When You See the 'SL,' Remember: Sharon Loved
To understand Sharon Lipe's legacy, you have to understand the program she anchored.
On game days this fall, a small decal will shine from the back of every Saluki football helmet. Two simple letters—SL—carry a weight that words can hardly hold.
They stand for Sharon Lipe, the longtime Director of Football Operations whose presence defined nearly two decades of Saluki football, and whose impact stretched far beyond the field.
For Head Coach Nick Hill, the tribute is both deeply personal and profoundly fitting.
“We could talk for a long time about Sharon,” Hill told The UnderDawg. “The impact she made on every single person who came through this program—players, coaches, staff—it was incredible. She was like a second mom to so many. She knew when to give a hug, when to be tough, and when to keep things moving. Honoring her with this decal is just a small way for us to say thank you.”
Hill recalled the stories shared at Sharon’s celebration of life on Aug. 9, where the Saluki family filled the room with memories and gratitude. “When you’re laid to rest, your legacy is what’s left behind,” Hill said. “Sharon left a legacy that will live on forever here.”
A Steady Hand Through Change
To understand Sharon’s legacy, you have to understand the program she anchored. For over 19 years, Sharon worked alongside multiple head coaches, each with their own style, philosophy, and expectations. Yet in the middle of transition, she was the constant.
“Coach Jerry Kill would be the first to tell you—Sharon was the one who knew how to operate things, how to get it all done,” Hill said. “The program could withstand the changes because of her consistency.”
From travel logistics to making sure every player was fed and cared for, Sharon’s fingerprints were on every detail. Yet she always downplayed her role. “On Saturdays she was running everything behind the scenes, but she’d tell you it was nothing,” Hill added. “That’s who she was.”
Roger’s Perspective
No one knew Sharon better than her husband, Roger. The two were married for 50 years and seven days. Roger, the longtime SIU chaplain and character coach, remembers both the quiet power of her presence and the loyalty that defined her.
“These last six months of her life, dealing with cancer, were brutal,” Roger said, his voice breaking. “But Sharon was so respected at the university. She became ‘momma’ to displaced young men really quickly, and it meant the world to them—and to us. Every year, it felt like we had 105 new sons.”
Roger laughed softly as he recalled how Sharon first joined the program in the 1990s. Then-head coach Shawn Watson needed help in the office, and Roger made the introduction. “I told him, ‘Hire my wife,’” Roger said. “And from that point on, our lives were intertwined with Saluki football. Every coach who came after quickly learned: Listen to Sharon. She knew how to get things done.”
When asked what Sharon would think of the helmet decal, Roger paused. “She wouldn’t feel worthy,” he said. “She always diminished her role. But she would be deeply gratified to know she was remembered.”
A Legacy of Love
What Sharon would want most, Roger believes, is simple: For people to remember how deeply she loved. Players who graduated and moved on weren’t just alumni to her—they were family. Staff departures broke her heart because relationships mattered that much.
“Probably more than anything, when fans see that SL, I’d like them to remember how deeply Sharon loved people,” Roger said. “If anything, when you see that decal, remember: Sharon Loved.”
For a program built on grit, tradition, and family, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting legacy.
This fall, as helmets glisten under the lights and the Salukis charge onto the field, Sharon’s initials will ride with them. Small letters, yes—but a giant reminder. Sharon loved. And because she loved, Saluki football will never be the same.
