Atlantic Sun Quarterly February 2016 by Craig Threlkeld

Atlantic Sun Q

Highlighting the Spirit of Building Winners for Life

FEBRUARY 2016

THE A-SUN’S CHIEF ARCHITECT

WHAT’S NEXT FOR FGCU?

FOCUSED ON SERVICE

GRAB, GRIP & LIGHT IT UP SUPERIOR GRIP from thousands of micro-pebble touchpoints ENHANCED CONTROL through moisture-wicking channels EXCEPTIONAL FEEL by a Cushioned Core

THE OFFICIAL

WINNING MOMENTS BEGIN AT WILSON.COM

CONTENTS

18 THE A-SUN’S CHIEF ARCHITECT Throughout a career spent in coaching and administration, A-Sun founder and former commissioner Bill Bibb’s impact laid a firm foundation for the A-Sun’s mission of Building Winners for Life.

SERVICE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME A-Sun SAAC Vice Chair Alexa Hone garners national recognition for her community service as her peers collaborate on a conference-wide initiative.

11 With regular season and conference tournament titles commonplace and a NCAA tournament win last season, where does FGCU Head Coach Karl Smesko take the Eagles from here?

IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR

North Florida Director of Athletics Lee Moon continues to lead the Osprey “family” into new levels of excellence.

COMMISSIONER’S CORNER

INSTITUTIONAL NEWS

CONTINUING EXCELLENCE

WHO’S HOT/ WATCH LIST

A-SUN NEWS

Q&A: JU’S FACULTY ATHLETIC REPRESENTATIVE, DR. KIM CAPRIOTTI

Jacksonville University Faculty Athletic Representative Kim Capriotti discusses the dynamics of academics and athletics.

EXPANDING THE A-SUN’S REACH

A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart has his finger on the pulse of intercollegiate athletics as the President of the Collegiate Commissioner Association.

Connect with the Atlantic Sun Conference AtlanticSunConference

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@ASunCommish @ASunCompliance @ASun_Patrick @ASun_Johannes @ASun_Wilder @ASun_Olivia @ASunPR

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Atlantic Sun Conference

COMMISSIONER’S CORNER Over the past month I’ve had the privilege to meet with the Division I National SAAC at the NCAA Convention, with our A-Sun SAAC at its in-person meeting at Stetson, and have continued the practice of meeting with individual studentathletes or small groups when I’m on campus. Wow. Such an impressive collection of young women and men. I’m willing to share my thought that the continued engagement of our students into all that we do – administration, promotion, policy development – has been more educational and enriching for me than for them.

Thanks to all the student-athletes who find time to do so much more than study and practice, go to classes and games. As we all team up to achieve our best, I’m honored to work in higher education on your behalf. Take advantage of all that is offered to you in your collegiate athletics setting. Use the support systems to compete at your best, to learn at your best, and to prepare yourself to be the most satisfying “you” ever. And do everything possible to get your degree. That is the step that we should cheer the most. Best to you all.

TED GUMBART Commissioner @ASunCommish

Conference Staff Commissioner Ted Gumbart

Associate Commissioner/SWA Meredith Eaker Associate Commissioner John Roberts Associate Commissioner Mike Hagen Assistant Commissioner Patrick McCoy

Director of Business Services Pat Bush Director of Public Relations Craig Threlkeld Director of Championships Keith Hendrix

Director of Media Relations Johannes Schneider

Director of Broadcast Services Olivia Walter

Assistant Director, Media Relations Wilder Treadway

Executive Assistant/Office Manager Melody Battle

SINCE 1978, the Atlantic Sun Conference has supported its member institutions in Building Winners for Life through vibrant intercollegiate athletic experiences. A-Sun members maintain the highest standards in academic and athletic achievement, creating balance between “student” and “athlete.” With emphasis on sportsmanship in the competition and fostering transformative leadership experience through community service, Atlantic Sun studentathletes, administrators and member institutions aim for a complete educational experience that is successful in Building Winners for Life.

ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY |

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INSTITUTIONAL NEWS

EXPANDED STUDENT OFFERINGS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PROGRAMS AND SUCCESS AND GROWTH IN EXISTING ONES HAS A-SUN INSTITUTIONS BUILDING WINNERS FOR LIFE

COMPILED FROM STAFF REPORTS

GCU is one of five schools, along with fellow A-Sun member University of North Florida, selected to participate in a new Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program. The program identifies men and women who have served in the military as ideal candidates for business start-up training, as most possess the characteristics needed to launch a successful small business – leadership, accountability, experience in working with teams and the ability to handle stress. With a proven record of entrepreneurial development, FGCU’s Lutgert College of Business Institute for Leadership makes FGCU a fitting host site. The state is also a perfect setting for the program. Florida has 1.5 million residents who are veterans – third-most of any state – and there are 20 military installations around the peninsula.

earned the No. 28 ranking on the U.S. News & World Report’s annual list. The program ranked in the top 15 among public institutions nationally. The online MBA program at Kennesaw State’s Michael J. Coles College of Business ranked 28th in the nation and climbed one spot from last year.

ipscomb University has been named to the Kiplinger Personal Finance list of 100 best values in private universities for 2016. The ranking cites four-year schools that combine outstanding academics with affordable cost.

This is the second consecutive year Lipscomb University has been included on this prestigious list. Among other universities included on the list are Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Duke, Wake Forest, Princeton, Stanford and Villanova. acksonville University’s ASPIRE comprehensive campaign has JIT President Joel Bloom is reached a record-breaking $100 ranked 62nd in NJ Biz’s list of million raised toward programs and the state’s 100 most influential facilities for its students. business people. Several recent seven-figure The magazine praised Bloom contributions have created a heightened for helping NJIT forge effective sense of momentum for the $120 partnerships with in-state businesses – million campaign as it moves forward partnerships that lead to solutions. to accelerate progress and prospects for Bloom, who became NJIT’s the future. president in 2011, is spearheading Five pillars with funding targets the growth of the university, currently represent the key objectives of ASPIRE: achieving a student enrollment of more Advancing Scholarships and Academics, than 11,000 students, hiring nearly 100 $27 million; creating and expanding additional faculty, and a $300 million the Brooks Rehabilitation College campus transformation of new facilities. of Healthcare Sciences, $24 million; Under his leadership, the Campus and Student Life Enhancements, admissions standards have risen, $12 million; Athletics, $17 million; and research funding has improved to more Financial Vitality, $40 million. than $110 million, and the university’s reputation as a top research and ennesaw State University’s online polytechnic university has grown. learning programs have once again earned accolades from U.S. niversity of North Florida News & World Report among the “Best computing students have created Online Programs” for 2016. a software to help Jacksonville Kennesaw State’s MSIT program residents find out who is lobbying city

N U

officials. The city of Jacksonville requires all lobbyists to register with the city. In the old system, which wasn’t very useful, each time a lobbyist took on a new client it had to register them in person at City Hall. Researching a lobbyist was also cumbersome and, once again, had to be done in person. Now a user-friendly database software created by UNF students saved the city an estimated $100,000 and lets people search on the front end while lobbyists easily add records on the back end. The software allows for more automation and more transparency and streamlines the process for increased efficiency by city staff.

SC Upstate is reaching out to help strengthen its own as well as the community in regards to making solid financial decisions. USC Upstate’s George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics will host a five-week financial literacy program for USC Upstate students, faculty, staff and the community. Topics include managing credit, personal finance, insurance protection, personal investment, as well as retirement and estate planning.

tetson University graduates are finding success after college. After surveying 542 graduates, Stetson University found 91 percent of the 2015 graduating class are employed or continuing their educations. Of respondents who are working after graduation, 87 percent indicated their primary post-graduation occupation to be very related or somewhat related to their career goals. More than half of graduates indicated they had completed an internship while working on their Stetson degree, and nearly a third of those were offered fulltime employment as a result of their internships.

