“I recognize God’s provision and leading in so many ways,” Olivia Leverette (Sport Management ’21) said. “He has brought multiple ‘full circle’ moments throughout my post-college career.” From a homeschooler dreaming of gymnastics to a head coach of a gymnastics team, Olivia has experienced many triumphs and challenges. Now Olivia shares the love of Christ and sports as athletics coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department of Shelbyville, TN.
Warming Up
Olivia grew up fascinated by athletics. “Though my family had little to do with sports as I grew up, focusing more on music and arts endeavors, I remember an interest in sports beginning young,” she said. Although she focused on other academic areas, Olivia enjoyed watching the Olympics and developed a passion for gymnastics. “I believe that I could credit watching the Olympics (as this was the only time my family tuned into sports) as what cemented in my mind the beauty and value of sports,” she said.
Personal experience enhanced Olivia’s appreciation of fitness. While in high school, Olivia found a volunteer opportunity at a local horse barn. Olivia said, “The park to me was a haven, the perfect weekend retreat, and a place where I had the wonderful opportunity to support special needs individuals as they rode horseback and developed equestrian skills.”
“With much interest in the physiology of the human body, the science of exercise, and sports, I chose to pursue a business degree with a concentration in sport management.”
Her volunteering became a deciding factor in choosing her college major. She said, “This volunteer job was another important piece in the puzzle of my passion for sport. It was undeniable the benefits of the outdoors, connection with the animals, but also the physical developments we witnessed through years working with differently abled athletes as they came back to ride each season. With much interest in the physiology of the human body, the science of exercise, and sports, I chose to pursue a business degree with a concentration in sport management.”
Learning the Routine
Olivia followed her siblings’ footsteps to Pensacola Christian College. Her four older siblings had attended the College, giving her a familiarity with the campus. Olivia knew it was a good fit for her financially and spiritually. “I was excited about attending PCC,” she said.
Olivia got involved in her collegian as athletic director, leading sports with her peers. She also co-led a Christian Service and served as team manager for the Lady Eagles. Olivia met her future husband, Dawson Leverette, while at PCC.
Her skills grew as well. While Olivia enjoyed the practical side of her sport management classes, she benefited most from the critical thinking skills her major taught. “Sport management faculty were always promoting students’ critical thinking abilities with detailed projects and class discussions,” Olivia said. “I believe that’s where the ‘rubber meets the road,’ so to speak, was in the class projects—the facility design project, the sport-specific athlete training program, the camp project, the physiology project—just to name a few.”
“The biblical training and spiritual focus of the PCC college experience helped make me feel more prepared spiritually as I progress through my adult life and career.”
But what influenced Olivia the most at PCC was the biblical foundation PCC fostered. She said, “The biblical training and spiritual focus of the PCC college experience helped make me feel more prepared spiritually as I progress through my adult life and career.” Chapel speakers and pastors encouraged her spiritual growth. “Most influential to my spiritual journey while at PCC was the teaching of Pastor Redlin at Campus Church,” Olivia said. “My spiritual growth at PCC led me to choose to be baptized during my sophomore year.”
Flying On the Bars
After graduating, Olivia married Dawson Leverette and began working. “Once I had married and moved to Tennessee, a family member introduced me to an acquaintance who was opening a gymnastics gym in town,” Olivia said.
Olivia became a head gymnastics coach and team program manager at a local Christian gymnastics company. Coaching wasn’t easy. “At one time I questioned whether I should continue, but God grew me through the challenges,” Olivia said. “By 2023 I was helping to develop a new recreational team program at the gym. I found passion for providing opportunities that I had not had and saw the incredible benefits of sports in youth up close.”
“My favorite part of my career so far has been coaching.”
Olivia enjoyed her roles as she managed the team. “My favorite part of my career so far has been coaching,” Olivia said. “Knowing I was able to help young athletes improve in the sport they love and gain confidence in their abilities in and out of the gym is something I value highly.”
Olivia continued to help young athletes when she transitioned jobs in 2024, becoming the athletics coordinator for Parks and Recreation Department, Shelbyville, TN. “My daily responsibilities as the athletics coordinator for the Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department include administrating various leagues, both youth and adult, advertising, recruiting and training coaches, obtaining team sponsors, and training referees,” she said. “Additionally, I keep up with ball field scheduling, setups, and lights for practices, games, and tournaments around our local parks.”
No two days are the same as Olivia manages schedules, budgets, and park equipment. Beyond the physical aspects of the job, Olivia also manages the personal side. “A typical challenge that I encounter as athletics coordinator is mediating human relations,” she explained. “Sports leagues involve many different people, and I encounter them often in heightened states of emotions; whether parents are watching their children play in rec leagues, adults are getting extremely passionate or even combative in a competitive game, or coaches get a little too serious about their team’s season record, my job often involves conflict resolution and de-escalation.”
Olivia Leverette takes it all in stride. While challenges exist, she focuses on the opportunities God has given her and will continue to give in the future. “My current position created a wonderful marriage of several passions: sports—and providing affordable opportunities to all ages and abilities; and the outdoors—encouraging people to get outside and interact with God’s creation. Full circle, once again.”
Read more about how God is directing and working through PCC faculty and alumni.