Q U A R T E R L Y

THE A-SUN’S CHIEF ARCHITECT

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FEBRUARY 2016

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IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIRNorth Florida Director of Athletics Lee Moon continues to lead the Osprey “family” into new levels of excellence.

12THE A-SUN’S CHIEF ARCHITECTThroughout 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.

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

08 02COMMISSIONER’S CORNER

03INSTITUTIONAL NEWS

04WHO’S HOT/WATCH LIST

07A-SUN NEWS

CONTINUING EXCELLENCEWith 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?

11Q&A: JU’S FACULTY ATHLETIC REPRESENTATIVE, DR. KIM CAPRIOTTI Jacksonville University Faculty Athletic Representative Kim Capriotti discusses the dynamics of academics and athletics.

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EXPANDING THE A-SUN’S REACHA-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart has his finger on the pulse of intercollegiate athletics as the President of the Collegiate Commissioner Association.

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CONTENTS

COMMISSIONER’S CORNER

TED GUMBARTCommissioner@ASunCommish

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@AtlanticSun@ASunBSB@ASunMBB@ASunWBB@ASunVolleyball@ASunXCTF@ASun_Golf@ASunWLAX@ASunSoftball@ASunSoccer@ASunTennis@ASunTF@ASunVB

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

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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 student-athletes 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.

Conference Staff

Commissioner Ted Gumbart

Associate Commissioner/SWAMeredith Eaker

Associate CommissionerJohn Roberts

Associate CommissionerMike Hagen

Assistant CommissionerPatrick McCoy

Director of Business ServicesPat Bush

Director of Public RelationsCraig Threlkeld

Director of ChampionshipsKeith Hendrix

Director of Media RelationsJohannes Schneider

Director of Broadcast ServicesOlivia Walter

Assistant Director, Media RelationsWilder Treadway

Executive Assistant/Office ManagerMelody 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 student-athletes, administrators and member institutions aim for a complete educational experience that is successful in Building Winners for Life.

Atlantic Sun Conference

FGCU 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.

Jacksonville University’s ASPIRE comprehensive campaign has reached a record-breaking $100

million raised toward programs and facilities for its students. Several recent seven-figure contributions have created a heightened sense of momentum for the $120 million campaign as it moves forward to accelerate progress and prospects for the future. Five pillars with funding targets represent the key objectives of ASPIRE: Advancing Scholarships and Academics, $27 million; creating and expanding the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences, $24 million; Campus and Student Life Enhancements, $12 million; Athletics, $17 million; and Financial Vitality, $40 million.

Kennesaw State University’s online learning programs have once again earned accolades from U.S.

News & World Report among the “Best Online Programs” for 2016. Kennesaw State’s MSIT program

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

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.

Lipscomb 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.

NJIT President Joel Bloom is ranked 62nd in NJ Biz’s list of the state’s 100 most influential

business people. The magazine praised Bloom for helping NJIT forge effective partnerships with in-state businesses – partnerships that lead to solutions. Bloom, who became NJIT’s president in 2011, is spearheading the growth of the university, currently achieving a student enrollment of more than 11,000 students, hiring nearly 100 additional faculty, and a $300 million campus transformation of new facilities. Under his leadership, the admissions standards have risen, research funding has improved to more than $110 million, and the university’s reputation as a top research and polytechnic university has grown.

University of North Florida computing students have created a software to help Jacksonville

residents find out who is lobbying city

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.

USC 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.

Stetson 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 full-time employment as a result of their internships.

3ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | INSTITUTIONAL NEWS

BILAL ABDULLAHKENNESAW STATEAbdullah 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.

BRENICKE JOHNSONUSC UPSTATEJohnson 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.

WAYNE NEWMANLIPSCOMBNewman 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.

SHAKEDRA ROBINSONKENNESAW STATEThe 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.

DAMON LYNNNJITLynn 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 league-best five three’s made per game in league play. He has made 307 three-pointers in his career, which is the most among active NCAA players.

