Hallenbeck and Show Named Garrett Co-Interim Athletic Directors

Eric Hallenbeck and Elizabeth Show – who both came to Garrett College 17 years ago – were recently appointed co-interim athletic directors for the 2021-22 academic year at Garrett College.
Hallenbeck, a McHenry resident, began his career at Garrett College in 2004 and has served as the men’s assistant director of athletics since 2019. He will continue as the head baseball coach for the Garrett Lakers and has won an impressive 379 games over 17 seasons. In addition to his coaching career at Garrett, he has an extensive history of coaching involvement in numerous activities and organizations.
“Liz and I both want every sport at Garrett College to be successful. Every year our goal is to bring in quality student athletes and now we want to bring in more of them,” said Hallenbeck, who obtained his bachelor of science in health and physical education with a concentration in coaching and health fitness from Frostburg State University. “We aim to add sports and possibly facilities to help our student athlete population grow.”
Since 2005, Show has worked in various capacities for Garrett College athletics – most recently as the women’s assistant athletic director. A resident of Confluence, Pa., she will also continue serving as head athletic trainer and the sports information director for the athletic department.
“In my new role, my main focus will be to grow the women’s athletic programs, while maintaining diversity and inclusivity for all sports,” noted Show, who earned a master of science in sports medicine from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor of science in athletic training from Waynesburg College.
Nikki Higgins, a former assistant women’s volleyball coach at Frostburg State University, will join the Garrett Lakers staff as the head women’s volleyball and softball coach and is ready to hit the ground running.
“I want to lay a foundation that leads to greatness. I’m looking forward to creating a culture that student athletes want to be a part of,” Higgins stated. “I’m even more excited to meet the current student athletes and get in the weight room, in the gym, and on the field.”
A four-year setter at the State University of New York Institute of Technology (SUNYIT), Higgins previously coached at Utica College. She also worked for Road Rebel, a global logistics and travel company, coordinating NCAA athletic team travel in Divisions I, II and III.
“I am a huge competitor and really do not like losing so obviously for both volleyball and softball I have goals of winning, but there is a process to get there,” explained Higgins. “My short-term goals for the athletics department are to recruit and retain athletes that are committed to being a part of Laker Nation and understand they are laying a foundation for the future.”
“We hope to build team unity and successful athletic programs for all student athletes,” Show remarked. “As in all sports, team work is the key to success, and I believe we have a great team of staff that will make things happen.”
Hallenbeck agrees wholeheartedly.
“Coach Gibson helped us get to where the state of the athletic department is today and Liz and I want to help take this department to another level in the future,” said Hallenbeck, referring to former Athletic Director and NJCAA Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Dennis Gibson, who retired August 1st. “JR (Robert “JR” Kerns, Dean of Student Affairs) and college administration played a huge role in getting the athletic department the resources and additional staff for us to be successful and help our programs grow. Now we just have to put the pieces together and work as a team to make that happen.”
Joan Chambers, who will be entering his fourth season as the founding coach of GC’s wrestling program, will take on additional duties as assistant athletic director.
Former men’s basketball player, JT Lewis, will return for his fifth season as head women’s basketball coach.
Dr. Dale Luy returns as head men’s and women’s cross country coach. Luy, who has over 40 years of cross country and track and field coaching experience, helped restart the cross country program in 2019. He also teaches sport management at GC.
Assistant athletic trainer Britta Lais will begin her second year after providing outstanding support to student athletes during a 2020-21 athletic year made very challenging by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m excited for the future of Garrett College athletics. I have full faith and confidence in Eric and Liz to lead us in this next phase of the athletic department,” remarked Kerns. “I know they will give all of our athletic programs the attention they deserve and our student athletes will benefit from their efforts.”
With Gibson’s recent retirement, the College will begin an immediate search for an interim coach for the 2021-22 men’s basketball season, with plans to have a full-time coach hired by next spring.