Ottawa University

Before coming to Ottawa University, Sharpley was at Rochester Christian University in Rochester Hills, Mich., from 2015 to 2024. She was named RCU’s first female athletic administrator in 2021-22, serving as both Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Leader. Prior to that, she was head softball coach (2015-21). Sharpley was the program’s first head coach after a five-year hiatus of the program, spending 2015-16 recruiting and restarting the program in the spring of 2017. In addition, she oversaw RCU facility operations.

Dedicated to supporting student-athlete transitions in, through and beyond the playing field, Sharpley plans to emphasize strengthening connections with student-athletes to ensure multiple resources are integrated into the Braves athletic department. “When focused on relationships and connections, there’s no better way to emotionally connect to anything than through sport,” she said. “There’s also an enormous amount of enthusiasm, excitement, and passion inside for what this role holds for me and more importantly, the opportunities ahead. I am confident we will continue to build upon the winning culture already bestowed by the continuous effort of the Ottawa Spirit.”
 
Before her time at RCU, Sharpley served four years (2008-12) within the Troy Police and Fire Dispatch (Mich.). She was also head softball coach at Southfield High School and coached for Nike Detroit RBI Softball. Sharpley spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons as an assistant softball coach at Concordia University Ann Arbor where she worked with catchers and outfielders.
 
Sharpley spent four seasons as a member of the Norfolk State University (Va.) softball program, graduating with a degree in biology. After graduation, she played semi-professional softball for the Detroit Danger for two seasons. Sharpley will be graduating with a Master of Arts in Sport Leadership degree from RCU in 2024.
 
She has a 13-year-old daughter named Tahirah, who runs track. Sharpley enjoys interior decorating, bike riding, old-school music, journaling and traveling.