WHO’SHOT?

BRITTANY STARLINGUSC UPSTATEDouble-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 top-10 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.

STUDENT-ATHLETES | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY4

DAWSON ARMSTRONGLIPSCOMBArmstrong 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.

5ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | STUDENT-ATHLETES

MICHAEL BAUMANNJACKSONVILLEThe 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.

ISABELLA FERNANDEZSTETSONReturns 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 SHUBERTUSC UPSTATEThe 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 ROCCAJACKSONVILLEThe 2016 Preseason Player of the Year in A-Sun Women’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.

WHO TOWATCHJACK FINDEL-HAWKINS & YANNICK ZUERNNORTH FLORIDAAfter ranking 50th in the preseason fall rankingsFindel-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 Findel-Hawkins will man the No. 1 singles position for UNF.

KRISTIN LINDSTETSONA 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.

SARAH DETLEFSENFGCUThe 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.

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7ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | A-SUN NEWS

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.

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

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 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.

INSIDE STORY

Fall success propels Lipscomb to top of All-Sport race

BY THE NUMBERS

3Number 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.

11Two-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.

12Number of consecutive home wins by Jacksonville men’s basketball. The Dolphins are in second place in the A-Sun standings as of Feb. 3.

CALENDAR

Spring Dates to Remember

February 26-27Indoor Track & Field ChampionshipJDL FastTrack, Winston-Salem, N.C.

March 1, 3, 6Men’s Basketball ChampionshipCampus Sites

March 4, 9, 13Women’s Basketball ChampionshipCampus Sites

April 6National Student-Athlete Day

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

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

April 22-24Tennis ChampionshipSpartanburg, S.C. (USC Upstate)

April 22-24Beach Volleyball ChampionshipLakePoint Sporting CommunityEmerson, Ga.

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

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

May 13-14Outdoor Track & Field ChampionshipJacksonville, Fla. (North Florida)

May 25-28Baseball ChampionshipNashville, Tenn. (Lipscomb)

During 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 student-athlete 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 student-athletes 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,

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

A-SUN SAAC | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY8

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.

ALEXA HONE’S HEART AND SOULTo 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.”

9ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | A-SUN SAAC

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When 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 programs, where does the former National Coach of the Year go from here? “We just try not to live in the past and try to improve constantly. We want the program to get better all the time. I 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 effort and every day mentality,” said Smesko. “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 what approach are we going to use to get there?’” Smesko can now look back at the early stages of his tenure at FGCU and reflect on the biggest hurdles he faced building a standard of success. “When we first started the program we didn’t have a gym… offices,” commented the Eagle head coach. “Selling our vision was the hardest thing at the beginning. Having nothing tangible to show the players and parents. We had to tell them we were going to do things the right way and have them believe it.” What was the tipping point? “Recruiting drastically improved once we were eligible for the NCAA Tournament. The first four years in D1 we couldn’t play in the NCAAs, and I know schools used that against us.” When asked what quality he looks for in potential players other than just on-the-court talent, Smesko summed it up in one word. “Competitiveness. Players that want to and enjoy competing; it’s as simple as that.” Smesko’s teams aren’t just limited to success on the basketball court. In fact, what the FGCU head man considers

the biggest successes of his program over the years has nothing to do with athletics. “Every semester we’ve been here our team has had over a 3.0 GPA. We always take the academic side of things seriously. To consistently reach that goal is a definite success for me.” One key factor and consequence of FGCU’s success is an increased level of difficulty in non-conference scheduling. Just this year, the Eagles have played a bevy of top-level teams including Mississippi State, Arizona, Ohio, Arkansas State, George Washington and Auburn, all ranked in the top-100 of the RPI. “Our non-conference schedule has become dramatically

more difficult over the years and that’s just because mid-majors who’ve had success have the most difficult time scheduling. That’s pretty well known throughout the country,” commented Smesko. “I think there’s definitely a benefit to playing marquee non-conference games. Our fans like to see us play the big names and I think our players look forward to those challenges. It helps with recruiting when you play and beat bigger schools.” Going forward, Smesko doesn’t plan to change his philosophy by putting a distinct label on success. “Just because we’ve won

one game in the NCAA Tournament doesn’t mean the next step is ‘win two games or bust.’ I’m still excited to get better as a coach. I’m still learning and trying to get better and I know our players are too.” Long term, the six-time A-Sun Coach of the

