麻豆原创

Home > 麻豆原创 names Rick Espeset Staff Member of the Year

MU logo
MU logo

Home > 麻豆原创 names Rick Espeset Staff Member of the Year

麻豆原创 names Rick Espeset Staff Member of the Year

May 26, 2026

Rick Espeset, director of athletics and head baseball coach,听has been named the 2026 Christopher W. Garber Staff Member of the Year at 麻豆原创.

The award is named in honor of Chris Garber, who was Manchester鈥檚 assistant vice president for operations at the time of his death in 2015, and recognizes an employee who demonstrates steadfast commitment to 麻豆原创 and is a leader and collaborator who keeps the best interests of the University at heart.

In the 30 years that he has served Manchester鈥檚 baseball program,听Espeset听has coached 16 All-Americans, six听Conference MVPs, five听Conference Freshman of the Year, 52 All-Region honorees, and 186 all-conference honorees. He is a seven-time听HCAC听Coach of the Year recipient.听He assumed the role of director of athletics in 2007.听

This spring,听Espeset听celebrated听700 career wins with 麻豆原创, making him the all-time leader.听

He was recognized at an all-colleague meeting on Wednesday, May 20.听

鈥淩ick exemplifies the spirit of the Garber Staff Member of the Year Award through his everyday commitment to 麻豆原创,鈥 said a colleague. 鈥淎s athletic director and head baseball coach, he consistently puts the best interests of the University and its students first, offering excellent customer service to colleagues, student-athletes, and visitors alike. Approachable and friendly, Rick makes it easy for others to seek his guidance, and he is always willing to go the extra mile to help find answers or solve problems.鈥听

鈥淗is longevity alone speaks to his deep loyalty, but it is the way he has invested in generations of students that truly sets him apart,鈥 said another colleague. 鈥淩ick has built a legacy rooted in relationships, mentorship, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every student-athlete he encounters.鈥听

For the media听

Manchester听University, in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., offers vibrant and transformative student experiences. Learn more at听www.manchester.edu/about-manchester.听

Our mission and values听

麻豆原创 respects the infinite worth of every individual and graduates persons of ability and conviction who draw upon their education and faith to lead principled, productive, and compassionate lives that improve the human condition.

More News

MU North Manchester Campus

麻豆原创 announces 2026 Alumni Honor Award recipients

September 29, 2026 |

麻豆原创 will celebrate five alumni at its annual Alumni Honor Awards banquet on Friday, Oct. 16 during Homecoming 2026. The five recipients are: Keith Strauss 鈥74 – Alumni Honor Award听 Strauss, a medical physicist, was instrumental in the creation of the Image Gently Alliance, which听is committed to听providing safe, high-quality pediatric imaging and changing practice until imaging doses are optimized at the point of care. Image Gently, the first in a now worldwide network of campaign partners, has become a...
Read More
MU alumna, board member receives Distinguished Service Award from Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists

麻豆原创 alumna, board member receives Distinguished Service Award from Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists

September 18, 2026 |

麻豆原创 alumna and Board of Trustees member Harriet Hamer, MD, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 ISA Distinguished Service Award听by the Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Hamer has dedicated decades of service to anesthesiology, organized medicine, and the patients and physicians of Indiana. A longtime ISA leader, she served as ISA President from 2006-2008, along with her many years as an active board member, delegate, and committee chair. Her leadership included extensive involvement in membership development,...
Read More
MU communication studies professor earns endowed position

