Bio

Chanda Stebbins was appointed as Santa Fe College's new Director of Athletics on April 28, 2023. 

Under Stebbins' leadership the Saints have built momentum on a number of projects.  In February of 2024, Stebbins spearheaded efforts to name the baseball field in honor of Harry Tholen, the first coach of NJCAA sponsored baseball at Santa Fe in 1982.  Tholen is famously known for building the field from scratch in the middle of a cow pasture.  The Saints also hosted their first ever Friendraiser in conjunction with the Santa Fe College Foundation which enabled the Athletic Department to showcase all they are in student-athlete's lives and the local community.  Under Stebbins' leadership, the Saints will break ground on the Hitchcock Family Clubhouse in June of 2026.  The first lockerroom facility for baseball and softball since the inception of intercollegiate field sports at Santa Fe in the early 1980's.  In addition to new construction at the fields, Stebbins with the help of Sherry Houston in the Santa Fe College Foundation secured a naming rights donor for complete renovation and addition of new lockers to the women's basketball lockerroom which is over forty years old --- The Brenda Wernz Dolwick women's basketball lockerroom will be completed in Fall of 2026.  

Stebbins' impact on the academic performance of student athletes in the Saints Athletic program has also been of key importance.  In her three years as Athletic Director GPA's have increased and success rates are near perfect.  Success rate is measured by a student-athlete graduating or matriculating to a four year school.  This past school year, all five teams registered a GPA of over a 3.0 for the first time in school history and nearly a 100% graduation rate.  She developed the Life Skills curriculm that student-athletes experience monthly as well as during student athlete orientation.  She is responsible for bringing back the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).  This body is responsible for advising Stebbins on student-athlete needs and is consistent with what NCAA, NJCAA, and NAIA standards are for the student experience.  In her tenure as athletic director Stebbins has added notable events that enhance the student-athlete experience:

Sports and More Day

Player's Choice Awards

Gratitude Night

Orientation Fall Networking Event

Stebbins has also raised the level of engagement within the North Central Florida area and beyond.  In addition to being a leader in fundraising efforts both with individual donors as well as corporate sponsorships, Stebbins has raised awareness for the Saints brand.  Engaging with organizations like the Gainesvillle Chamber of Commerce, Take Stock in Children, the School Board of Alachua County, Campus USA, UF Health, UF Ortho, multiple charter schools and churches, and the Gainesville Sports Commission which has helped build the Saints brand and benefits both the organization, institution, and Saints student-athletes.  An emphasis on impacting the college going mindset of youth has also been of major imporatance to Stebbins.  Increasing the number of on campus camps provided by coaches, connecting with larger groups during free clinics on campus, at elementary schools, and churches, as well as hosting numerous visiting groups of high schoolers has been a hallmark of her leadership.  Some of the events endorsed by Stebbins include: Coach David Lowery's coaches' clinic in the fall of 2025, Eastside High School Junior Achievement bringing over 150 sophomores to campus for a visit, St. Francis Catholic High School shadowing visit, Bolware Springs Charter School game day visit with over 100 students, Girls Scouts Game Day Event, and increased collaborations with Santa Fe College student organizations.

Stebbins was honored in April 2026 as a Fierce Award winner in the Greater Gainesville Area.  Stebbins is a noted speaker on motivation, leadership, and organizational management.  She has served as an adjunct faculty member in student leadership and development creating a reorganization of the leadership courses Santa Fe offers.  Stebbins is a member of NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors), NATYCAA (National Association of Two Year College Athletic Adminstrators), and presently is the FCSAA (Florida College System Activity Association) Womeen's Basketball Chair and has been for the previous three years.  Additionally, she began her first year as CAA (Council for Athletic Affairs) Vice Chair which has a two year term.  She has served as a keynote speaker for multiple events such as: College for the Keys Professional Development Day Fall 2024, SF Trio Retreat Spring 2025, Fellowship of Christian Athletes high school huddles on multiple occasions, and UF Sports Management courses.  Additionally, Stebbins has provided content delivery or speeches to the following groups: Campus USA, FCSAA Officials Seminar, Santa Fe College SLS courses, SF Achieve, SF Professional Development Day, Student Affairs New Employee orientation, Santa Fe College President's Leadership Academy, Leadership Gainesville, School Board of Alachua County, and Gainesville Rotaries.  Her topics have included: Leadership Influence, Being a Great Teammate, Balanced Leadership, Innovative Transformational Leadership, Leadership Communication, Accountability, Leading Relationships and Results, Socratic Leadership, Vision Acquistion and Trust, Value Based Leadership, Motivation and Inspiration, and more.

As the Saints Women's Basketball Head Coach

Stebbins completed 21 seasons as the Head Coach of SF women's basketball, and is the program's winningest coach while surpassing 300-career wins during her tenure with the Saints. She is the first female Director of Athletics in SF history, and is a former two-sport student-athlete at the University of Florida (volleyball and women's basketball) and longtime Gainesville resident.

During her time as Head Coach, Stebbins won the Mid-Florida Conference six times, made the state/regional tournament 13 times in her last 17 seasons, and was named the coach of the year in the Mid-Florida Conference six times.  Stebbins also served as the Mid Florida Conference womens' basketball chair for six years.  

Prior to SF

Before being the Head Coach at Santa Fe, Stebbins served as an assistant coach under former Head Coach Tammy Ruffian.

Stebbins received her bachelor's degree in Special Education from the University of Florida, and then served as head volleyball and assistant basketball coach at P.K. Yonge School for two seasons. During her coaching career at P.K. Yonge, she was also a consultative counselor to students with disabilities before resigning to teach at Chiles Elementary School.  Stebbins is one of few Division I athletes (male or female) to have played two sports in college and this was highligted by the Gainesville in an article in Spring 2026. She competed for the Mary Wise led University of Florida Volleyball team in the 1990's when they reached two final fours.  And she competed on the Carol Ross led Florida Gator Women's Basketball team that reached the elite eight her fifth and final year.  Stebbins returned to UF to earn an Master's Degree in Student Personnel in Higher Education in 2017.  Stebbins also earned a School of Ministry certificate from Greenhouse Church in Spring 2022 for her completion of a nine month curriculum centered on Bible history (Old and New Testament), church leadership, and care ministry skills.  She loves Gainesville and enjoys visiting family in Texas and Indiana.  Learn more about Stebbins during the SF Unscripted podcast hosted by Mark Barley.