Year believes there is no ceiling to success with the Eagles. Based on the past decade and a half, building an elite, mid-major program from the ground up with no gym, no office… who’s to say he’s wrong?

CONTINUING EXCELLENCEKARL SMESKO’S JOURNEY OF SUCCESS AT FGCU

11ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | COACHING

FGCU Women’s Basketball has enjoyed five straight regular season championships and claimed three of the last four A-Sun Tournament Championships under Smesko. Last season the Eagles also got their first NCAA win against Oklahoma State.

One thing that has not changed during Smesko’s tenure is that Eagle teams are always full of competitors.

As UNF Arena transitioned from frenzied to peaceful in the hours following the Ospreys’ first

men’s basketball championship title in program history last March, Director of Athletics Lee Moon could take a deep breath and bask in his team’s accomplishment. After all, that was the type of moment that existed in the mind’s eye of the veteran for each of his teams when he took the helm of the UNF athletics program in 2009. “My goal from the beginning was to build programs that our University, alumni, students and community could take pride in for both academic and athletic successes,” said Moon. “That pride would be reflected by financial investment and physical support through attendance at events. With that support, I believed that all of our programs would have the opportunity to compete for championships.” “However, we knew that our basketball programs would have to be our bellcows, since we did not have football,” said Moon. “With success in this area our athletics program can impact the university, and when I came here that is what I said I was going to do. “We had to commit to the basketball programs, I knew that was where we had to start. I thought I could come in and build winning programs across the board, and last year was just the beginning of that for our men’s basketball team. We have had to be patient, as it took six years to get here.” Men’s basketball coach Matt Driscoll appreciates the patience of his athletic director, along with the experience that he brings to his approach in growing the program. “As a coach you really want a guy who has been there, who has done it, who has been at the turning point when

you have to make it happen or else. That is Coach Moon. He is all about ‘How can I help you, what can I do for you,’ but at the same time he has to see results as well.” Now in his seventh year at UNF, Moon has a unique collegial approach to his task that has enabled the Ospreys to collect their share of Atlantic Sun Conference championships. Besides men’s basketball, in 2015 UNF claimed a share of the regular season and won the tournament title in Men’s Soccer. The Ospreys also won the Women’s Tennis regular season and tournament titles, the Baseball regular season championship and the Men’s Golf tournament title during 2014-15. North Florida has claimed 22 conference

championships under Moon. Additionally, Osprey teams have advanced to the NCAA postseason in several sports including men’s soccer, basketball, women’s tennis and men’s golf, in addition to individual participation by a number of track and field student-athletes. The River City Rumble with crosstown rival Jacksonville already existed prior to Moon’s arrival, but

North Florida’s success in the challenge quickly became a point of emphasis for Moon. As a result the Ospreys currently own a win streak in the crosstown rivalry, as UNF has claimed the last four years of the River City Rumble competition and posted record- setting margins of victory in two of the last three years. So what is so unique about Moon’s approach that is bringing that type of

success to UNF? Driscoll points to an experience emanating from the spring of 2012, when Moon was a part of another shining moment as UNF’s Hodges Stadium hosted the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East preliminary round. Additionally, since then North Florida was tabbed to repeat as host for the East Preliminary from 2014-2016.