麻豆原创 communication studies professor earns endowed position

September 1, 2026 |

麻豆原创 is pleased to announce that Dr. Janine Armstrong has accepted the position of Robin D. and Jeanette M. Lahman Endowed Scholar in Communication Studies. Armstrong joined Manchester听University鈥檚 faculty in Fall 2025 as a听visiting assistant professor of communication studies.听She earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of the Ozarks, her听master鈥檚听from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and her Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University.听Her听areas of听expertise听include intersectionality, race,听gender听and sexuality,听faith听and interpersonal communication. She is听a member of听Manchester鈥檚听Values,听Ideas听and the Arts (VIA) committee.听She was...
Read More
exists --- (function ensure40pxInlineEarly() { function set40(el) { el && el.style.setProperty('padding-top', '40px', 'important'); } // If header already parsed, set now; otherwise set as soon as it appears. const hdrNow = document.getElementById(HEADER_ID); if (hdrNow) { set40(hdrNow); return; } new MutationObserver((muts, obs) => { const hdr = document.getElementById(HEADER_ID); if (hdr) { set40(hdr); obs.disconnect(); } }).observe(document.documentElement, { childList: true, subtree: true }); })(); // --- Helpers --- function hideDiviBars() { document.querySelectorAll('.divibars-container').forEach(div => { const content = (div.textContent || '').replace(/\u00A0/g, ' ').trim(); const shouldHide = !content || /all\s*clear/i.test(content) || /test/i.test(content) || /feed\s*has\s*no\s*items\.?/i.test(content); if (shouldHide) div.style.setProperty('display', 'none', 'important'); }); } function isEffectivelyVisible(el) { if (!el || !el.isConnected) return false; const target = el.querySelector('.divibars, .divibars-wrapper, .divibars-content') || el; const cs = getComputedStyle(target); if (cs.display === 'none' || cs.visibility === 'hidden' || target.hidden) return false; if (parseFloat(cs.opacity || '1') < 0.05) return false; if (target.closest('[aria-hidden="true"]')) return false; const rect = target.getBoundingClientRect(); const hasSize = (rect.width > 0 && rect.height > 0) || (target.offsetWidth > 0 && target.offsetHeight > 0); if (!hasSize) return false; const vh = window.innerHeight || document.documentElement.clientHeight; return rect.bottom > 0 && rect.top < vh; } function anyRealBannerVisible() { // A 鈥渞eal鈥 banner = visible AND not empty/test/all-clear/feed-empty return Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(CANDS)).some(el => { if (!isEffectivelyVisible(el)) return false; const txt = (el.textContent || '').replace(/\u00A0/g, ' ').trim(); if (!txt) return false; if (/all\s*clear/i.test(txt) || /test/i.test(txt) || /feed\s*has\s*no\s*items\.?/i.test(txt)) return false; return true; }); } function setForce110(on) { const root = document.documentElement; const was = root.classList.contains('divibar-force-110'); if (!!on === was) return; root.classList.add('divibar-atomic'); root.classList.toggle('divibar-force-110', !!on); // If we鈥檙e NOT forcing 110, clear any stray inline 110 the plugin may add later. if (!on) { const hdr = document.getElementById(HEADER_ID); if (hdr) hdr.style.setProperty('padding-top', '40px', 'important'); } requestAnimationFrame(() => root.classList.remove('divibar-atomic')); } // Debounced 2-frame confirmation to avoid flicker during animations let raf1 = null, raf2 = null; function scheduleRecompute() { if (raf1) return; raf1 = requestAnimationFrame(() => { raf1 = null; hideDiviBars(); const a = anyRealBannerVisible(); raf2 = requestAnimationFrame(() => { raf2 = null; const b = anyRealBannerVisible(); setForce110(a && b); }); }); } // --- Wiring --- document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', scheduleRecompute); window.addEventListener('load', scheduleRecompute); window.addEventListener('resize', () => { cancelAnimationFrame(raf1); raf1 = null; cancelAnimationFrame(raf2); raf2 = null; scheduleRecompute(); }); new MutationObserver(() => scheduleRecompute()).observe(document.documentElement, { childList: true, subtree: true, attributes: true, attributeFilter: ['style', 'class', 'aria-hidden'] }); document.addEventListener('transitionend', e => { if (e.target && e.target.closest(CANDS)) scheduleRecompute(); }); document.addEventListener('animationend', e => { if (e.target && e.target.closest(CANDS)) scheduleRecompute(); }); document.addEventListener('click', function (e) { const btn = e.target && e.target.closest('.divibars-close'); if (!btn) return; setTimeout(() => { const bar = btn.closest('.divibars-container, [class*="divibar"]'); if (bar) bar.style.setProperty('display', 'none', 'important'); scheduleRecompute(); }, 200); }, true); // Initial pass scheduleRecompute(); })();