Amy Crosbie works to set female athletes up for success

A former Aggie herself, Amy Crosbie is in her fifth year as the executive associate athletics director and senior woman administrator for Utah State University.  

“I couldn’t be happier being at my alma mater,” Crosbie said. “Not many people get to do that, and I’m grateful for it every day.” 

In her job, she talks to her student-athletes about the mentality they should hold while being an athlete and a student. 

“I talk to our student-athletes now about separating like you as an athlete and who you are as a human,” Crosbie said.  

Crosbie didn’t start in USU’s athletic department as an admin, but rather, as a volleyball player. From 1997-2000, she was one of USU volleyball’s best outside hitters.  

“I had no idea that it would create a foundation and a runway for my career — was not even intending for that,” Crosbie said. 

Originally from Visalia, California, she grew up playing a variety of sports, including gymnastics, before following her older sisters’ footsteps and falling in love with volleyball.  

From the age of seven, she played volleyball through junior high and high school. She thought she could get a degree in college with her skill and landed upon Utah State.  

“I was not super familiar with Utah State, although my family had traveled to Park City like religiously to go skiing,” Crosbie said.  

That, along with the snow, is what brought her to Utah.  

“Anytime I could live in the world with the greatest snow on Earth, I was like ‘Sounds like a good idea,’” Crosbie said.  

Crosbie said there’s a photo of her in front of Maddox Ranch House in Brigham City when she was 12 years old. She took the picture because she had a schoolteacher named Mrs. Maddox; at the time, she didn’t know she would end up spending her life in Utah.  

“I came up here, fell in love with the people, fell in love with the team. The coaches had a vision for me. I wanted to go somewhere where I could make an immediate impact, or at least I hoped I could make an immediate impact,” Crosbie said.  

When Crosbie played for USU, the team was still in the Big West Conference, and according to her, this was the “powerhouse conference” for volleyball. 

There is a different kind of intensity collegiate athletes have when it comes to training, weightlifting and practicing, and Crosbie fit right in because she loved working hard and competing.  

Crosbie described her greatest moment as an athlete as a matchup between USU and Brigham Young University, one of the best teams in the country at the time.  

“I had a ridiculous amount of kills,” Crosbie said. “I was named national player of the week after that match.”  

In 2001, she won the Robins Award for female athlete of the year. 

“That was pretty special for me because it culminates all your hard work,” Crosbie said. 

Her collegiate career ended with an NCAA tournament loss to BYU at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo. She was one of two Aggies to score in the double digits, with 11 kills in that game. 

Although Crosbie is no longer a collegiate athlete, she recognizes the growth volleyball has made and keeps up with developments. 

“I’m biased. It’s one of my favorites,” Crosbie said. “To watch it grow even just this past year nationally — the viewing, the viewership, the attendance records that were all blown out of the water.”  

Crosbie said what she did in college as an athlete was what formed her mental attitude and confidence for the rest of her life.  

She decided to stay in Utah for a variety of reasons, but she met her husband, Jeff, who was a football player and attended USU after serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His family is from Cache Valley, which is part of the reason she stayed in the area.  

After graduating from college, she coached volleyball for two years, and this led to her eventual recruitment by student-athlete services as an academic coordinator. The couple got jobs, and according to her, “the rest is history.” 

When Crosbie was a student athlete, her current position was held by Mary Ellen Cloninger. She said Cloninger was a guide to her. 

“She was very involved in our female sports,” Crosbie said. “She kind of probably gave me my first taste of like, ‘Oh, this isn’t how you had it?’” 

Crosbie said what female student-athletes were given then was a lot less than what they are given now. However, she believes there is a lot more work to go.  

“There’s still so much room to grow our women’s sports and opportunities for our females,” Crosbie said. “The trend is hopeful, for sure.” 

Jerry Bovee, the associate vice president and deputy athletics director for external affairs, has known Crosbie for over a decade. They worked together at Weber State University before moving back to USU, the alma mater for Bovee as well.  

Bovee feels the same as Crosbie — it was more difficult for women before her, but now it is getting better. 

“I feel like sometimes she and other women in our industry unfairly have to fight for their right to sit at the big table,” Bovee said. “It’s not happening as much in today’s world.”  

Bovee described Crosbie as real, approachable and kind. 

“Being a female in this role, I am very fortunate to say I’ve always been around very supportive people,” Crosbie said. 

Kristin White, the head coach for the gymnastics team, said her relationship with Crosbie on a professional level has been helpful and formative for her career as a coach. On a personal level, White said Crosbie invests a lot of time asking about her kids and her family, which is different than other administrators.  

“To have people who support you outside of your job has been absolutely incredible,” White said. “I honestly couldn’t thank Amy more just for the support she gives me in and out of the gym.” 

Recently, White had twins and needed help with balancing her work and home life. That’s where Crosbie came in.  

“I was struggling with how is life going to look like having twins and being a second-year head coach and trying to lead a program. She was there every step of the way,” White said. “Just checking in on me, ‘How are you doing? How are you feeling? Make sure you’re not working too hard or overworking yourself.’” 

When asked to sum up Crosbie in three words, White said, “Compassionate, hard-working and goal-oriented.” 

Crosbie ultimately relies on the ideals her parents instilled in her when she is at work.  

“Hold your shoulders high. Hold your head up. Know who you are. Don’t be afraid to speak, and be you,” Crosbie said.