STUDENT-ATHLETES | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY

WHO’S HOT?

BRITTANY STARLING USC UPSTATE Double-double machine for the Spartans, Starling averages 16 points and 12.05 rebounds per game as of Feb. 2. The Sumter, S.C., native leads the A-Sun in double-doubles with 13 on the year, also good for top10 in the NCAA. Starling’s efforts helped lead USC Upstate to a 9-6 record in non-conference play and an early 2-1 record against league opponents.

BRENICKE JOHNSON USC UPSTATE Johnson has constructed a strong start to the season for the Spartans, and currently holds the second-best 60m time in the conference at 7.59 seconds after her performance at the UNCG Early Bird 7-Way. Johnson earned First Team All-Conference honors in the 60m a year ago, becoming the first Spartan in school history to do so.

BILAL ABDULLAH KENNESAW STATE Abdullah is making a name for himself across the world for his prowess on both the track and the field for Kennesaw State. His most recent long jump performance in Birmingham, Ala., of 7.98 currently ranks second in the NCAA. The senior also boasts a conference-best high jump of 2.05m., good for fifth nationally.

WAYNE NEWMAN LIPSCOMB Newman has raced out of the blocks in the Indoor Track season in Nashville, currently holding the best A-Sun time in the 400m at 49.41 seconds, while ranking second in the 60m dash at 7.09 seconds. Newman trails only KSU’s Abdullah in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.05.

DAMON LYNN NJIT Lynn has recently moved into the top-10 all-time scorers at NJIT, while tallying his first career double-double vs. Stetson with 15 points and 10 boards. The junior owns 11 20-point games on the year (as of Feb. 2) and is averaging a leaguebest five three’s made per game in league play. He has made 307 threepointers in his career, which is the most among active NCAA players.

SHAKEDRA ROBINSON KENNESAW STATE The junior has been a strong performer for the Owls in the field, earning the first Athlete of the Week honors of the season, holding the top-mark in the conference in the high jump at 1.74m. Robinson also ranks top-10 in the shot put with a throw of 10.58m.

ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY |

STUDENT-ATHLETES

WHO TO WATCH

JACK FINDEL-HAWKINS & YANNICK ZUERN NORTH FLORIDA After ranking 50th in the preseason fall rankings Findel-Hawkins and Zuern checked in at No. 4 nationally in the ITA poll headed into the spring season. The duo will lead the Ospreys against stout competition in the spring season while FindelHawkins will man the No. 1 singles position for UNF.

ISABELLA FERNANDEZ STETSON Returns after playing primarily in the No. 2 singles spot and earning First Team All-Conference honors. She assembled a 10-4 record in the second spot, tied for most wins in the conference, while ending the regular season on a five-match win streak. Fernandez helped lead Stetson to the No. 2 seed in the 2015 A-Sun Championship.

LEXI SHUBERT USC UPSTATE The 2015 A-Sun Pitcher of the Year is back and poised to repeat, tabbed as the top pitcher heading into 2016. Shubert led the A-Sun in strikeouts (225), wins (34), and boasted an ERA of 1.67. She was named the A-Sun Championship MVP after leading USC Upstate to the conference title.

DANIELLE DELLA ROCCA JACKSONVILLE The 2016 Preseason Player of the Year in A-Sun Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lacrosse, Della Rocca led the league in goals a year ago with 55, adding 27 assists to make her the complete offensive package. The junior hopes to lead conference favorite Jacksonville to its fourth straight A-Sun Championship.

SARAH DETLEFSEN FGCU The senior helped guide the Eagles to their lowest stroke average in school history during the fall slate of tournaments, by leading the team with an average of 74.83 in two events. Detlefsen has yet to produce a score over 78 this season as FGCU looks to be on pace for a record setting year on the golf course.

DAWSON ARMSTRONG LIPSCOMB Armstrong completed an impressive fall season for the Bisons and was recently named to the GlobalGolfPost All-Am Second Team that includes a list of the top amateur golfers in the world. Ranked No. 21 globally, Armstrong brought home a win in the prestigious Western Amateur, as well as taking home first at the Dogwood Invitational, the Memphis Intercollegiate and the Autotrader. com Collegiate Classic in 2015. MICHAEL BAUMANN JACKSONVILLE The 2015 A-Sun Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, Baumann made an immediate impact in his first season for the Dolphins. The Minnesota native was second in the conference in ERA (2.24) and third in total strikeouts (85), en-route to a 7-1 mark on the mound.

KRISTIN LIND STETSON A member of the two-time defending champion Stetson Hatter Beach Volleyball squad, Lind returns after earning a spot on the 2015 First Team All-Conference. The junior teamed with Maren Rygh last year to go 24-4 on the season, primarily at the No. 2 spot. Lind was also named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year for her performance in the classroom.

real passion real dreams real GAME.

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INSIDE STORY

third place performance in men’s soccer, while volleyball claimed the A-Sun regular season title for the fifth time. Lipscomb also sits just out of first in the men’s race, trailing North Florida by one and a half points.

Lipscomb opened the 2015-16 fall slate with a sweep at the A-Sun Cross Country Championship for the thirdstraight season before finishing in second place in the women’s soccer regular season. The Bisons added a

CALENDAR

Lipscomb men’s golf has also moved into new territory with their fall success, having received votes in the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Top-25 poll. The Bisons collected five top-5 finishes with a team win in the fall and received their highest placement in the Golfstat rankings, 53rd, which is a program best. Individually, Dawson Armstrong was ranked the No. 21 amateur golfer in the world by www.ScratchPlayers. org in the fall and also brought home wins in the Dogwood Invitational, the Memphis Intercollegiate and the Autotrader.com Collegiate Classic.

Spring Dates to Remember April 6 National Student-Athlete Day

April 10-12 Women’s Golf Championship Reunion Resort, Kissimmee, Fla.

February 26-27 Indoor Track & Field Championship JDL FastTrack, Winston-Salem, N.C. March 1, 3, 6 Men’s Basketball Championship Campus Sites

March 4, 9, 13 Women’s Basketball Championship Campus Sites

BY THE NUMBERS

Fall success propels Lipscomb to top of All-Sport race

For the third-straight year, Lipscomb leads the All-Sports race following the conclusion of the Atlantic Sun Fall season. The Bisons also lead the women’s race for the second-straight season after capturing two women’s conference titles.

A-SUN NEWS

April 17-19 Men’s Golf Championship The Legends, Braselton, Ga.

April 22-24 Tennis Championship Spartanburg, S.C. (USC Upstate) April 22-24 Beach Volleyball Championship LakePoint Sporting Community Emerson, Ga.

May 5, 6, 8 Women’s Lacrosse Championship Kennesaw, Ga. (Kennesaw State)

Number of national radio broadcasts the A-Sun will receive this season for men’s basketball. On February 6, TuneIn.com will broadcast UNF at FGCU, and then again on Feb. 18 TuneIn.com will provide coverage of NJIT at UNF. The Men’s Championship final will be available nationally on Westwood One.

Two-time defending @ASunWBB Tournament champion FGCU has won 11 consecutive games heading into the week of Feb. 1. Also, Jacksonville ended an 11-game losing streak in its series with Stetson on Jan. 29, defeating the Hatters 69-49. JU joins FGCU at 6-0 in A-Sun play.

Number of consecutive home wins by Jacksonville men’s basketball. The Dolphins are in second place in the A-Sun standings as of Feb. 3.

