Aquinas College strives for an atmosphere of excellence on all fronts. Whether in the classroom, at work, or in sports, high standards of achievement are consistently fostered and encouraged. However, while these efforts are acknowledged internally daily, special recognitions from beyond our immediate community highlight the outstanding work done by Aquinas staff, faculty, and alumni. Take, for example, Aquinas alumna and former women’s basketball coach Patti Tibaldi, who was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in the fall of 2013.

Tibaldi, ‘73, was initially attracted to Aquinas by attending a “siblings weekend” during her senior year of high school, visiting an older sister who already attended the school. Rather than attending a larger state school, she opted mere months before first-year classes to register with Aquinas - a decision Tibaldi regards as highly fortunate. “I made great friends,” she said, “I really felt like I made relationships that were lasting, and those relationships are what really made it for me, together with the small environment in a great city. I loved my time here, I had a great experience.”

Initially an English major, Tibaldi was encouraged by current Aquinas Athletics Director Terry Bocian take classes in physical education. These courses sparked a passion for coaching in Tibaldi, who was then recommended by Bocian to coach at West Catholic High School, in Grand Rapids.

In 1978, Tibaldi was asked to return to Aquinas, to coach women’s basketball at her alma mater. For a time, she continued to coach at West Catholic and Aquinas simultaneously, so she had “a nice little feeder system going there.” She would continue to coach at Aquinas for seventeen years, leading her team to the National Catholic Basketball Tournament three times, winning the championship once.

However, when reflecting on highlights from her coaching career, Tibaldi said that, rather than particular victories or games, working with the athletes--with students--always made the greatest memories. “I always felt that Aquinas was a great place to be, I still feel that way. I had absolutely great players there, I considered them part of my family then, and still do! I was able to follow them through their marriages, the births of their kids, their coaching, teaching, going off and being productive citizens. That has been the most satisfying thing.”

Since leaving Aquinas, Tibaldi has been recognized by several awards, including the Basketball Coaches of Michigan Hall of Fame, the West Catholic High School Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame, and the Aquinas College Hall of Fame. The most recent addition to this prestigious list is Tibaldi’s induction into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame, on October 8, 2013.

“It’s very humbling,” said Tibaldi, reflecting on her induction. “When you’re in the middle of something you just put one foot forward, you don’t think about what the results are, you just keep trying to get better. I think that Terry Bocian and I really built something based on family, and it’s been really validating to me ... It’s a part of my life that, when I look back at it, I can hardly believe it’s gone. It was very hard for me to leave. But it is truly humbling to think that someone else values that. Obviously you have your memories, you have your successes and failures, but you don’t think that anyone else looks at that product and says ‘hey, it’s worth it!’ And, obviously, the only reason that either Terry or I are in the Hall of Fame is because of the players we coached. I loved ‘em, I still love ‘em, and I think that was such a rewarding part of my life.”

Reflecting upon Aquinas’ Dominican charisms, and how they relate to her time as coach, Tibaldi emphasizes that the strong sense of community is most readily identified. “I was very fortunate that Aquinas both attracted, maintained, and graduated tremendously successful women,” said Tibaldi. “I still send kids to Aquinas from Traverse City West, and rarely do I ever have one that comes back and says to me that they haven’t found a community there, that place where they can really thrive.”

Asked to give a parting word to students who are considering Aquinas for their education, Tibaldi offers this advice, as an alumna and coach. “It’s a great place for you to learn about who you are. There are people there who care about you, there’s a sense of community there. The biggest point that I always stress is the relationships that you build. I really felt very strongly that it was a tremendous strength of Aquinas, the relationships between staff and students, students and students - the friends I made there were lifetime friends. I think that it’s so important for kids, who don’t know who they’re going to be yet, what they’re going to do (who does know at that age?), who need a supportive environment, and I think that Aquinas is a place that will nurture them.”