Tucked inside Simpson College’s athletic department sit three women who help keep the operation moving, often without any spotlight. Among the five-person staff is coordinator of internal operations, Ryleigh Collum; director of athletics communications, Emma Christensen; and the assistant director of athletics, senior women administrator and compliance coordinator, Tara Rehmeier. These women make up an essential trio and ensure Simpson sports function smoothly.

Their work rarely appears in headlines, but without them, games wouldn’t start on time, statistics wouldn’t be recorded, stories wouldn’t be told and student-athletes wouldn’t receive the support they rely on.

Collum’s role is rooted in operations, taking care of the planning, logistics and endless to-do lists which keeps teams moving forward. She also supports coaches with their day-to-day responsibilities, which fall outside of practice and competition.

“I think I’m able to help behind the scenes more so that way, the coaches are able to coach and not have to worry,” Collum said. 

The work often includes scheduling, event preparation and managing the details that most people never see. She also advises the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and helps grow its campus presence and community involvement.

Rehmeier’s titles span nearly every corner of the department, doing whatever she can for athletics.

“We have very stressful, very long days; but the fact that I’ll speak for myself, I like who I’m working with and I trust who I’m working with is huge,” Rehmeier said. “I would say when I’m in the office, I put out fires and answer questions.” 

As assistant athletic director, she handles day-to-day operations and unexpected issues. Though each role she serves carries its own demand.

As a senior women’s administrator, she creates a place for female athletes to go when they want to talk. 

“It’s an undefined role,” she said, “but one I feel very fortunate to have and one that’s important on campus.”

Finally, as the compliance coordinator, Rehmeier meets with the students of concern committee to identify athletes who need a nudge or additional support. Along with this, she is the person students and coaches go to with questions about National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules. Rehmeier makes sure Simpson stays within the rules.

Christensen leads Simpson’s athletic communications, managing everything from game-day statistics to creative content.

Along with her team, including student workers, she handles game coverage, recaps, social media, photography, video, website updates and media relations. If a post goes up online, a photo gets shared or a statistic appears on the website, Christensen is usually behind it.

“I work to elevate our programs by telling stories, strengthening our brand, and creating visibility for our student-athletes, both on campus and beyond,” Christensen said. 

Her position requires creativity, accuracy and the ability to pivot quickly, especially when multiple teams are competing at once. On busy days, she coordinates her student workers to work events, all well update live statistics, write recaps and make social media posts after each event.

Though they now work side-by-side, each woman took a very different and unexpected path to Simpson athletes.

Rehmeier has been with Simpson the longest, though her journey into sports administration began long before she knew it could become a career.

“I was pathless. I had a path but I just didn’t know I had a path,” Rehmeier said when describing her journey before Simpson. 

Rehmeier started working at the Show-Me State Games when she was 14 years old. She began as a volunteer, but was invited back year after year, and soon started getting paid. She worked there for more than five summers and even returned during her summers while in college.

“It never occurred to me that it could be a career. It was fun and I loved it and I loved the people,” she said.

When she moved to Indianola for her husband’s job at Simpson, she stayed home with her children before a part-time athletics job opened on campus. She applied, stepped into the role and eventually moved into full-time administration.

Christensen’s connection to Simpson began long before her professional life. She was once a Simpson undergraduate student.

“I didn’t even know this role existed when I started college, but once I got involved in athletic communications, I knew I’d found something I loved,” Christensen said.

As a student, she gained experience working in athletics while also learning from staff like Rehmeier.

After earning her master’s degree from Upper Iowa University, Christensen returned to Simpson. She moved into the athletics communication role soon after her return.

“I never expected my path to bring me back to Simpson as director, but I’m grateful it did,” Christensen said,.” Being able to contribute to a place that has poured so much into me is something I value everyday.”

Now, she and Rehmeier work as colleagues and friends after existing as mentor and student.

“I wouldn’t want to do my job without her guidance, trust and support,” Christensen said.

Collum took yet another route. She fell in love with sports operations while she served as a track manager in high school. When she visited the University of Iowa, she learned about the sport and recreation management major and immediately knew it was for her.

She became Iowa’s track manager, earning three Big Ten championship rings during her time with the program. After graduation, she began applying for jobs and saw Simpson.

“I’ve really enjoyed the family aspect of Simpson,” Collum said. “When I came here on campus, everybody was excited to meet me and there was just something about that that made me feel special.”

For all three women, the heart of their work lies in the student-athletes they support.

Rehmeier often works with students facing eligibility or academic situations.

“I hope students know that sometimes I have to be associated with giving bad news. Sometimes I have to tell somebody that they’re not eligible to play,” Rehmeier said. “I hope athletes know that I hate that part of my job. It brings me joy to see those athletes that can overcome that.”

Christensen focuses on celebrating athletes’ big moments like records, milestones, honors and personal triumphs.

“I want students to feel supported, celebrated and confident their accomplishments will be recognized,” she said. “I hope they know I’m always in their corner.”

Collum hopes athletes know they can come to her, especially women navigating roles in sports or leadership.

“I think it’s cool that I can be a resource for the women on campus if they ever need it,” she said.

All three women grew up seeing strong female mentors in sports, and each believes in the importance of representation.

“Being a woman in sports is about showing there’s space for women in every part of this industry – on the field, behind the camera, in leadership, and everywhere in between,” Christensen said. “It’s empowering to be a part of a community pushing for visibility and equity, and it’s meaningful to know I’m helping make the path a little wider for women coming after me.”

Collum echoed this as she reflected on the female mentors she had at Iowa and in high school.

To Rehmeier, the best part of being a woman in sports is simple: she doesn’t see herself as different. 

“I don’t feel like I’m any different than anybody else other than I put my hair up in a ponytail at the end of the day,” she said. “That’s the biggest difference.”

Whether they’re updating stats from the press box, coordinating an event or answering an athlete’s question, the women in Simpson’s athletic department show up every day for the student-athletes they serve.

Their work is often invisible, and their names don’t appear in headlines. But athletes, coaches and fans feel the impact of their efforts at every practice, game and moment in between. 

As Collum put it, “The team behind the team.”