May 11-14 Softball Championship Fort Myers, Fla. (FGCU)

May 13-14 Outdoor Track & Field Championship Jacksonville, Fla. (North Florida) May 25-28 Baseball Championship Nashville, Tenn. (Lipscomb)

A-SUN SAAC | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY

TO THESE STUDENT-ATHLETES, SERVICE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

uring the months of November and December, Atlantic Sun Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representatives remained laser-focused on their commitment to raise the bar when it comes to community service. These driven student-athletes led their peers in a pair of outreach efforts aimed at specifically reaching those in need entering the holiday season. Armed with A-Sun-branded fleece blankets provided by the conference and the Crons brand, along with the desire to impact lives in their communities, the conference’s eight institutional SAAC groups distributed a total of 2,500 blankets to organizations benefiting families, veterans, children and animals who needed a special touch during the holidays. In addition to the blanket giveaway, SAAC members initiated and executed canned food drives on their campuses that benefited many of the same causes and other local food ministries. Using admittance to athletic events as the primary mechanism to solicit the public

as well as those on campus, SAAC matched the number of blankets with 2,500 cans of food – enough to provide approximately 2,083 meals. Author Steve Maraboli writes about this type of selfless service in his book, “Life, the Truth, and Being Free,” in which he states, “A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” In identifying and meeting needs in their communities, these compassionate gestures from A-Sun student-athletes once again exemplifies the qualities espoused by A-Sun members as they fulfill the conference mission of Building Winners for Life. Reaching out and serving in ways that not only benefited their communities, A-Sun student-athletes also allowed their lives to be impacted. “This is completely humbling,” said Jacksonville softball studentathlete Sable Lee. “We get so involved in our every day activities as a student-athlete that we forget about real-life problems. I am really thankful that we got this opportunity.” The results were far-reaching,

extending beyond just the lives of student-athletes. “This event was extremely impactful and I want to thank everyone who was involved in giving us the blankets,” said Scott Musin, Assistant Director of Academic Support Services and UNF SAAC liaison. “Homelessness is a social injustice I hold near and dear to my heart and it was incredible to see some of our student-athletes talking and empathizing with these people. “It’s easy to think that these people did wrong to be in their current situations, but I feel like our student-athletes now realize how cyclical poverty and homelessness are and that it’s extremely hard to improve situations without a little help. I am so proud of the studentathletes that helped out.” Schools used basketball games as the platforms to recognize their various selected organizations and to celebrate their efforts. River City rivals Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida worked together to benefit the local Sulzbacher Center,

ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY |

Northeast Florida’s largest provider of comprehensive services for homeless men, women and children. In lieu of canned food donations, UNF also raised money to sponsor two families for Christmas through Big Brother Big Sisters of America. The Ospreys played Santa and delivered those gifts prior to Christmas. Kennesaw State University, led by A-Sun SAAC Chair Megan Tobias, spread the wealth to several organizations including the on-campus CARE center, Mostly Mutts animal shelter, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Ronald McDonald House and MUST Ministries, Kennesaw’s local food and homeless shelter. Lipscomb University joined 180 congregations in Middle Tennessee in the mission of Nashville’s Room In the Inn, which provides permanent supportive housing, emergency services, transitional programs and long-term solutions to help those who call the streets of Nashville home rebuild their lives. Also joining a church-based ministry, New Jersey Institute of Technology worked with Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church to help keep the homeless warm with the blankets while also helping restock its food pantry. USC Upstate chose to minister to Upstate Stand Down, a volunteer organization designed to provide free services, items and personal connections for veterans who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or in need. Its surplus of blankets join other items provided to needy and homeless veterans that include food, clothing, books, showers, haircuts, mental and physical health services, other social services and housing and employment opportunities. Stetson University reached out to local families in need through the Family Renew Community program (FRC), a transitional housing program for families with children. “We are very grateful for the donation of these blankets, said Linda Bennett, Director of Renew Community Program. “They are going to help all of our families at some point or another. When each of our families graduate from the program they are allowed to take things with them and I know that these will be perfect and something that they will want to take with them and continue to use.” Florida Gulf Coast University led the way by collecting 803 cans of food and distributed its 250 blankets in mid-January.

A-SUN SAAC

ALEXA HONE’S HEART AND SOUL To USC Upstate senior women’s soccer player and A-Sun SAAC Vice Chair Alexa Hone, being a captain means more than just leading on the field. She is determined to be the type of leader that no matter what situation, no matter where she is needed, she will come through and honor the reason her team put its faith in her as captain. For Hone, a portion of that role saw her serve as the team’s Community Service Representative. Throughout her three years as a captain, her influence led directly to the team’s involvement with a number of initiatives within the Spartanburg community. “I strongly believe that there is strength in numbers, and the platform that student-athletes hold can be used to shine a light that can be added into the lives of others,” said Hone. Hone’s leadership in the area of community service has led to the Spartans’ regular involvement as a team and as individuals with organizations such as Miracle League, the Miracle Hill Soup Kitchen, the Boys and Girls Club, the Hope Center, the Anchor House, participation in the Angel Tree giving around the holidays, help with field day and reading at local elementary schools, the organization of the women’s soccer 5K color run and the International Fair in Spartanburg. Perhaps it is going the extra mile that has Hone poised as a finalist for the 12th Annual Coach Wooden Citizenchip Cup, an award given for the most outstanding role model among athletes who has made the greatest positive influence in the lives of others. Last spring, the Spartans’ Helping Hands Award winner went out into the Spartanburg community, going door-to-door to interview prospective non-profit organizations with which her team could partner. She found a pair of organizations in particular that touched her, the Hope Center and the Anchor House. “I spent that ‘free time’ that all student-athletes have looking for an organization in which I believed that our team could make a difference,” said Hone. “I thought that we were going to be the ones affecting these children, helping to ease their pain, but in return they have affected me. Every day, leaving them gets harder and harder, because they are becoming more than just people I volunteer with. “My heart for serving has completely transformed since stepping on this campus. I can’t help but constantly think about the impact that Upstate athletes have on this Spartanburg community. I am beyond proud to be a Spartan and because of that this past year has been a complete transition. I have always had a passion for volunteerism, but this is different; it’s become my heart and soul.”

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The Official Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball

ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY |

COACHING

CONTINUING EXCELLENCE

KARL SMESKO’S JOURNEY OF SUCCESS AT FGCU

hen Karl Smesko stepped on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University as the first head coach of the Women’s Basketball program in 2001, he didn’t even have a gym in which to practice. Fast forward to 14 years later and the Eagles have now won over 350 games, 200 of which have come as a member of Division I. FGCU secured its first NCAA Tournament victory in 2015 as a No. 7 seed, and has claimed the Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championship six out of the past seven years. Smesko is undoubtedly the dean of Women’s Basketball in Fort Myers, one of just four active D1 coaches with a career win percentage of .800 or higher, joining the likes of Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma, Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer and Baylor’s Kim Mulkey. Having built a program from the bottom up, reaching success in March Madness as one of the top mid-major One thing that has not changed during Smesko’s tenure is that programs, where does the former National Coach of the Year Eagle teams are always full of competitors. go from here? the biggest successes of his program over the years has “We just try not to live in the past and try to improve nothing to do with athletics. constantly. We want the program to get better all the time. I “Every semester we’ve been here our team has had over a want to coach better, we’re trying to get the players better, and we just try to focus on the things we can control, which are our 3.0 GPA. We always take the academic side of things seriously. To consistently reach that goal is a definite success for me.” effort and every day mentality,” said Smesko. One key factor and consequence of FGCU’s success is an “We don’t get too concerned with tangible winning goals. We take it as: ‘this is where we’re at, how do we get better, and increased level of difficulty in non-conference scheduling. Just this year, the Eagles have played a bevy of top-level teams what approach are we going to use to get there?’” Smesko can now look back at the early stages of his tenure including Mississippi State, Arizona, Ohio, Arkansas State, George Washington and Auburn, all ranked in the top-100 of at FGCU and reflect on the biggest hurdles he faced building a the RPI. standard of success. “Our non-conference schedule has become dramatically “When we first started the more difficult over the years and that’s just program we didn’t have a gym… because mid-majors who’ve had success have offices,” commented the Eagle head the most difficult time scheduling. That’s coach. “Selling our vision was the pretty well known throughout the country,” hardest thing at the beginning. commented Smesko. Having nothing tangible to show “I think there’s definitely a benefit the players and parents. We had to playing marquee non-conference games. to tell them we were going to do Our fans like to see us play the big names things the right way and have them and I think our players look forward to those believe it.” challenges. It helps with recruiting when you What was the tipping point? play and beat bigger schools.” “Recruiting drastically Going forward, Smesko doesn’t plan improved once we were eligible for to change his philosophy by putting a distinct the NCAA Tournament. The first FGCU Women’s Basketball has enjoyed label on success. “Just because we’ve won four years in D1 we couldn’t play in five straight regular season championships one game in the NCAA Tournament doesn’t the NCAAs, and I know schools used and claimed three of the last four A-Sun mean the next step is ‘win two games or bust.’ that against us.” Tournament Championships under Smesko. I’m still excited to get better as a coach. I’m When asked what quality Last season the Eagles also got their first still learning and trying to get better and I he looks for in potential players NCAA win against Oklahoma State. know our players are too.” other than just on-the-court talent, Long term, the six-time A-Sun Coach of the Smesko summed it up in one word. Year believes there is no ceiling to success with the Eagles. “Competitiveness. Players that want to and enjoy competing; Based on the past decade and a half, building an elite, midit’s as simple as that.” major program from the ground up with no gym, no office… Smesko’s teams aren’t just limited to success on the who’s to say he’s wrong? basketball court. In fact, what the FGCU head man considers

ADMINISTRATION | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY

UNF SUCCESS IS A FAMILY AFFAIR UNF’S OSPREYS ARE SOARING UNDER AD LEE MOON

s UNF Arena transitioned from you have to make it frenzied to peaceful in the hours happen or else. That following the Ospreys’ first is Coach Moon. He is men’s basketball championship title in all about ‘How can I program history last March, Director help you, what can I of Athletics Lee Moon could take a do for you,’ but at the deep breath and bask in his team’s same time he has to accomplishment. see results as well.” After all, that was the type of moment Now in his that existed in the mind’s eye of the seventh year at UNF, veteran for each of his teams when Moon has a unique he took the helm of the UNF athletics collegial approach program in 2009. to his task that has “My goal from the beginning was to enabled the Ospreys A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart presents the NCAA Automatic build programs that our University, to collect their Bid certificate to Moon following North Florida’s 2015 A-Sun Men’s alumni, students and community could share of Atlantic Soccer Championship victory. take pride in for both academic and Sun Conference athletic successes,” said Moon. “That championships. North Florida’s success in the challenge pride would be reflected by financial Besides men’s quickly became a point of emphasis for investment and physical support basketball, in 2015 UNF claimed a Moon. As a result the Ospreys currently through attendance at events. With share of the regular season and won own a win streak in the crosstown that support, I believed that all of our the tournament title in Men’s Soccer. rivalry, as UNF has claimed the last programs would have the opportunity The Ospreys also won the Women’s four years of the River City Rumble to compete for championships.” Tennis regular season and tournament competition and posted record- setting “However, we knew that our titles, the Baseball regular season margins of victory in two of the last basketball programs would have to be championship and the Men’s Golf our bellcows, since we did not have tournament title during 2014-15. North three years. So what is so unique about Moon’s football,” said Moon. “With success in Florida has claimed 22 conference approach that is bringing that type of this area our athletics success to UNF? program can impact the Driscoll points to an university, and when I “You could tell that it is very important experience emanating from came here that is what to him that the athletic department the spring of 2012, when I said I was going to do. understands each other and believes in that Moon was a part of another “We had to commit family type of atmosphere and in helping shining moment as UNF’s to the basketball one another......To see that at work not only Hodges Stadium hosted the programs, I knew that in the coaches but in the administrators that 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track was where we had to & Field East preliminary he has brought in as well in the department start. I thought I could round. Additionally, since now, it is just an incredible thing.” come in and build then North Florida was winning programs – Men’s Basketball Head Coach Matt Driscoll tabbed to repeat as host for across the board, and the East Preliminary from last year was just the 2014-2016. beginning of that for “I look back to the first time that our men’s basketball team. We have had championships under Moon. we hosted the NCAA Track & Field to be patient, as it took six years to get Additionally, Osprey teams have Championship here, and we had every here.” advanced to the NCAA postseason coach in the department and their Men’s basketball coach Matt Driscoll in several sports including men’s families working together to create the appreciates the patience of his athletic soccer, basketball, women’s tennis and best possible experience.You could tell director, along with the experience that men’s golf, in addition to individual that it is very important to him that he brings to his approach in growing participation by a number of track and the athletic department understands the program. field student-athletes. each other and believes in that family “As a coach you really want a guy who The River City Rumble with type of atmosphere and in helping one has been there, who has done it, who crosstown rival Jacksonville already another,” said Driscoll. “That particular has been at the turning point when existed prior to Moon’s arrival, but

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Since his first day in 2009, Moon’s ultimate goal as athletics’ chief architect has been the achievement of a broad-based department in which all of its teams experience success and join in the A-Sun’s mission of Building Winners UNF Director of Athletics Lee Moon receives his share of the net for Life. during the celebration following the Ospreys’ first men’s basketball As men’s championship last March. basketball event created an unbelievable type remains undefeated and looks to defend of camaraderie that really helped its title, spring seasons are beginning, everyone in the department come to a a time when traditionally a number of better understanding of what it means Osprey teams excel as well. to serve as opposed to being served. “One of the next things that I want That is what Coach is wanting to get to win is the All-Sports Trophy,” said across to everyone. Moon. “That is a great sign of a balanced “I think that is what is making program, and a great indication of us successful across the board. success that student-athletes are You can be successful without that competing for a championship in every type of understanding and without sport.” surrounding yourself with those types A reasonable goal, since the Ospreys of people, but I don’t believe that you have been consistently ranked among can sustain it. To see that at work the A-Sun’s top programs in the Bill not only in the coaches but in the Bibb Trophy standings, the conference’s administrators that he has brought in as all-sports race, for four of the past five well in the department now, it is just an seasons. UNF posted its best finish in incredible thing.” the competition in 2014-15, finishing Marcie Hickey, North Florida’s runner-up by a small margin while also Head Softball Coach, was in place prior capturing the program’s first Men’s Allto Moon’s arrival. She echoes Driscoll Sports Championship. on the development of the department Off the field, Moon’s guidance under Moon’s leadership. has raised the performance of UNF “The biggest change that I notice student-athletes in the classroom as the from before Coach Moon’s arrival is the Ospreys regularly boast a cumulative unity of the department,” said Hickey. department GPA at or above a 3.0. In “He does everything he can to make 2014-15, North Florida student-athletes sure that you have what you need to accumulated a 3.18 GPA highlighted by succeed, and I think the result of that is a 3.2 during the spring semester. that the department is very competitive. “He is on top of every single thing, What I mean by that is not that we are every single day,” said Driscoll. “But it competitive with each other, but that is in a way of ‘What do you need? How we are competing for championships. can we get better? What can we do for As a part of that you clearly see that the players? How can we help them it is important to him that we know academically?’ He is a big studenteach other and support each other as athlete guy in that he wants the best for coaches and teams. You regularly see them.” other teams and coaches at events, and For Moon, one of the keys to he makes sure that we get together developing that familial cohesive regularly as a department to accomplish bond throughout the department is that as well. “ in identifying good “fits.” Luckily for

