Albemarle athletic director Deb Tyson was already a Hall of Famer in the minds of her colleagues. Monday just made it official.
“Deb Tyson has been a mentor, someone many athletic directors in the area aspire to be,” said Western Albemarle athletic director Steve Heon. “She is fair, passionate and always professional.”
The VHSL announced Monday that Tyson will be inducted this summer in the VHSL Hall of Fame as a contributor alongside a class that includes running luminary Alan Webb of South Lakes High, former VHSL director Ken Tilley and Super Bowl champion Michael Robinson of Varina High.
“Deb is one of those rare individuals who have received a special gift for working with people, adults and students alike,” said Albemarle principal Jay Thomas. “Having had the opportunity to work with Deb the past eight years, I have witnessed firsthand her enthusiasm and passion for our students. Simply put, in my 16 years as a high school administrator, Deb is one of the most outstanding and talented educators/directors I have ever had the privilege to be around.”
Tyson has been the director of student activities at Albemarle since 1991, following a rather storied college athletic career at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. From there she went on to become a college volleyball coach at four different schools before landing at Albemarle. She played three sports for the Quakers, lining up in volleyball, basketball and for the school’s club softball team.
Current Charlottesville athletic director Rodney Redd served as Albemarle’s assistant athletic director under Tyson before heading to CHS, but his experience with Deb Tyson stretches much further back, to a conference over 13 years ago and a presentation Tyson made to new athletic administrators.
“She spoke about the many hats that an athletic director would have to wear for members of their school community,” Redd said. “After being across the sideline from her for some time and then being blessed with the opportunity to work directly with her for the past four years, I can say that she has modeled all of the things she spoke about 13 years ago.”
Tyson has won numerous awards as an administrator. She was named the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Administrator of the year in 2004 and the state award of merit from the National Interscholastic Administrators Association. She’s also in the Guilford College Hall of Fame. She was also instrumental in the formation of the state’s lacrosse tournament.
Tyson makes her biggest mark though in how personally she handles the day-to-day operations of Albemarle’s department.
“She runs her athletic department with a coach’s soul, a caring heart, and a level of integrity that is second to none,” Redd said.
Link to VHSL Hall of Fame release
