Roberts brings ‘a woman’s touch’ to Spartans program
NORFOLK — Pressed into duty a season ago, Katina Roberts was rewarded for exemplary work by Norfolk State football coach Latrell Scott.
Roberts was named the program’s director of football operations Thursday, marking the second time in Scott’s career he’s hired a female for the role.
“She’s a rock star,” Scott said. “She was kind of pressed into duty last year to help with travel stuff, and she did such a great job I asked (athletic director) Melody (Webb) when she became AD if there was a possibility to hire (Roberts) fulltime.”
Roberts, who previously worked in NSU’s athletics
business office and office of student accounts, will handle the day-to-day administrative tasks associated with the football program.
Roberts becomes the only current female to hold the director of football operations post at the FCS or FBS level in Virginia.
“It’s refreshing and it’s exciting,” said Roberts, 44, a graduate of Norview High in Norfolk. “It’s a role that I would not have imagined myself to sit in because I don’t come from a background of sports.”
Athletics have hooked her in recent years, however, and when the director’s role was left vacant last year, Roberts willingly jumped to fill the void.
“It was more hands-on and I saw what the need was,” said Roberts, who has helped coordinate football camps for Scott. “Our students and our ADs need things when they’re traveling, so it was just me doing it.”
Roberts’ personality and detail-focused work ethic made her the prime candidate to become a permanent hire, Scott said.
“She brings a woman’s touch to our program,” Scott said. “She sees things from a woman’s perspective in terms of decisionmaking and managing the kids.”
Parachuting into a normal football season has its usual difficulties, but the obstacles posed by COVID-19 and subsequent restrictions cloud long-term plans. Roberts isn’t deterred.
“I realize that COVID is rampant, finances are uncertain, how we’re moving and operating is uncertain, but, for me, it was like I had peace with it,” Roberts said. “This gave me a peace of transition.”
Scott isn’t surprised. The organization Roberts has put into effect has balanced the uncertainty with structure.
“You name it, she does it,” Scott said. “She manages my schedule. She manages all the travel, all the financial aid stuff, the housing stuff, all the auxiliary stuff outside of football.
“She’s the best for the job. At the end of the day, if we posted this job tomorrow, we’d have tons of applicants, but we wouldn’t have anybody who understands us better.”