TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

What are your duties as Athletics Development Director at UB?
My primary duties as the Athletics Development Director are centered on managing efforts to generate private, philanthropic support to assist our student-athletes and coaches in building a championship caliber program in the Mid-American Conference.

Describe some of the bigger projects you have been involved with since taking your position in 1998?
When I first arrived at UB, the notion of generating private support for athletics was a relatively new concept, so we have attempted to build a base of support from alumni and friends who understand the value that a well-managed, successful athletic program can have in advancing an institution with ambitious goals like the University at Buffalo. So really, the most important project has been building our base of support.

What is your involvement with a fundraising organization like the Blue and White Club?
The Blue and White Club is really the core of our athletic development program. As such, I have significant involvement with the organization – mostly in an oversight capacity. The bulk of my efforts are concentrated in our major giving area – the cultivation of donors who have the interest and capacity to provide leadership gifts to the program. The primary administration of the Blue and White Club is handled by Jessica Wojcinski, our Assistant Director for Athletic Development and Marian Iak, our administrative assistant, who both do an outstanding job.

Who are the people in the athletic department that you work most closely with on a day-to-day basis?
Given the premium placed on our need to nurture private support, we work very closely with Bill Maher and the senior administrative staff. Since the vast majority of our work deals with external constituents, we coordinate much of our activity with John Lambert and the External Relations team. Our head coaches also play a vital role in the success of our athletic development efforts. We're fortunate to have the opportunity to work with so many professionals in the department who routinely extend themselves to assist us.

What are some of the challenges for your department at a relatively new Division I-A program?
Without question, the biggest challenge we face is impressing upon our alumni and the Western New York community the vital role private support plays in advancing the institution – not only in athletics but, for all schools and units. We must work to establish a culture that fosters a sense of responsibility among our alumni and current students that their active participation in the affairs of the university – beyond their time spent on campus – is crucial to UB realizing its potential as one the great public institutions in the country.

Conversely, what are some of the advantages your department has at UB?
I really believe that after a couple of attempts to build the intercollegiate athletics program over the last half century, that senior administration at UB and SUNY have the commitment and resolve to see the effort through this time. By and large, the campus community has come to accept that a successful athletics program is a key ingredient to the success of many of the great universities in the nation. We need to harness that good will and support to build a program that is a source of pride for all associated with UB.

What are some of the similarities between your current position and the one you previously held as Director of Marketing for Genesee Research and Development Corporation?
While the skill set required to be successful in both positions are very similar, the challenges at UB are very different. I'm grateful to be working at my alma mater and am energized by the challenge of playing a role in efforts to tap the potential UB holds and by extension contribute to the fortunes of the region.

Discuss your experiences as a defensive back at UB in the 80s.
I transferred to UB from Syracuse after coming to the realization that it would be a lot more fun to be playing and participating at the Division III level than playing a limited role with a Division I program. It was a great decision – we had a couple of winning seasons in the two years I played and I had a lot of fun.

How significantly has the structure of UB's athletic program changed since that time?
The change in the athletic program from my days as a student-athlete has been dramatic. Perhaps the difference can best be demonstrated by relaying a quick story. In my first season on the UB football team, we played an away game against Norwich, located in Vermont. I remember boarding a yellow “cheese box" bus with no bathrooms. About halfway through the 10-hour trip, we stopped for our pregame meal at McDonalds where we had to pay for ourselves! Although travel remains an issue today – and by no means do our teams travel in luxury – I' m quite certain Jim Hofher and his team's travel experiences won't match the Spartan-like conditions of 20 years ago.

There are many other aspects of that trip and our experiences back then that depict the stark contrast of the athletic program then and now. Yet, it is important to note that the Division III experience was a necessary step to the Division I status we enjoy today. I hope our student-athletes of today appreciate the sacrifices made by many during that era so that they can now compete at the highest level. In turn, all athletes from that period should feel as much ownership in the program today as any former-athlete in UB's history.

What are some of the short-term goals you have for UB from your perspective as Athletics Development Director?
Our goal is to provide our student-athlete and coaches the resources they need to compete successfully in the MAC. Our focus is on some capital improvements to Alumni Arena and UB Stadium that will help attract top student-athletes to the program and make for a better game-day experience for our fans.

-The “10 Questions with…” feature is compiled by Geoff Nason.