ATHLETICS REPORT
NEW JOB, SAME PHILOSOPHY Guilford's New AD Wants to Continue Building Relationships with Student-Athletes On May 25, 2021, 57-year-old William (Bill) Foti was named as Guilford’s new Director of Athletics. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, the Manchester native brings 36 years of experience in coaching and administration to Greensboro. Foti began his coaching career in 1986 as a graduate assistant at New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University), where he also earned an MBA. In 1992, he was named head men’s basketball coach at Colby-Sawyer College, a small liberal arts school in New London, N.H. In 29 years at Colby-Sawyer he won 486 games, placing him among the top 25 winningest active coaches at the Division III level. Foti also served as Director of Athletics for seven years (2013-20), overseeing 22 men’s and women’s teams. Foti and wife Cathy have three children, son Nick (who lives in Charlotte) and daughters Christina, a recent graduate of Southern New Hampshire University, and Caroline, a freshman at American University. Guilford College Magazine sat down with Foti and talked with him about the transition from coaching to administration, creating a balance between men’s and women’s athletics and what a successful Division III coach looks like.
I was just always passionate about
what life without coaching could be like.
basketball. Coaching was something
We practiced but did not have games. To
I thought I would be very good at,
be truthful, I did not miss the games. Not
although I’m not sure why.
missing the games was a signal to me that maybe it was time to step away.
What is your definition of a successful coach at the Division III level?
What is it that makes Division III
When you boil it down, a successful
athletics so unique and so special?
coach is one that brings a positive,
It is the largest division in the NCAA, and
comprehensive experience to student-
the spirit behind being a student-athlete
athletes that is consistent with a
is the truest in terms of balancing things.
college’s values. I like to win games, and
In Division III you see a lot of student-
being successful is important. But it is
athletes playing multiple sports. You
just as important that student-athletes
don’t see that much at the Division I level,
have a good experience academically,
but if someone wants to try it here; it’s
athletically and with other activities.
celebrated. There are no requirements
Coaches really can make a difference in
for student-athletes when not in season.
establishing that culture.
Kids want to have internships, kids need to have jobs. They can do that here.
What will you most miss about not being on the sidelines?
There is a new softball indoor
There is no better feeling in the world
batting facility scheduled to open in
than coaching a great team. When
December. What are your feelings
everything works and you have a great
regarding an equal commitment to
group of student-athletes, there is no
women’s sports teams?
better feeling than seeing that manifest
It is crystal clear that there is a
itself in wins on the court. Off the court,
commitment toward equitable
it is the relationships. That is why I
opportunities across genders here. I
have vowed that as an administrator,
have a desire to work collaboratively
I will never get that far away from the
with our coaches and administration in
You never played college basketball.
student-athletes. It’s building those
continuing that commitment. I worked
What made you choose to become a coach?
relationships that I will miss.
in NCAA compliance for years dealing
First, my high school basketball coach,
with Title IX issues so I feel very
Stan Spirou, was a true mentor. Other
What will you not miss about coaching?
than my parents, there was no one who
The games. The stress of the games takes
influenced me more as a young person
a toll. During the month of February I
Clearly, budgetary concerns have
than him. He gave me my first job at
would lose 15 pounds or more. One of the
been a recent issue at Guilford.
New Hampshire College. Secondly,
benefits of COVID is that it showed me
What is your goal for meshing fiscal
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strongly about this.
PHOTO BY JULIE KNIGHT
BY STEPHANIE MILLER
