Cecilia) did before I arrived."

How nice was it to be recognized for the amazing work you do when you were named the District 2 Equipment Manager of the Year?
"That was a cool thing to happen as the other equipment managers from around this area voted on that. So, to be recognized by our peers that do the same job as you and understand what you are going through every day was awesome.

I have stayed here so obviously I love it here. It was a great accomplishment for myself and then with Paige (Shinberg) receiving it a few years after me was even more amazing. To have two people honored from the same school does not normally happen. And Paige being at Football as a female is even more special."

Finally, what is your fondest memory of your time here at Temple?
"There are so many memories, but probably going on the foreign tour with men's basketball. Being able to go with that team on that trip was fun. Also, travelling with lacrosse to the NCAAs was awesome. To be with a team and share in their accomplishment was special."

Temple University Athletics

Staff Spotlight: Liz DeFelice

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