Butte College’s athletic program achieved great success throughout 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, but much of it wouldn’t have been possible without a key behind-the-scenes figure who helped keep the Roadrunners’ athletes on the field.

Fran Babich did not take it easy on her athletes in the training room, but she wanted what was best. She used workouts in the sand and in the water to help with their recovery. She wanted rehab to be harder for athletes than what they were doing on the field — and as anyone who played during that era could attest, she succeeded.

This isn’t the first Hall of Fame Babich has been inducted into as a trainer after helping athletes at nearly every level possible. Most notably, she’s a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame.

“What’s so cool is the relationship you make with your athletes just by doing what you do and getting them where they need to be. That carries,” Babich said.