LIZ DENBIGH ’14
Meet our Assistant Athletic Director.
Liz Denbigh ‘14
Assistant Athletic Director
Role(s) at Shipley:
Assistant Athletic Director, Upper School Student Life Events Coordinator, and Head Coach of JV Girls BasketballEducation:
The Shipley School, 2014
B.A. in Marketing, Ithaca College, 2018
M.A. in Strategic Leadership, St. Bonaventure University, 2023
| Prior Professional Experience: |
| Before returning to Shipley, I worked in fashion consulting, where I developed skills in client relations, project and inventory management, and marketing. |
| How and why did you get into athletics/coaching/training? |
| I have played sports my entire life and always knew I wanted to get into coaching. After college, I coached AAU basketball and fell in love with teaching the game that helped me so much. While recovering from an injury and working another full-time job, my former coach at Shipley offered me an assistant basketball coaching position at the school. The following year, I joined Shipley full-time in the Athletic Office, and I've been fortunate to build a career that combines my love of sports, leadership, and community ever since. |
What is your coaching/teaching/professional philosophy or style? |
| My coaching philosophy is centered on creating an inclusive, supportive environment where every student-athlete feels valued and empowered to grow. I strive to build a culture that encourages hard work, accountability, resilience, and teamwork while helping students develop confidence in themselves both on and off the field or court. Success looks different for every athlete, and I believe every student deserves the opportunity to thrive! |
| Do you have any sports heroes or inspirations? If so, who are they and why? |
| Growing up, I admired many college and professional athletes, but my biggest sports hero has always been my Dad. From the time I was five years old, he made it a priority to attend every game and practice, help me get extra reps when I needed them, and travel wherever necessary to support me. He made countless sacrifices to provide opportunities for me to succeed and always offered encouragement, perspective, and advice along the way. His selflessness, dedication, and unwavering support have shaped who I am today, and I strive to bring those same qualities to my work at Shipley. |
What do you love about Shipley? |
| Shipley changed my life as a student, which is one of the reasons I feel so fortunate to be back here today. The support I received from teachers, coaches, and mentors was truly unmatched. Shipley provided a community where I felt encouraged to challenge myself, try new things, and take risks. It pushed me to become the best version of myself and prepared me well for both college and life beyond. What I love most now is having the opportunity to give back to a community that gave so much to me and getting to watch our students grow, thrive, and discover their own potential every day. |
What's one fun fact about you? |
| I am a certified scuba diver! |