The following is the first in a new series called "A Day in the Life..." The series examines a typical day in the life of athletics administrators, coaches and student-athletes who work hard to promote intercollegiate athletics. Each individual -- whether at a large, public university or small, private college -- has a unique story to tell as they strive to contribute to the betterment of sports on college campuses. Their titles rarely scratch the surface of the work they do. They are more than just directors or coaches or student-athletes -- they are counselors, mentors, friends and sometimes even heroes...and these are their stories.

FRANKLIN, Indiana -- A small group has gathered outside Jenny Johnson-Kappes' second-floor office in the Spurlock Center at Franklin College. The big talk this Monday morning is how the women's basketball team has been given a bye in the first round of the Division III Women's Basketball Championship.

Everyone involved in athletics at Franklin College is excited and work has begun to prepare for the second-round game the Grizzlies will host in just six days. In fact, Johnson-Kappes began her day checking to make sure the concession stand her softball team runs at women's basketball games is well-stocked and ready to feed hungry fans.

The nameplate next to Johnson-Kappes' door may read "softball coach and professor of physical education," but it's the other jobs -- too numerous to post on a sign -- that also keep her busy day and night, often seven days a week.

Johnson-Kappes, 53, has been a part of Franklin College since her undergraduate days when she played basketball, softball, volleyball, field hockey, and track and field. The 1972 graduate recalls that when she came to Franklin, from her hometown of Milan, Indiana, it was the first time she met other young women who liked to play sports as much as she did. Life was different in the days before Title IX, she said, but just having the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate athletics was incredible.

"As a student and a student-athlete, I had just a wonderful experience here," she remembers. "My dream was always to come back here and coach."

With the clock inching closer to 10 a.m., Johnson-Kappes walks down the hall to Room 226 for the two-credit first-aid class she's teaching Mondays and Fridays this semester. She asks the 11 students quietly seated, "I want to know who ordered the rain today." When no one answers, she begins teaching.

Last week, the students watched a video on rescue breathing, and she begins a review of what they learned. Notebooks come out and students have pens at the ready, prepared to jot down notes they may have missed last week.

Two girls walk in late, and Johnson-Kappes glances at the clock to let them know she's noticed they missed the first five minutes of class and resumes teaching.

As she goes over the steps of rescue breathing, she asks questions -- some are answered and some not. When a few students call out answers to a question about how many seconds to wait between giving breaths to a victim -- none of which is right -- Johnson-Kappes says, "Oh, man, a guessing game today."

After the review, the students have a chance to practice their breathing techniques with "Chris Clean" -- a mannequin specially designed for this purpose. Those who don't have their own "Chris" can practice on less anatomically correct mannequins.

Johnson-Kappes walks around the room, helping some students, encouraging others. "We're going to practice this over and over and over," she says. "You're going to get so tired of practicing, it's going to become automatic."

With that, the clock on the white, cinderblock wall reads 10:50, and class is dismissed with a "Good job," from the teacher.

After class, Johnson-Kappes heads back to her office. A sign-up sheet on her door notes that she has blocked out this time to help any students with class scheduling for next semester. Though she's chair of the physical education department, she still helps about 25 students with their schedules.

Johnson-Kappes' office is small, but colorful and inviting. There are lollipops and a gumball machine for anyone who needs a quick sugar fix. Papers and folders are everywhere, filing cabinets are filled to the brim, a bookshelf houses books on topics ranging from gymnastics to NCAA softball rules to coaching methods. Her desk and shelves are dotted with softball knickknacks, and inspirational sayings and pictures hang on the walls.

On one shelf, in front of the one small window in her office, sits a potted plant given to her by her softball players -- a token of their affection and support. Johnson-Kappes has had a rough couple of weeks -- her mother is in the hospital and her mother-in-law recently died.

As she waits to see if students want to come by for guidance, her computer softly beeps, indicating some e-mail has arrived. "A lot of my day is just spent trying to get through my e-mail," she laughs.

This e-mail has to do with a student workshop. She forwards it on to students who are looking for points for their "senior comps" -- a comprehensive program students must pass to graduate. In the physical education department, students must earn at least 1,000 points by attending workshops, volunteering, coaching or other activities. Johnson-Kappes has folders for each student that list their activities and corresponding points -- keeping track of everyone's status is another one of the many hats she wears.

Lori Wilkerson, the head volleyball coach and assistant director of athletics, sticks her head in to say hello and that she needs to discuss concessions for the upcoming tournament game.

"It's a small school. We all work together to help each other out," Johnson-Kappes says, pointing to the box of racquetball racquets sitting on one of the two chairs in her office. All racquets must be checked out through her, she says -- yet another job. And the computer beeps again.

