Robyn Daugherty, during her 21-year stint as head volleyball coach, was promoted to Director of Athletics at John Brown University in the summer of 2006.
Daugherty's more than two decades at the helm of JBU's intercollegiate athletics program have been marked by transformative growth and unparalleled success. She oversees a department that encompasses not only athletics but also club sports, intramurals, and the university's Walton Lifetime Health Complex. Under her guidance, JBU has expanded its intercollegiate program offerings from eight to 13, and recently introduced varsity esports, demonstrating her commitment to providing diverse opportunities for Golden Eagles student-athletes.
Daugherty's leadership has fostered an environment where student-athletes thrive both on and off the field. Since 2006, she has overseen a remarkable 174 percent increase in student-athlete participation, with total numbers growing from 109 to nearly 300. This surge in engagement underscores her ability to create an athletic community that strives to honor the university's mottos of "Christ Over All" and "Head, Heart and Hand."
In 2020, Daugherty was named one of four NAIA Under Armour Athletics Directors of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. She is also a three-time recipient of the Sooner Athletic Conference Athletics Director of the Year award (2011, 20, 24).
Significant enhancements to John Brown University's athletic facilities have resulted from Daugherty's vision and strategic planning. Since 2006, she has spearheaded numerous construction and renovation projects, including the Bill George Arena, the WLHC indoor locker rooms, Alumni Field, the Champions Pavilion, and the tennis courts, totaling over $17.3 million. These small-college, state-of-the-art facilities provide JBU student-athletes with the resources they need to excel in their respective sports and elevate the Golden Eagle fan experience.
In 2010, the Bill George Arena, a $9.5 million project, was constructed to house the JBU basketball and volleyball teams. This was followed by a $4.5 million renovation of the WLHC and the indoor locker room spaces for men's and women's soccer in 2017. The renovation converted old locker rooms into brand-new homes for the men’s and women’s soccer programs and added three visitor locker rooms.
Alumni Field, home of Golden Eagle soccer, also saw significant improvements. A pressbox and benches were added in 2012, lights were installed for the first time in the program's history in 2014, and a new scoreboard was added to the pitch in 2016. Most recently, the 2023 soccer season saw the debut of the Champions Pavilion, a $540,000 project that installed new restrooms and concessions, including a paved pathway to the state's first intercollegiate soccer pitch.
In 2019, a $1 million renovation of the Glenn W. Black Stadium was completed in partnership with the Siloam Springs School District. This allowed the Golden Eagles to debut its men's and women's track and field programs the following season. Additionally, in a unique move, the WLHC's Bynum Theater was converted into the home arena for the emerging esports program at a cost of $450,000 in 2023.
In 2026, JBU dedicated a $1.3 million rebuild of its tennis courts. The four upper courts, originally built in 1974-75 and operational the following year, had served Golden Eagle tennis for five decades before a renovation that added a new foundation, upgraded drainage and state-of-the-art Musco lighting. A 20-by-40-foot sunshade, branded windscreens, and new fan seating in the Campbell Gathering Area rounded out the transformation.
In addition to her roles at JBU, Daugherty actively contributes to the Sooner Athletic Conference and the NAIA. She has served as the SAC's treasurer since 2016 and has been a member of the SAC's Executive Committee for a decade. At the national level, Daugherty has served on the NAIA's National Administrative Council, Competitive Experience Committee and Membership Visit Team, and she currently sits on the National Coordinating Committee, which handles policy review, acts as an appellate body, and decides on amateur status reinstatements. Her dedication to serving these organizations reflects her commitment to advancing collegiate athletics and ensuring the best possible experience for student-athletes across the country.
Daugherty's leadership has cultivated a culture of excellence within JBU athletics. The Golden Eagles have enjoyed considerable success in recent years, with notable achievements like Sooner Athletic titles in men’s and women's soccer, women's basketball, women’s track and field, and individual titles in cross country. While at the helm, the Blue and Gold have captured 25 league championships, four individual cross country titles, 28 track and field gold medals at the SAC Championships, and four divisional esports crowns. At the national level, 35 Golden Eagles have earned NAIA All-America status.
The John Brown University commitment to student-athlete success extends beyond the playing field. Daugherty places a strong emphasis on academic achievement, and JBU student-athletes consistently excel in the classroom. For example, during just the 2023-24 academic year, all 13 eligible programs earned NAIA Scholar-Team status, 152 Golden Eagles were named to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, and an impressive 72 student-athletes achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete status.
Daugherty's journey at John Brown University began as a volleyball student-athlete, followed by a bachelor's degree in education in 1985, and later a master's degree in leadership and ethics.
She quickly found her passion in coaching and led the Golden Eagle volleyball program for more than two decades, from 1989-2009. Her remarkable tenure included more than 400 victories, making her the all-time winningest coach in JBU athletics history. Under Daugherty's guidance, the volleyball team secured four conference championships, ten 20-win seasons, and numerous individual and team accolades. She was recognized as the Sooner Athletic's Coach of the Year three times (1995, 2004, 06) and received the NAIA's Coach of Character Award in 2007, a testament to her commitment to sportsmanship and integrity.
Off campus, Daugherty has actively served on several boards, including the Kiwanis Club of Siloam Springs Board of Directors since 2017, the Bright Futures Advisory Board since 2021, and the Dustin's Dream Board of Directors since 2024. She further demonstrated her commitment to the Kiwanis Club of Siloam Springs through various leadership roles, serving as vice president and president-elect from October 2020 to September 2022 and subsequently as president from October 2022 to September 2023.
Daugherty and her husband, Tim, reside in Siloam Springs.
