As Campbell (N.C.) University’s softball campaign gets underway in a week, Butler grad Justin Rickert will be in the background, quietly making sure that everything goes smoothly for the Camels.

Early last month, Rickert started his post as the team’s Director of Operations, in which he’ll be taking care of travel-based tasks and equipment needs, among other things.

“That position for us is so important, especially as we get into our season,” Campbell softball coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley said. “It allows us as coaches to focus on coaching and not have to worry about some of the other things going on.”

Rickert recently interviewed with the University of Pittsburgh for the same position, but wasn’t chosen. Still, he left enough of an impression on Panthers coach Jodi Hermanek for her to recommend him to McDonald-Kelley.

Rickert’s knowledge and background of being involved on the baseball and softball diamonds were significant factors in the choice, as well. He previously served as a team manager for the softball team at Robert Morris University, where he graduated from in 2019. The experience provided him with a new passion.

“It kind of opened another door that I didn’t expect to be opened, I guess,” Rickert said. “Just kind of working in that environment really jelled with me.”

He also played club baseball as an undergrad at RMU. He ended up working for the company that ran the league as its Rawlings Sponsor Account Manager, handling equipment orders for 400 baseball and softball teams combined.

“Really, what stood out to me was his organization abilities and the fact that he had some experience with Rawlings, which is a company we use to supply our bats and our gloves and our on-field equipment,” McDonald-Kelley said.

Rickert’s know-how has spared him some lessons starting out, allowing him to zero in on his logistical duties, such as booking hotels, chartering buses, and figuring out where the team will eat its meals on the road.

Aside from that, Rickert has also helped catch for bullpen sessions, as a rule that prevented non-coaches from on-field activities was changed due to COVID last season.

“My job is to do all the in-between stuff that people don’t really see,” Rickert said. “I worry about all the stuff that no one really wants to worry about, I guess. All the stuff that’s a pain in the butt is the stuff that I take on.”

Buies Creek, the town where the school is located, gives a homey feel to Rickert, who’s from Connoquenessing.

“It’s very similar,” he said. “A lot of farmland, only a few streets, and the people there are what make it great.”

The Camels are the defending Big South Conference champions, having gone 28-19 last year. They were tabbed to repeat in the league’s preseason poll. McDonald-Kelley believes Rickert will play an important role.

“We’re hoping we can take our whole program to the next level, and I wholeheartedly feel like each person, each staff member is integral in making that happen,” McDonald-Kelley said. “He may not be the person that gets the accolades or that you see on the forefront of everything, but he gets after it behind the scenes.”

The team begins play Feb. 11 and 12 in Jacksonville, Fla., at the River City Leadoff Tournament.