TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

What attracted you to the Athletic Director position at the University at Buffalo?
It was the people, and ultimately President Simpson's commitment to athletics. He wants to see it very successful, similar to academics at the University.

What goals have you set for yourself and the UB Division of Athletics during your first year in the Queen City?
Really, during the first few months, I want to get to know the staff and start to understand the culture before I would implement anything that can be considered sweeping changes or major changes to what we do here in the athletic department. I'm looking forward to really understanding that and trying to secure a budget in terms of where we are in the MAC, reviewing the Corrigan Report and taking a good hard look at the way things are done here and making as many improvements as I can in the first year. I also want to increase the support of the University community towards all of the athletic programs.

With basketball coming to the crux of the NCAA Tournament last year as well as both tennis squads and softball winning their first MAC Tournament games, it is clear that Buffalo is certainly becoming a formidable member of the MAC. What plans do you have to help our programs continue to get in position to win MAC titles?
I think it will take the coaches continuing to do the great job with the student-athletes that they're doing. When necessary, we'll look at increases in support, whether it's through operating dollars or facilities or equipment needs. But, it's really continuing the support of their programs so that they can continue to achieve and increase their level of success in the MAC and the NCAA.

President Simpson launched an extensive strategic planning commission last year with his UB 2020: A Plan for the Future initiative. Where would you like to see UB athletics in 15 years?
I'd like to see UB be a formidable opponent and talked about in almost every sport in a 15-year period ­- that when they talk about the top teams in this conference that UB is mentioned in everything that we do, that there's excellence there, that people understand that the quality of our programs will be such that we will compete at the highest level of our conference and go into the NCAAs and have a chance of being successful. In 15 years, that's what I would hope to see, as well as an infrastructure and an operating budget that allows this athletic department to be competitive in the MAC, the region and in the nation.

What do you think is the most important aspect of building a successful athletics program at the NCAA Division I-A level?
I talked to the student-athletes last night and I really think it is recruiting a student-athlete who understands that they need excellence in being both a student and an athlete. By that, I mean one doesn't become an excuse for another. On top of that, the coaching staff and the surrounding assistant coaches and support staff, as well as the facilities are all important. The ability to train year-round, which is where it's going, is another factor. Most of our student-athletes here, and at most institutions at the Division I-A level, want to train year-round in terms of being successful in their own athletic endeavors. It's not about the coaches pushing them or overworking them. In most cases, student-athletes at this level really want to achieve and sometimes you have to pull them away from their sport. Those are probably the things that would make the biggest difference.

What do you see as the biggest roadblocks to the UB Athletics program right now?
It is probably, as I look at it, a combination of understanding what it will take to achieve in the long-term and commitment by the student-athletes. I think President Simpson is willing to look at the resources necessary to improve both the operating budget as well as the facility needs in the athletic division. I think the roadblocks are really minimal. I think we're close to success, as you cited earlier, in many of our sports in terms of championships that we can win, with women's soccer winning the first MAC league title (2000) that we've had. Those sorts of incremental steps are important, but all of our teams have the ability to compete at this level. If they don't, then they shortly will and their expectations will increase. They will be competitive teams in this league.

To earn your master's degree in social work in 1993, you did research in the areas of team, group and community organization theories. What kind of impact have those studies had on your athletic administrative style?
I think it's been more the social work and the psychology that's really gotten me to understand the need to have people involved in terms of decision-making, that you can't impact a group without their input and involvement in decision-making. It's extremely helpful to have that sort of sense that social work teaches you ­- that you have to begin with the people that you're trying to affect. The student-athletes and the coaches become extremely important in my administrative style ­- to get their feedback and information on what they want this athletic department to look like in terms of success and how to get it.

While a defensive lineman on the University of Michigan's football team, the Wolverines participated in Rose Bowls during three of your four years. What were some of the things that have stuck with you from your time on such an elite level?
I would not trade my experience as a student-athlete for anything. I'd do it over and over again. The friendships, the teammates, the success that I had for those four years are going to last a lifetime. Some of my best friends have come out of that experience. I think not only at an elite level, but at any level of athletics that can happen. It's about the experience and what the student-athletes want to get out of their experience during their time. Part of that experience is having the opportunity to win and part of that experience is actually winning and overcoming and doing those things that made it extremely valuable and rewarding for me. It was a great experience, a great time and many great friendships came out of it.

During your years at Michigan, you witnessed an NCAA championship in basketball (1989), football (1997), field hockey (2001), men's gymnastics (1999), men's ice hockey (1998) and softball (2005). What did you see those teams do to overcome challenges and win their titles?
I think it's grit and determination. The athletes are talented, the coaches are extremely good at coaching, but most of the difference between the championship teams that I've seen and the ones that don't win is determination. You get the lucky breaks here and there, but you really have a group of people who are working in one direction. When you get that, you get a sense of support and continuation that somebody is going to step up and perform. You also have a group of people who say, 'I want that person to be me.' When you have that sort of mindset, where everybody wants to be that person who performs the best and makes the big play, and you have a whole team performing in that manner, great things will happen.

Watching Michigan's women's softball team this year was probably one of the prouder moments that I've had. I've known (Head Coach) Carol Hutchins for a number of years and to see that softball team achieve after all the things they've been through and to see them step up the way they did, it was a great accomplishment.

What has been your favorite moment while being a part of collegiate athletics?
I will never forget my first game as a student-athlete at Michigan Stadium, running out of the tunnel in front of a 100,000 people. One-A of that probably goes to the Michigan-Michigan State three overtime game last year (which Michigan won 45-37 after trailing 27-10 halfway through the fourth quarter) ­- being a part of that and being on the field during that comeback and that victory.