Stacy Middleton Resigns After Two Decades of Impact at Bethel College

5/15/2025 1:46:00 PM

North Newton, Kan. - After 22 years of dedication to Bethel College as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator, Stacy Middleton has announced her resignation as Athletic Operations Administrator and Senior Woman Leader. Her final day at Bethel will be May 30.

Stacy's presence in Bethel Athletics has been impossible to miss—because she's been involved in nearly everything. From scheduling and operations to mentoring students and leading programs, Stacy has been a vital part of making things run smoothly behind the scenes and on the sidelines. Her selfless approach, incredible attention to detail, and tireless work ethic made her an irreplaceable part of the athletic department.

"Her passion for Bethel College and our athletic programs is second to none," said Athletic Director Tim Swartzendruber. "Her attention to detail and how much she cares about Bethel were evident in her every day work ethic. We wish her the best in her next endeavor."

Stacy's Bethel journey began as a student-athlete, recruited on a track scholarship by George "Jolly" Rogers—even while recovering from an ACL injury.

As a student, she competed in volleyball, basketball, and track & field—earning 2x All-American honors in javelin, setting records, and eventually being inducted into the Bethel Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

In 2007, Stacy returned to Bethel as an assistant volleyball and track coach, later becoming the inaugural head coach of the softball program in 2011 and the head volleyball coach in 2017. Her impact as a coach went far beyond wins and losses—she built lifelong relationships with her players, mentoring them into strong, confident young adults. Her players knew they had a coach who would fight for them, care deeply about them, and show up every day with consistency and belief in who they were becoming.

In 2020, she transitioned into her current role as Athletic Operations Administrator and Associate Head Softball Coach, while also serving as the college's first Senior Woman Leader. Her involvement in athletics only expanded—helping lead the SALT program, co-leading FCA, and supporting nearly every team and coach at Bethel in one way or another.

Reflecting on her time, Stacy said, "(Bethel) has been a place for me to grow as a person and as a leader. I have had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful people throughout my time here… I am grateful for those who have been great mentors to me and are now dear friends."

She takes pride in mentoring student-athletes and watching them grow into leaders. "I worked for Diane Flickner, who at the time was our AD, and she taught me many life lessons while I was a student-athlete. I wanted to be able to pass that along to future students." Among her proudest moments are the foundation of the softball program and being selected as the 2024 Commencement speaker.

"The relationships that have been created with coaches, staff, faculty, and our students and athletes are amazing and I cherish those," she said. "I have lifelong friends who all stem from my time at Bethel College."

Stacy hopes she's remembered as "someone who was dedicated, loyal, and cared about Bethel. Someone they knew would get the job done and could count on if they needed help." And anyone who's worked with her would say exactly that.

And of course, her legacy wouldn't be complete without a nod to her favorite tradition: Taco Tuesdays.

Stacy Middleton leaves behind a legacy rooted in servant leadership, dependability, and unwavering care for Bethel College and its people. Her impact will be felt long after her last day on May 30.

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