But it's about 11:30 and time for lunch, so e-mail will have to wait. Johnson-Kappes makes her way to the cafeteria where she's stopped and offered hugs of condolence or asked how her mom is doing. After picking up a couple of pizza slices, she finds a table and is joined by sports information director Kevin Elixman; Dan Callon, a mathematics professor whose mother was Johnson-Kappes' coach in college; and Thomas Hodge, a chemistry professor and the school's faculty athletics representative.

The foursome chats, and Callon and Johnson-Kappes reminisce about her old playing days. She recalls the one game she pitched in college -- it was only for one-third of an inning, and Franklin lost to Indiana University, Bloomington, 33-22. Her usual position, she explains, was shortstop.

During lunch, one of her players comes over to ask if practice will be inside or outside that day. Since the rain has stopped and the sun is out, the team will practice outside.

The talk then turns to the Greek system on campus, and Johnson-Kappes casually mentions she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority as a student at Franklin and currently serves as its faculty advisor.

After lunch it's back to her office where one of her players stops by for a private consultation. After the meeting, she opens her door back up to welcome in those who may need to see her this afternoon, and sits back in her chair to reflect on her time at Franklin.

Before coming to Franklin, she had been a coach at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Many thought she was crazy to leave the Big Ten school for a small, Division III college, but Johnson-Kappes said Franklin was home, and she said she was eager to return to an environment where the focus is education.

"I want to be a competitor and I want to win, but I want the kids to have a good time, too," she said. At a larger school with a high-profile athletics team, she said that may not always be the philosophy.

Johnson-Kappes coached at Franklin from 1978 to 1991 and came back after some time away from coaching. She's now entering the fifth season of her second tenure as softball coach. She also previously served as the women's athletics director, a position she held during the time she was not coaching softball. She had been a basketball and field hockey coach as well.

Johnson-Kappes explains that at the time she left coaching she had recently married and wanted to spend time building her new family, which included two stepchildren. But when the program hit "rock-bottom," she filled in as a coach on what was supposed to be a temporary basis. She has held the position since.

"Once it's in your blood, it's in your blood," she explained. "I was really glad to get back in."

It's not only coaching that's in her blood. Johnson-Kappes is a nationally recognized softball player in her own right and was the first woman inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame. She also was named Player of the Century and All-Century Shortstop in the greater Cincinnati area and is a member of the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ever modest, Johnson-Kappes lets her actions speak for themselves. "I don't have to brag," she explains. "I just enjoy what I do."

Throughout the afternoon, as she takes some time to talk about her life and boast about the college to which she has such strong ties, students come in and out of her office, the phone rings and the computer inevitably announces more e-mail. There are recommendation forms to sign, "comp" sheets to collect and questions to answer. Johnson-Kappes' door is always open.

At 3:05, Johnson-Kappes grabs her large duffel bag and heads out to change for practice. She then collects her belongings and the materials she'll need for the evening. There's the folder of notes for the 5 p.m. meeting she has -- she's also on a selection committee for a new director of residential life -- and other papers that need to be looked over at home. Her husband jokes that he doesn't see her from January through May, she says.

Getting into her blue Aztek, she heads to the American Legion field for practice. The field, a few blocks from campus, is used for games and practice. Looking toward the corn field next to the softball diamond, Johnson-Kappes talks about someday having a large sports complex for the school.

But that's for another time -- now it's time to unload the equipment from the back of the car and get to work.

The wind blows steadily as the players stream in. "Jill, how's your leg feeling?" Johnson-Kappes asks one of her players. Jill explains she's tired and had little sleep the previous night. "Well, we may go easy on you," her coach says.

"Let's get moving," she yells, and the girls head out to the field for a quick lap. "Stretch out really good today. Stretch, come on, get loose."

The team looks pretty good this year, and Johnson-Kappes predicts they'll be a strong team in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. "We've got a lot more depth this year than we have had," she explains. "I think the conference will be surprised. I hope they are." The season opens in six days at home against Calumet College.

Rain earlier in the day has left the field muddy, so much of practice takes place on the grass and the players practice fundamentals -- fielding, batting, pitching and catching. Throughout it all, Johnson-Kappes walks around talking to her players -- giving some words of encouragement and showing others better techniques to improve their play. With a smile on her face, she lets her players know she cares about them, not just as student-athletes, but also as people.

"I really do love working with the kids on a daily basis," she says. "For me, it's really all about the kids."

That's a message Johnson-Kappes professes on this day, and she will profess it on the other days in her life, too.

If you know someone who should be featured in "A Day in the Life... ," e-mail Beth Rosenberg at brosenberg@ncaa.org.