ADMINISTRATION

everyone, finding the right people that he feels will be able to work within his framework is a gift – one that has led to an approach that is certainly intentional. “In coaches I look for certain things and I do not compromise on those,” said Moon. “I want to see a sense of urgency from them. I want them to know themselves and understand how they got to where they are. And I want them to be sold out to the process of continually building in order to achieve success.” Driscoll echoes that one of Moon’s gifts is the evaluation of a prospective hire. “He has a unique ability to recognize how people will fit into their particular job and/or sport,” said Driscoll. “He is not a cookie-cutter guy. There are several coaches here who are nothing like me. He is really good at figuring out ‘Do your strengths equal our needs?’ Then conversely, ‘Can I help with your weaknesses in order to get you where you want to go?’” Moon has also helped create an engaging fan-friendly atmosphere resulting in increased attendances for all of the department’s programs. UNF’s teams regularly rank among the Atlantic Sun leaders in home attendance and tallied a program record mark of 2,725 per game average in men’s basketball in 2014-15. UNF’s success and administrative efforts during the 2015 A-Sun Men’s Basketball Championship also resulted in an A-Sun record attendance of 6,155 for the final at UNF Arena. Also during his tenure, UNF has added two successful women’s varsity programs in beach volleyball and women’s golf, along with overseeing upgrades to several of the Osprey’s home venues. He was a driving force in the latest addition for the department, a state-of-the-art, four-sided, center hung video scoreboard and 40-foot LED scorer’s table for UNF Arena. The Ospreys are flying high and – unlike their aviary namesakes – they are doing so as a group, due in large part to Moon’s leadership and vision of succeeding together.

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GET TO KNOW DR. KIM CAPRIOTTI Dr. Kim Capriotti is the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for Jacksonville University. As a faculty member at JU, Capriotti has served as an associate professor of finance and accounting since August, 2001. Capriotti is currently serving on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee and recently finished a three-year term on the NCAA Division I Legislative Council. Prior to that, she was a member of the NCAA Division I Academic Cabinet. She has also been an active leader in the Atlantic Sun Conference, serving on the various conference committees: sports policy, executive, constitution & bylaw, and student-athlete welfare. Q: What is your role as the Faculty Athletics Representative? A: My role is ensuring the balance between athletics and academics to the benefit of JU student-athletes. I serve as the liaison between the NCAA and both the faculty and the university. You could also add between the NCAA and the conference component there as well. Even though I get to be in front of them before the seasons begin in order to let them know that they can come to me, particularly with an academic issue, unfortunately they still often do not come directly to me when there is an issue. Often they go to a department head or dean of students and we will coordinate to get it resolved, often to the benefit of not only the student-athletes but the other students as well. Still, I always encourage them to come to me as helping them find that balance is part of what I do. They are always very appreciative because I will get answers, and I always try to get it done one-on-one if I can. Additionally, I will go before faculty and try to be proactive and help them understand what happens with student-athletes, particularly during their seasons, like missing class due to travel and such. Q: As a professor of finance and accounting, how did you get involved with JU athletics? A: I had always attended athletic events, and the prior FAR was an accounting professor. He must have seen that I was at a lot of events and he approached me about it. The key is in the accounting. We are auditors and so we are used to that internal control component, to have a process in place to catch things because you can’t see everything. My big thing is when we have any type of secondary infraction, I am like ‘ok, that happened, we will report it, but now how do we prevent it?’ What control can we put in place to prevent this from happening again? Also, the skepticism of an auditor doesn’t always take everyone’s word at it, I investigate a little more and I think that helps.

Q: What type of experiences did you have with studentathletes prior to accepting your current position? A: At a previous institution, I do recall having a basketball player in my class and feeling some pressure regarding him. As far as receiving the travel letters and things like that, other majors received more student-athletes than finance and accounting. I did have a JU Hall of Famer who was a baseball player, and I had new A-Sun Hall of Fame inductee Monique Tubbs. I remember her because she was so smart and I was mad at her because she should have been a finance major. She waited until she was about to graduate to take my class!

Q: What have you learned most about the JU Athletic Department and the A-Sun since becoming the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR)? A: Being a fan or on the outside looking in, you really don’t know what an athletic department and/or a conference office does until you get into it like this. As I was watching bowl games during the holidays, I knew that all of these conference office people and people in the athletic departments were working right through the holidays – there was no rest. You don’t realize what it takes to put on these athletic events and the tournaments. That has opened my eyes, as has being trained to be a game administrator. All of that is amazing to me. I didn’t realize how much time people spend at the event and how much time and effort is spent trying to comply with the rules.

Q: Do you run across faculty who simply refuse to work with student-athletes and those in your position? If so how do you overcome that? A: Yes we do. We know who they are and we sometimes need to avoid scheduling student-athletes in their classes, especially in season. It is really sad, and so much about those types of situations is about communication. We used to host a program in which we brought the coaches together with the faculty to try to open those lines of communication. The coaches had to go because the AD made them, but you can’t make the faculty do anything. You would get some faculty but it normally wasn’t the ones who were the problems. Sometimes they were beneficial because even though a faculty member might not accommodate a request from a coach, at least the coaches could come to understand why

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things were done the way they were by the faculty, and vice versa the faculty could learn from the coaches.

Q: What are the most difficult and gratifying aspects of the job? A: The difficult aspect is when there is an issue, because those are not always the most confortable conversations between student-athletes and faculty or coaches and faculty. Then there are those times if you receive a letter of inquiry from the NCAA, which I have had to deal with before. You have to go and investigate and have meetings and conversations to try and resolve those as well.

FACULTY

of the academic people don’t like that one. Major clustering also comes up now and then as well among my peers. It is back and forth on that one, and I don’t like it when coaches tell studentathletes that they have to be this major because that is the only way their classes are going to fit in, because that is not the case. That is where working together comes in and can be so helpful. Often things can be worked out but it is give and take.

Q: You represent JU at the conference level and the A-Sun at the NCAA level. What types of issues do you deal with there? Do you have any interesting insights you can share? A: My big thing in any of these roles is looking out for studentathlete welfare. Are they going to be traveling more and missing more classes? Also from the accountant side I am always looking at the cost-benefit. I especially look at that when I am going through NCAA proposals. For instance, this is great monitoring, but it going to be costly to our compliance people to do all of this, so is it really gong to result in a university together benefit?

The gratifying part is the fact that I love all of the people who I have met outside of my academic community. There is the athletic department, the conference office, the NCAA, and the other FARs with whom I interact. Then also there is seeing the student-athletes excel in the classroom “Athletics brings the and getting a chance to watch them excel in and it carries over, as you become an alum their event and their in terms of connecting to the university. It sport, which is just is also wonderful to watch these studentwonderful. Then you athletes grow and succeed and become get to celebrate as well productive in the community. I think all when they win an award, which just brings it of that is a good thing, it is a good path all together. Those are in terms of discipline, motivation, time things that you don’t management - all of those things are good. I get to understand until can’t imagine going to a school that did not you are involved in all of have athletics.” this. Now I feel like I can completely get to know them. – Jacksonville FAR, Dr. Kim Capriotti Q: What is the most common misconception that you feel outsiders have about intercollegiate athletic programs in general? A: The biggest thing is most people think there is this NCAA staff office in Indianapolis where people sit and make all of the rules, which just really bugs me. It is not; it is all of us making the rules. We are made up of committees that are made up of people from all over. We just didn’t come up with this rule; it exists because the membership wanted it.

