Barb Atsaves Pabst attended Niles West High School from 1976-1980. She was a four year member of the girl’s basketball varsity team. Barb had an amazing career and ended high school play as one of the best girl’s basketball players in Niles West history.

In 1979, Barb played a large role in leading the Niles West girls’ basketball team downstate and ultimately capturing the 1979 Illinois State Championship. That season, Barb was named to the CSL’s All-Conference team and the Illinois All-State team. Her honors in basketball did not stop in 1979. In an encore to the 1979 season, Barb returned in the 1980 season and continued her dominance on the court and record books. That season, Barb again led the team in several statistical categories. By the end of the 1980 season, Barb once again captured several post-season honors. She was named to the 1980 Chicago Tribune & Champaign News-Gazette All-State teams and selected to the National Coaches Association All-American team.

Barb was not only a standout of the hardwood; she starred on the softball diamond as well. She was a four year varsity member of the softball team from 1976-1980 and went on to become CSL All-Conference selection during the 1980 season and in 1979 participated in the girls’ 1979 State Softball Tournament.

Upon graduating from Niles West in the summer of 1980, Barb left Niles West and went on to star at DePaul University from 1980-1984. As a Blue Demon, Barb again was a two-sport athlete, playing women’s basketball and softball. She was a four year starter at point guard and shortstop for the Blue Demons and upon graduating from DePaul in 1984,
Barb finished her basketball career as the all-time leader in career points, career steals, and career assists. In 2004, Barb received the ultimate honor by being named to DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame for both basketball and softball.

Barb’s love of basketball and softball stayed with her as she went on to coach after graduating from DePaul. She coached basketball and softball at DePaul University as a graduate assistant and has also coached girls’ basketball at Queen of All Saints, St. Demetrios Church, the Lincolnwood girls program and the Niles West “Slammers” softball feeder program. She is also director for the Niles West Feeder Basketball Program.

Barb is married to Bill Pabst and has three children, Johnny (NW Class of 2017), Tricia (NW Class of 2018) and Andrew (Future NW Class of 2020).