Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Behind the scenes, Betlach does it all LUCAS AT LARGE MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM T here was an outpouring of emotion and support for the recipient of the 2011 Cap- tains Cup, which underscores an unselfish commitment to the UW football program by a non-player or coach. The reaction was predictable because of the award winner, Sharon Betlach, who brings her own personal touch to the recruit- ing process by building enduring relationships with prospects and parents. "When her name was an- nounced, everyone in the room stood up because she has touched so many lives,'' said UW coach Bret Bielema. ''It was a true reflection of what she means to the program. "I know that she has touched every recruit who has ever come through here since I've been here (in 2004). Every time I make a home visit, Sharon's name is brought up.'' Bring it up to Betlach — that special December moment when Aaron Henry, Patrick Butrym, Bradie Ewing and Russell Wilson honored her at the awards banquet — and her reaction is predictable. "Oh, my gosh, you're going to put me in tears again,'' Betlack said. "It was the highlight of my professional career. That's all I can say. The kids here are my second family.'' One of those new kids — fresh- man offensive lineman Dan Voltz, who's enrolled for the second 10 » VARSITY FEBRUARY 2, 2012 semester — brought some valuable perspective to the role that Betlack plays for the Badgers. "There's really no other school that has a person like her,'' said Voltz, one of the most highly recruited lineman in the nation. "She's another reason why I felt like this was the place for me.'' "She has touched every recruit who has ever come through here since I've been here," Bielema said. "Every time I make a home visit, Sharon's name is brought up.'' Betlach is the recruiting secre- tary/conduit/expeditor; one of the worker bees in the UW football of- fices. Last Friday afternoon, there was a line of people at her desk. Take a number. "I have to budget my time,'' she said, "because I'm multi-tasking all the time.'' In short, she spends "whatever time needs to be spent to get the job done.'' Betlach, a Madison native, acquired her work ethic the old fashioned way — from her parents. Her time management skills have been honed out of necessity. "Maybe being raised with three brothers,'' she said, "and hav- ing two sons and teaching middle school math for 28 years, you just learn to juggle a lot of things. "You learn if you want to feel good about your job, you do what needs to be done.'' Betlach is very good at making time for those who need it. At one point last Friday, it was the new assistant who needed to get an ID card; the member of football operations who needed to check a schedule; the committed recruit who needed reassurance. That's taking care of a lot of needs all at once. "I hate to say it because it's a cliché,'' she said hesi- tantly. "But it's just doing whatever needs to be done to help them with the process.'' That would be the recruiting process. The weeks leading up to the national signing day (Feb. 1) can be taxing; particularly so this season with so much turnover on the staff. Even though the Badgers have a small signing class, Betlach said, "It has probably been the most stressful recruiting time that I've ever been through for a signing day.'' That covers a lot of ground since she's been on the job for well over a decade. During that span, she be- came quite close to many of those assistants who have moved on to other schools. "First of all, I miss them,'' Bet- lach said. "They were staff but they

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