The other thing is that collegiate athletic programs are not separate from the university. I tell the faculty when I speak to them that we all are members of the NCAA, not just the athletic department. We are working together; they don’t understand that athletics and admissions are recruiting these students, or that they should be. Q: Is there one issue that dominates conversations among faculty athletics representatives? A: The one that gets me is the one they just changed regarding graduate transfers, when if they get done with undergrad and still have eligibility remaining that they can transfer and play immediately, kind of like free agency. They are looking at that one again, and I am glad because that one just bothers me. All

Q: Why are athletics an important part of the college experience? A: Athletics brings the university together and it carries over as you become an alum in terms of connecting to the university. It is also wonderful to watch these student-athletes grow and succeed and become productive in the community. I think all of that is a good thing, it is a good path in terms of discipline, motivation, time management - all of those things are good. I can’t imagine going to a school that did not have athletics. Q: What role have sports played in your life? A: I played basketball in high school and played competitive tennis, but then when I went to Michigan I got very involved in intramurals. Interestingly, when I first got there I went to class and studied but wasn’t active in anything and I felt bad about myself and got depressed. I finally decided that no matter how busy I got, there was going to be an hour each day that I was going to devote to athletics. I started swimming, I played racquetball, and I just got into all of the intramural competitions for those. From that day forward it has always been a part of my life. Q: What are your favorite sports to play and watch? A: In terms of participating I swim and I picked up running. In terms of watching sports I love NFL and college football. Of course then there is basketball and I love watching the NCAA Tournament. I am also excited about being a member of the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee, which is out of my box.

WINNERS FOR LIFE | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY

THE A-SUN’S CHIEF ARCHITECT FORMER COMMISSIONER BILL BIBB LAID A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING WINNERS FOR LIFE When Bill Bibb announced in October of 2006 that he was stepping down from his role as Commissioner of the Atlantic Sun Conference, he commented that the profession had been very good to him. He added that he hoped that it had been a two-way street, that his time and service had been good to others as well. It is hard to imagine just how good and how many individual lives he touched during his career in the profession that represented more than five decades of his life. From player to coach to administrator to referee observer and surely many other small and unnoticed roles in between, Bibb has given his life to intercollegiate athletics and, in particular, to basketball. In what could be termed “The Basketball Life,” Bibb’s story clearly revolves around the game that he holds so dear. Hailing from Owensboro, Kentucky, Bibb developed his love of the game as he grew up in a basketball rich corridor of the country. Growing into a fine high school player who earned all-state honors as a senior, Bibb refined his skills at the same high school as former University of Kentucky greats, AllAmerican center Cliff Hagan and All-SEC guard Bobby Watson. Bibb signed to play for legendary coach Adolph Rupp and was a member of the school’s only undefeated team in 1954, which finished 25-0. Just as in high school, Bibb was a two-sport student-athlete at UK, also playing baseball. But because no restrictions were placed on squad size during Bibb’s playing career, the Wildcat roster was crowded. Bibb desired playing time and made the decision to transfer close to home to Kentucky Wesleyan to complete his collegiate career. There he played two seasons and as a senior he participated in the NCAA’s first-ever Division II Championship Tournament, finishing second. He earned AP All-American honors following his senior season in 1957. It was a decision that son Brad says Bibb never saw as anything but positive. “I don’t think he regretted it,” said the younger Bibb. “Back then big schools were likely stockpiling players, and he was a good player from the same hometown of Cliff Hagan and others who were members of some of those great Kentucky teams. He wanted to play; he saw limited time during his sophomore year and to play he felt like he needed to go somewhere else. He got that chance at Kentucky Wesleyan, and he got to play baseball and basketball. He was even

Bill Bibb was inducted into the Macon Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. Bibb was Mercer University’s All time leader in coaching victories coach with 222 victories, and he led the Bears to the 1981 and 1985 NCAA basketball tournament. He also served as Commissioner of the Macon-based Atlantic Sun Conference, which he helped found, for 17 years. drafted by the Cubs in baseball.” Following graduation and pursuit of his Master’s degree in education at the University of Kentucky, it didn’t take long for Bibb to begin to cast his lot into the coaching profession, beginning as an assistant basketball coach for Robert “Bullet” Wilson along with service as the head baseball coach at Kentucky Wesleyan from 1959 until 1966. “Coming from such a basketball rich area, basketball was just in his blood,” said Brad. “I think Bullet Wilson saw in him as a player the intellect to be a coach one day. A no-nonsense father, like Rupp, who was a disciplinarian, raised him. So I do think Rupp had influence on him. He started in coaching right away.” Bibb’s ability not only to coach but to recruit landed him several other assistant coach positions on the staffs of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas (1966-69), at St. Louis University (1969-71) with Coach Bob Polk and at Utah State (1971-73) with Coach T.L. Plain. It was the following year in 1973-74, however, that Bibb and his family, wife Linda and son Brad, settled in Macon, Ga., as Bibb became an assistant coach for Mercer University. The Bears were just one year removed from having participated in the NCAA Tournament at the Division II level under Dwayne

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WINNERS FOR LIFE

Morrison, and Bibb served only one me that. I never felt that way,. He was year under Joe Dan Gold before taking “old school,” he played for Rupp and that the reigns and offering the Bears was his mindset.” stability for the next 15 years. Brad says that old school mentality Brad remembers the good and the also played out on the court. “We would bad of growing up as the son of a coach run if we had the opportunity, but we and later an administrator. were an inside-out basketball team. The “To me growing up the son of a ball went to the post, that is where it coach and administrator was great. I would go, and we had guys that could was exposed to that all of the time. I score in the post. We had all-conference was always at practice shooting with players in those positions. Now the the big guys, chasing loose balls, just philosophy seems outside in. We would Bibb enjoying a laugh with University of Kentucky have worn some people out back then being in the gym. I remember when we were at Utah St as a kid, they had a teammates and legendary coach Adolph Rupp. with the three-point line, because big arena, and it was a small town, so we had some guys who could shoot we lived near campus. I was always on it. But the post position was more campus as a kid. prominent.” “I think one of the challenges of being the son of a coach Brad recalls several things about Coach Bibb that was in that being a coach, he would miss some of my games, undoubtedly led to his success, not only as a coach but that was tough on Mom as well. She had to sweat it out, be at also in his later responsibilities as an administrator and my games and listen to his commissioner. games on the radio. When “As a coach he was very he was there I remember detailed. Practice was broken he stood at the top of the down into increments, and concourse, I think because we worked on that particular he liked scouting from there. area, and then moved on to And I remember too that he something else. He loved the never coached me, never told details of a scouting report, me things to work on and he and I would imagine he was never said anything to my high that way administratively as school coach unless he was well. asked.” “And I know that he took Enjoying his own success pride in good graduation The 1954 University of Kentucky Wildcats were the top-ranked team in high school playing at rates. School was definitely a in the nation with a record of 25–0. Despite the undefeated season, Stratford Academy in Macon, top priority.” the Wildcats did not participate in any post-season tournament. Brad opted to attend Mercer As Brad moved on from his and to play collegiately for his Three players (Lou Tsioropoulos, Frank Ramsey, and Cliff Hagan) playing career, he moved just father. The Bibbs’ time together had technically graduated the year before, so those players were down the scorer’s table to his ruled ineligible for the NCAA tournament. Despite the wishes of the began as one of the toughest spot on the radio broadcast, players, coach Adolph Rupp ultimately decided his team wouldn’t in their relationship, but which he says led to one of the play. Bibb is No. 31 in the back row. ultimately it ended up as one of best times that he and his dad the best. experienced around the game “The toughest time of our relationship was playing for of basketball. him,” said Brad. “I was on the low end of our team from a “One of the best times of our relationship was when I quit talent perspective and I think he wanted to bring the most playing and started broadcasting,” said Brad. We would be out of me. I was a good high school player in a private school together on road trips, watching basketball and talking about league, but college was a the games, and after the game rude awakening. Guys were we would go have a drink and bigger, stronger, faster, and it get dinner, then we would was a tough adjustment for go back to the hotel and he me physically. To have him as would break down the game coach and father put a little bit again and we would talk of strain on us. some more! I am so glad that “But I didn’t ever I got to share that experience personally think that he was with him and I know that he The 1985 Mercer Bears. Bibb led this team to the A-Sun title and harder on me than other enjoyed it as well.” players, but I had a lot of guys tell fought valiantly in a 65-58 loss to Georgia Tech in the NCAA Bibb had a good run at Tournament.

