Editor’s Note: longwoodlancers.com has added a new feature to the site, a monthly update from the Director of Athletics, Troy Austin. Troy will use this forum to keep Lancer family and friends informed on department strategies, current events, and insights into the overall department environment. Your feedback, comments, or questions in regard to the column’s viewpoints are encouraged and should be sent to austints@longwood.edu.
December 2009
“Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.” I admit, I do not completely disagree with comedic author Dave Barry’s viewpoint about the Holidays – commercialism is definitely a component of the Season. However, I believe most of the celebrated traditions within the month of December are meaningful. Festive family meals, seasonal gift exchanges and Holiday themed movies (every year I look forward to seeing National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story). In addition, the year’s end allows time to reflect, to learn from the difficult times, to appreciate the accomplishments, and to prepare for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
In 2009, there are three standout moments for me pertaining to Longwood Athletics: The announced retirement of Longwood’s President, Dr. Patricia Cormier, the completion of the Strategic Plan, and the Athletic Department’s wherewithal while immersed in the tough economic climate. This is not to disregard the achievements of the Lancer student-athletes and sport programs, but the aforementioned topics have significant bearing on Longwood Athletics as a whole.
As I have previously noted (
AD Update, March 2009), Dr. Cormier’s retirement means a lot to me, but it also has great bearing for the Athletics Department. Longwood’s new president will lead the initiative to firmly establish the University at the Division I level. Dr. Cormier understood the value of Division I and the benefits it would have for Longwood. Therefore it will be important for the institution’s next president to maintain the positive momentum established for the University’s intercollegiate athletics program. I have been fortunate to serve on the Longwood Presidential Search and Advisory Committee and have been involved in the process that recommends the next presidential candidate to our Board of Visitors. The Committee has whittled the candidate pool from nine (9) to four (4) candidates. At this point, I feel confident in saying that the four candidates will be beneficial to all areas of the University, including Athletics.
I am pleased to say that the next president will have a clear indication of what it will take for Longwood Athletics to be successful at Division I, given the hard work of our Department on the Athletics Strategic Plan. My thanks go to the Strategic Plan Committee: Ken Copeland, Director of the Longwood Real Estate Foundation, Claire LaRoche, Associate Professor of Business Law, Mike Gillian, Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Michelle Meadows, Associate AD for Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator, Greg Prouty, Associate AD for Media Relations, Danny Sterling, (formerly associate AD for Business Operations, now AD at UVA-Wise), and Kathy Riley, Softball Head Coach. This group utilized intellectual resources of the student-athletes, coaches, staff, faculty, Lancer Club, and media to formulate “Blueprint for Success,” a plan that can help Longwood build a winning organization at the D-I level.
Minister Chuck Swindoll once proclaimed, “I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it.” I am proud to say that I work for a group of student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and alumni who have faced the economic hardship of today’s world and have thrived despite the adversity. At the start of Longwood’s 2010 Fiscal Year, almost all areas on campus underwent substantial budget cuts; Athletics was part of this process, as we had to cut our operations budget by 15 percent. Despite this setback, the Athletics Department still advanced and showed improvements on and off the field. We restructured to bolster important areas of support such as academic services and compliance. Thanks to the generous support of Lancer Club members, we have continued to upgrade our facilities and provide quality student-athlete experiences. Although tough times are never favored, it pleases me to know that we will continue to stay positive and keep working to get better. This portends to a never quit mindset within the Athletics Department, and heading into 2010, we will need to remain determined to manage an on-going and most difficult predicament: life without conference membership.
I have not made many public statements about Longwood’s progress towards gaining conference affiliation, but please know we still are committed to soon making it a reality. This fall, I made five visits and countless phone calls to various conference members. While there have not been any significant breaks, I believe membership opportunities are starting to more clearly reveal themselves. The hunt for conference affiliation is my main priority. Looking forward to 2010, I will continue to work with Dr. Cormier, the Athletics Department, and others to find Longwood a conference home.
As I reflect on these matters and work with the Athletics Department to prepare for 2010, I will also continue to observe my Holiday rituals – I have to go to the mall and complete my shopping ... I wish Season’s Greetings to you all!
Go Lancers!
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
