She’s a 1985 graduate of Lourdes who has worked with the Miami Dolphins and now leads the athletic program at her alma mater. A former social studies teacher, cheer coach, and soccer coach, she’s been in management of the athletic department since 1996. Passionate about sports and community, she’s expanded the program to offer more opportunities for student-athletes while instilling values of teamwork, faith, and sportsmanship. Meet Maura Herrholz, the woman driving athletics at Lourdes Academy.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in athletic administration, and how did you become the athletic director here?
A: Before I found my way back to Lourdes, I worked for the Miami Dolphins, specifically with the executive and club suites department. I also graduated from Lourdes in 1985 and returned to teach as a social studies teacher, as well as the cheer and soccer coach. I’ve always been involved in sports in some way, which stems from the fact that I come from a very sports-oriented family. When the athletic director position became available in 1996, the principal at the time, Sr. Susan actually approached me first and things kind of skyrocketed from there. This wasn’t in any way my original plan, but things sort of worked out in a way that I am very happy with.
Q: Were you an athlete in high school or college? If so, how did those experiences shape your approach as an athletic director?
A: I played soccer, as well as being a cheerleader when I was younger. I do think as an athlete, you learn many valuable life lessons that you wouldn’t normally learn in other circumstances. I learned how to be a part of a team and to hold myself to higher expectations, which I have tried to translate into my roles as a coach and an administrator.
Q: Did you face any challenges while juggling both the administrative and coaching roles in the sports department?
A: I, at first, didn’t realize the amount of work that an athletic administrator actually does, so when I first started I was under the impression that I could continue coaching while also juggling the many responsibilities I had. This turned out to be too much for one person to handle, while also remaining sane, so I did sadly have to give up coaching, which was something I really loved because there is nothing like seeing a team improve and come together.
Q: Can you describe a typical day in your role as the athletic director?
A: I always start my work days off by answering more emails than I can count. I then get into organizing everything that needs to be done for teams to have smooth and successful games or matches. Whether it be handling transportation details, making sure the officials and workers for the games are set, or even handling the athlete’s meals for away games, I have to go through to make sure everything is prepared, so that no detail is overlooked. It’s a meticulous process that requires careful planning and coordination.
Q: How do you work with coaches to ensure student-athletes succeed both on the field and in the classroom?
A: Communication is key. Usually the administration contacts me if a kid is having issues in the classroom, whether it be grades, attendance, or disciplinary actions. I, then, speak with the coaches and decide what would be the best plan of action. Sometimes this results in a kid arriving to practice late because of extra tutoring, or if more serious, kids could be suspended from a game or taken off their teams completely. Sports, although are important to a child’s upbringing, we always prioritize an athlete’s education above all else.
Q: Working in a Catholic school, is there any way that you incorporate faith into your role as an athletic director?
A: All of our teams pray before any games or matches. Sometimes even, teams will take it into their own hands and decide to go to mass together and when we travel on a Sunday we always go to mass. I find faith to be a very important aspect of our team’s culture. It’s not just about the physical preparation or strategy; it’s about the mindset and spirit with which they approach each game.
Q: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your job? What are some of your proudest accomplishments since becoming the athletic director?
A: For being a small all-girls school, we have a lot to offer, in terms of athletics. I’m proud of the fact that we’ve been able to expand our athletic program over the years, offering more sports and opportunities for our students to get involved. We’ve seen more students join teams, and even compete at higher levels, which has been amazing, but we’ve also built a name for ourselves. Schools around the state recognize our teams and see us as more than just an all-girls school, but as an establishment that produces students that excell in their respective sports, while also remaining humble and continuing to demonstrate sportsmanship and respect.
Q: How do you envision the future of this athletic program in the next five years? What are your main goals or initiatives?
A: My biggest goal, that I’ve wanted to accomplish for years, is to get a field on our campus. It would make the lives of my coaches and my athletes much easier, since they wouldn’t have to go to another school or park to have their practices and games. Once we get a field, there would be basically no limit to how many sports we could have, since we’d have the space for them. And it’s my dream to have each and every one of students participate in some form of athletics, so having a field would be a huge step toward that.
Q: Athletics is usually a male-dominated field. As a female athletic director, do you believe that your experience has been any different from your male-counterparts and have you faced any challenges during your career?
A: When I first started and would go to meetings or conferences, I would almost always be one of only a handful of women present, if not the only woman. It took me a very long time to gain the respect of my peers, it wasn’t something that happened instantly. I am happy to see though that although athletic careers are still very much considered a “boys club”, more and more women are exploring different careers like sports broadcasting and sports management. For example, I was the only female athletic director in the Archdiocese of Miami for 27 years, until last year when another woman was hired over at Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Broward. It should be noted that 27 years is way too long to go with only one woman in a certain career. You don’t have to have played football, in order to manage it.
Q: What advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter athletic administration or leadership roles in sports?
A: Get involved from the get-go. Before there weren’t easily accessible majors like sports administration or sports management, but now most colleges have something related to them. So if you really want to explore a future for yourself in athletics, take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way and be prepared to fight off stereotypes and false narratives that people may have of you. Oh, and get ready for the mountains of paperwork you’ll have to get through.