WINNERS FOR LIFE | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY

Mercer from 1974-89. Twice the Bears posted 20+ win “I believe he probably took pride from his accomplishment seasons and his 222 wins still rank him as the program’s of leading the conference and creating stability in a volatile all-time leader in the category. In 1981 Mercer won their environment,” said Brad. “When the TAAC started it was first conference title, advancing to the Midwest Regional. The so spread out. To be able to get it more centralized, more Bears gave 20th-ranked Arkansas all they wanted, as with 10 regional, was something that he was successful with, along minutes remaining in the game the score with its growth, and I think that he is was tied at 54. The Razorbacks won 73proud of that fact.” 67, but the outcome truly was in doubt Since its inception in 1978, the until the very end. conference has continued to provide Bibb’s second championship title and enhance opportunities for studentcame in 1985, advancing the Bears to the athletes to compete and to excel at the NCAA East Regional to face a talented highest levels in academic, athletics and Georgia Tech squad led by John Salley, as contributors in their communities. Mark Price and Bruce Dalrymple and Today the conference refers to that as coached by Bobby Cremins. Tech won 65its mission of Building Winners for Life, 58, but again the Bears represented the certainly something that bears the mark Trans America Athletic Conference with of one of its early founders in Bibb. dignity. “He had much satisfaction being Along with leading the Bears to their commissioner of the conference and first pair of conference championships, watching the success of the conference Bibb twice claimed Coach of the Year develop from the embryonic stage,” said honors. During his tenure, 17 players Bill and Linda Bibb with their family: With Bill Brad. “He was there at the beginning of earned All-Conference honors with the whole thing, more so than as a coach. is granddaughter Sarah (11) and with Linda Benton Wade and Sam Mitchell earning is grandaughter Lexi (14). In the back row are I never knew that about him until he did Conference Player of the Year honors. it, and once he got into it he was really daughter-in-law Shannon and son Brad. Tony Gattis and Mitchell were also named happy and content.” Conference Tournament Most Valuable Bibb’s 50-year career allowed him Players and the National Basketball Association drafted eight to be a part of some interesting experiences. The question of Bibb’s players. Mitchell enjoyed the longest NBA playing was asked once, “In just how many roles can you be involved career from 1985-2002, and has since served as an assistant with the NCAA and postseason?” For Bibb, the answer is eight. coach with four NBA teams. He is the current head coach of the As a player he experienced it at the Division I and Division II Minnesota Timberwolves. levels in basketball and baseball. As a coach he experienced it “I don’t think he liked to single out teams because each of with Trinity, Utah State and Mercer. And as an administrator them had its own personality,” said Brad. “Obviously the 1981 he enjoyed that success as an athletic director and as team was special because that was the first team to win the commissioner. conference and go to the NCAA Tournament. Then with the 1985 team he got to return, but I will say that our 1978-79 was really good too.” Along with serving as basketball coach, Bibb also pulled double-duty as Mercer’s Director of Athletics from1980-89, providing an additional outlet for that organization and detail. And if coaching and administrating an athletic department weren’t enough to keep him busy, he also became a founding father of the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC). The Conference was founded as a men’s sports only league in 1978, while a women’s league, the New South Women’s Athletic Conference, was formed in1985. After a two-year stint as Director of Athletics at UT-Arlington from 1989-91, Bibb became the conference’s third full-time commissioner in 1991, and helped oversee the transition as the two conferences merged for the 1991-92 academic year. The conference name changed to the Atlantic Sun Conference beginning the 2001-02 academic year. The early years of the TAAC were a dynamic but also Former Mercer Director of Athletics Bobby Pope, Brad Bibb, Kenny a turbulent time, as the teams were spread out across the Daugherty (from the 1981 Bears team), Ted Gumbart, Sonny country including locations in Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana Smith and his wife Jan, Bill and Linda Bibb, and former Bears Sam to Oklahoma and Texas. Mitchell (rear), Dartez Talbott (front), and Benton Wade.

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WINNERS FOR LIFE

The imposing figure, with a booming voice that was a part of his accomplishments presence.” during Bibb’s tenure Brad Bibb echoes Gumbart, having seen his father’s as commissioner commitment and loyalty to those who he touched exhibited are varied and time and again. numerous. He “His loyalty to people has always been paramount,” said oversaw the growth Brad. “If you were employed by him or played for him, and did of the A-Sun from an the things that were asked of you and showed that your heart all-men’s conference was in the right place, his loyalty to you was never ending. competingfor just “I recall watching basketball games with him, and it was six titles to a men’s amazing to learn so much about the game by sitting with and women’s league him,” Gumbart added. “He definitely fulfilled a role as mentor, that sported 17 and there is no way I could be the commissioner without his championships when support, his guidance and his work on my behalf as his career he stepped down. was winding down. “Up to that point For Gumbart, the takeaways are many. First, always be the TAAC had been prepared. Never go to a meeting without knowing what people Trinity University Head Coach Bob Polk only male and I was think - do your homework before and if it means enough, go and assistant coach Bill Bibb. The two the first assistant and sit down with them and look them in the eye to discuss. worked well together and also went to St. commissioner Second, Gumbart says he learned to continue to remember Louis University together. Bibb actually he hired,” recalls the people who you have touched or who have touched you turned down Polk’s vacant job at Trinity to current A-Sun throughout your career. “He kept up with them, knew where go to St. Louis with him. Bibb subsequently Commissioner Ted they were, and what they were doing. I try to do the same, left to go to Utah State as assistant with Gumbart. “All of even if just to say thanks. There have been a lot of people along another coach T.L. Plain. that was completely the way, and nobody does it by themselves.” new. The conference Next - care about what you do. “He did not want things office underwent staff changes and grew from a place that did going out that did not reflect the level of operation that we basketball stats and shipped out trophies and really became a were running. I guess that made him a ‘measure twice, cut conference operation.” once kind-of guy.’ Ask yourself constantly, are we getting Bibb was responsible for starting the Presidents Council, better, are we getting it right?” which today provides valuable insight into leadership and Finally, do the right thing, which is not always the easiest vision of the conference. Bibb recognized its importance at a thing to do. The decision to do what is right is sometimes time when the NCAA’s presidential involvement was growing. challenging. Once you make it, don’t look back. “He had no During his tenure, the A-Sun’s funds grew exponentially problem making what he felt was the right decision. It was and he negotiated the A-Sun’s “Friday Night Game of the always fair, never cavalier.” said Gumbart. Week” package with CSS for men’s “It is a special relationship when basketball, making it the only midyou can enjoy the professional major conference for a time with such accomplishments and personal a deal. time together,” said Gumbart. “We As the conference staff continued developed a great personal and to grow, Bibb also instituted an professional relationship, and I enjoy additional benefit in the form of it immensely.” a retirement plan. He was just as For Bill Bibb, his time and service involved with the things that were has been good to literally thousands not necessarily news items but that of student-athletes, coaches, showed the loyalty and the concern he administrators, staff and fans who had in taking care of people. have shared in the experience Bibb led Mercer to a pair of conference But as much as Bibb accomplished championships in 1981 and 1985 and earned Coach of Building Winners for Life. As a on the outside to contribute to a founding father of the conference, he of the Year honors as well during those years. His healthy conference, the impact he 222 wins during his 15 years are still the high mark had the longest tenure and stayed made on the lives of staff such as involved with its development. for coaching success at Mercer. Gumbart was also immeasurable. He touched the conference in a “He is a very loyal person, and fair, meaningful way, and to this day he will but he expected you to do your part,” Gumbart said. “If you did, still tell you that being commissioner was the best job that he the two-way street was outstanding. If you didn’t, you would ever had. have a discussion as to why you didn’t, during which time he could come across domineering because he was that tall,

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EXPANDING THE A-SUN’S REACH

CCA POSITION NEWEST LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR GUMBART

t the conclusion of the June 2015 Collegiate Commissioner Association (CCA) meeting, A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart was elected as the group’s new President. Gumbart will serve a two-year term in this leadership role. The CCA membership includes the commissioners from each of the 32 Division I conferences. The CCA has two main meetings each year – late fall and early summer – where the commissioners meet to discuss issues related to intercollegiate athletics.

A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart is beginning the first of two years of service as the President of the Collegiate Commissioner Association (CCA) in 2016. Q: What were your feelings when approached about seriously. For me, that means I have to so I’m very conscious that we need to considering this position? read everything – all the reports, all move along. A: First, I was honored. I felt some the minutes, all the agendas not just pride that the group approached me show up at a meeting without being Q: What has been your approach to about it. I had served as our subprepared. Hopefully, my attending the position thus far? division Vice President a few years to that helps make everyone more A: I become president in a unique back, but it was two summers ago this productive. situation. The immediate past CCA really came about. Carolyn Femovich President (Britton Banowsky) is no of the Patriot League (CCA President Q: What do you bring to the longer a commissioner, so he isn’t at the time) was finishing her term position? participating. Greg Sankey, who did a and asked if I would consider the A: For one thing, I believe I have the fantastic job in recent years keeping position and I agreed. So two years ability to talk openly to anyone in our group on task as CCA secretary, is as the Executive Vice President and the group, on any side of an issue. now SEC Commissioner, so we have now the first of two as President. As a non-football conference, that new person in the secretary role. And Obviously, there are many others who sometimes conflicting football David Berst, who was our valued and could fill the role, and I smile as I get dynamic doesn’t push me in a certain relied upon NCAA liaison, retired. the normal ribbing responses like “I direction. I find that, overall, people Dave was the one that when all else don’t know whether to congratulate prefer to work openly and together failed you just turned to him and you or offer you condolences.” to resolve issues. I like to think that asked, ‘David, what is the status on But as soon as I moved into the I can engage people on both sides of this?’ and he could fill you in. President role, immediately I felt a an issue and get the discussion to its So here comes Ted, a commissioner strong responsibility to do a good point. who doesn’t have football, jumping job. Whatever I am asked to do, if I I also am not afraid to move into this role just as we finish can’t, then I need to say no. And that is meetings along. No matter what the establishing a new Division I really hard. As you move up in office, issue or who is speaking, there comes governance system. We don’t have a it’s just part of the package - you are a time when you have to move on, stay past president and the secretary is asked to do things. If you accept an on schedule and get business done. It still in the room but he is wearing a appointment, then you need to do it to frustrates me when that isn’t the case, different hat and we have a new NCAA the best of your ability, take it really

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Liaison in Kevin Lennon. I guess my approach is that we have a blank slate in some sense. We can redesign if need be, but we can also carry on with whatever was working. The focus is that we are a group of 32 and this is a new opportunity. My mindset is, ‘what are the issues that affect us all?’ We don’t need to focus on things that fragment us, but we know we have differences. When we are together, we need to work that way – together. Let’s identify primary items of shared interest, then let’s get in the room and work it out.

Q: In the constant state of change for the Division I landscape, has the CCA changed as well? A: When I was the vice president the past two years, we had four task forces. There was governance, which I was on, and obviously the NCAA governance redesign is over. We had one on enforcement, which is still active and, in fact, we just supported its work and endorsed continuing efforts on revising the enforcement system. We had one on finance, and they made significant contributions that will continue with NCAA Council oversight. And the fourth was on women’s basketball. At our recent fall meeting we fully supported a coordinated effort to funnel all things basketball through the new men’s and women’s basketball oversight committees. So we have moved from those groups to some new areas of focus, including the ongoing transfer discussions, learning how to work together in the new governance structure and beginning to plan for working with the new 32-member Presidential Forum.

Q: How has the new NCAA governance system affected the CCA? A: No surprise here, but learning the details in how we process legislation in the Autonomy Five structure gives us plenty to work on. When do we get to see each other’s proposals? What if we want to put in a proposal that touches one of the Autonomy 5 areas? How do we deal with proposals

related to prospective studentathletes? How will we use the twoyear review process to improve what we’ve built? One thing I’ve tried to do is avoid surprises. As we prepared for discussion on how non-Autonomy Five conferences might propose constructive legislation, I wanted to know if there were any landmines. Before our fall CCA meeting, I had discussions with Kevin Lennon, with Mark Emmert, with our CCA Executive Committee, with (Kennesaw State AD and A-Sun Division I Council member) Vaughn Williams and the consensus was that the system had a shortcoming. My main concern was not necessarily what the resolution would be, but mainly reaching a clear understanding that we had identified an issue affecting us all, would work on it together, and ultimately would present a unified Division I proposal for adjustments to the Board. It is important that the adjustments to the structure are Division I solutions for all of us.

Q: You mentioned basketball issues. What basketball issues are being examined? A: A primary issue is getting some clarity on processing ideas. As noted earlier, the CCA supported the consolidation of all basketball issues so that they could ultimately run through the new oversight committees. The CCA helped launch the LLC’s that now provide oversight in officiating – there’s one for football, one for men’s basketball and one for women’s basketball. For basketball, the officiating is always an area for study. The LLC’s had competition committees and mechanics committees, there were NCAA Basketball Issues committees, we have the rules committees, the regular sport (selection) committees, and we had a number of various ad hoc study groups and task forces – all trying to find ways to make the game better. Getting some clarity to the pathway for new rules, new ideas, and constructive adjustments to what we are already successfully doing, that is something that will help everyone who cares about the game.

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Q: The first meeting between the CCA and the new NCAA Presidential Forum took place at the convention. Can you tell us what was discussed? A: We talked about how we can work together. How we can make an impact. We recognized a special connection as both the CCA and the Presidential Forum have one representative from each of the 32 conferences. The session together was a short introductory meeting over dinner, but I believe the main outcome was that we can be helpful to each other. One suggestion from a Forum member was that perhaps the CCA could share its top priority items with the Forum in advance of each Forum meeting. I can guarantee you we’ll take them up on that.

Q: What does it mean to the A-Sun for you to be in this position? A: It promotes the A-Sun name, for one thing. I’ve already been interviewed a few times by national publications and there is a certain amount of general airtime we get simply from me filling the President’s chair. Another boost is that we have a delegate in the front seat – driving, actually. So we have a certain amount of influence to voice concerns and we have a built-in early-warning system if certain issues arise – positive or negative. And in reality, whoever sits in the chair, there is always some level of bias. And I don’t mean that in a negative sense. Nobody is completely without bias, and while that word often has a negative connotation, I don’t think it has to be negative. If you are diplomatic about it, you can get across certain points that you believe deserve attention. It doesn’t mean that you get to decide what is or isn’t going to be on the agenda, but if your role is to lead the proceedings, you do have an element of control. Perhaps most importantly, you have first-hand information that helps us be more effective and efficient when we meet. As long as I’m keeping up as the CCA President, we should have the very latest information on key items that might concern the A-Sun.