“I look back to the first time that we hosted the NCAA Track & Field Championship here, and we had every coach in the department and their families working together to create the best possible experience.You could tell that it is very important to him that the athletic department understands each other and believes in that family type of atmosphere and in helping one another,” said Driscoll. “That particular

“You could tell that it is very important to him that the athletic department understands each other and believes in that family type of atmosphere and in helping one another......To see that at work not only in the coaches but in the administrators that he has brought in as well in the department now, it is just an incredible thing.”

– Men’s Basketball Head Coach Matt Driscoll

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

ADMINISTRATION | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY12

A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart presents the NCAA Automatic Bid certificate to Moon following North Florida’s 2015 A-Sun Men’s Soccer Championship victory.

event created an unbelievable type of camaraderie that really helped everyone in the department come to a better understanding of what it means to serve as opposed to being served. That is what Coach is wanting to get across to everyone. “I think that is what is making us successful across the board. You can be successful without that type of understanding and without surrounding yourself with those types of people, but I don’t believe that you can sustain it. To see that at work not only in the coaches but in the administrators that he has brought in as well in the department now, it is just an incredible thing.” Marcie Hickey, North Florida’s Head Softball Coach, was in place prior to Moon’s arrival. She echoes Driscoll on the development of the department under Moon’s leadership. “The biggest change that I notice from before Coach Moon’s arrival is the unity of the department,” said Hickey. “He does everything he can to make sure that you have what you need to succeed, and I think the result of that is that the department is very competitive. What I mean by that is not that we are competitive with each other, but that we are competing for championships. As a part of that you clearly see that it is important to him that we know each other and support each other as coaches and teams. You regularly see other teams and coaches at events, and he makes sure that we get together regularly as a department to accomplish that as well. “

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 for Life. As men’s basketball

remains undefeated and looks to defend its title, spring seasons are beginning, a time when traditionally a number of Osprey teams excel as well. “One of the next things that I want to win is the All-Sports Trophy,” said Moon. “That is a great sign of a balanced program, and a great indication of success that student-athletes are competing for a championship in every sport.” A reasonable goal, since the Ospreys have been consistently ranked among the A-Sun’s top programs in the Bill Bibb Trophy standings, the conference’s all-sports race, for four of the past five seasons. UNF posted its best finish in the competition in 2014-15, finishing runner-up by a small margin while also capturing the program’s first Men’s All-Sports Championship. Off the field, Moon’s guidance has raised the performance of UNF student-athletes in the classroom as the Ospreys regularly boast a cumulative department GPA at or above a 3.0. In 2014-15, North Florida student-athletes accumulated a 3.18 GPA highlighted by a 3.2 during the spring semester. “He is on top of every single thing, every single day,” said Driscoll. “But it is in a way of ‘What do you need? How can we get better? What can we do for the players? How can we help them academically?’ He is a big student-athlete guy in that he wants the best for them.” For Moon, one of the keys to developing that familial cohesive bond throughout the department is in identifying good “fits.” Luckily for

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.

13ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | ADMINISTRATION

UNF Director of Athletics Lee Moon receives his share of the net during the celebration following the Ospreys’ first men’s basketball championship last March.

FACULTY | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY14

GET TO KNOW DR. KIM CAPRIOTTIDr. 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 cur-rently 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 student-athletes 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

15ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | FACULTY

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.

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 and getting a chance to watch them excel in their event and their sport, which is just wonderful. Then you get to celebrate as well when they win an award, which just brings it all together. Those are things that you don’t get to understand until you are involved in all of this. Now I feel like I can completely get to know them.

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

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 student-athletes 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 student-athlete 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 benefit?

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.

“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.”

– Jacksonville FAR, Dr. Kim Capriotti

WINNERS FOR LIFE | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY16

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, All-American 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

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

THE A-SUN’S CHIEF ARCHITECT

FORMER COMMISSIONER BILL BIBB LAID A FIRM

FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING WINNERS FOR LIFE

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.

17ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | WINNERS FOR LIFEMorrison, and Bibb served only one year under Joe Dan Gold before taking the reigns and offering the Bears stability for the next 15 years. Brad remembers the good and the bad of growing up as the son of a coach and later an administrator. “To me growing up the son of a coach and administrator was great. I was exposed to that all of the time. I was always at practice shooting with the big guys, chasing loose balls, just being in the gym. I remember when we were at Utah St as a kid, they had a big arena, and it was a small town, so we lived near campus. I was always on campus as a kid. “I think one of the challenges of being the son of a coach was in that being a coach, he would miss some of my games, that was tough on Mom as well. She had to sweat it out, be at my games and listen to his games on the radio. When he was there I remember he stood at the top of the concourse, I think because he liked scouting from there. And I remember too that he never coached me, never told me things to work on and he never said anything to my high school coach unless he was asked.” Enjoying his own success in high school playing at Stratford Academy in Macon, Brad opted to attend Mercer and to play collegiately for his father. The Bibbs’ time together began as one of the toughest in their relationship, but ultimately it ended up as one of the best. “The toughest time of our relationship was playing for him,” said Brad. “I was on the low end of our team from a talent perspective and I think he wanted to bring the most out of me. I was a good high school player in a private school league, but college was a rude awakening. Guys were bigger, stronger, faster, and it was a tough adjustment for me physically. To have him as coach and father put a little bit of strain on us. “But I didn’t ever personally think that he was harder on me than other players, but I had a lot of guys tell

me that. I never felt that way,. He was “old school,” he played for Rupp and that was his mindset.” Brad says that old school mentality also played out on the court. “We would run if we had the opportunity, but we were an inside-out basketball team. The ball went to the post, that is where it would go, and we had guys that could score in the post. We had all-conference players in those positions. Now the philosophy seems outside in. We would

have worn some people out back then with the three-point line, because we had some guys who could shoot it. But the post position was more

prominent.” Brad recalls several things about Coach Bibb that undoubtedly led to his success, not only as a coach but also in his later responsibilities as an administrator and

commissioner. “As a coach he was very detailed. Practice was broken down into increments, and we worked on that particular area, and then moved on to something else. He loved the details of a scouting report, and I would imagine he was that way administratively as well. “And I know that he took pride in good graduation rates. School was definitely a top priority.” As Brad moved on from his playing career, he moved just down the scorer’s table to his spot on the radio broadcast, which he says led to one of the best times that he and his dad experienced around the game

of basketball. “One of the best times of our relationship was when I quit playing and started broadcasting,” said Brad. We would be together on road trips, watching basketball and talking about

the games, and after the game we would go have a drink and get dinner, then we would go back to the hotel and he would break down the game again and we would talk some more! I am so glad that I got to share that experience with him and I know that he enjoyed it as well.” Bibb had a good run at

Bibb enjoying a laugh with University of Kentucky teammates and legendary coach Adolph Rupp.

The 1954 University of Kentucky Wildcats were the top-ranked team in the nation with a record of 25–0. Despite the undefeated season, the Wildcats did not participate in any post-season tournament. Three players (Lou Tsioropoulos, Frank Ramsey, and Cliff Hagan) had technically graduated the year before, so those players were ruled ineligible for the NCAA tournament. Despite the wishes of the players, coach Adolph Rupp ultimately decided his team wouldn’t play. Bibb is No. 31 in the back row.

The 1985 Mercer Bears. Bibb led this team to the A-Sun title and fought valiantly in a 65-58 loss to Georgia Tech in the NCAA Tournament.

Mercer from 1974-89. Twice the Bears posted 20+ win seasons and his 222 wins still rank him as the program’s all-time leader in the category. In 1981 Mercer won their first conference title, advancing to the Midwest Regional. The Bears gave 20th-ranked Arkansas all they wanted, as with 10 minutes remaining in the game the score was tied at 54. The Razorbacks won 73-67, but the outcome truly was in doubt until the very end. Bibb’s second championship title came in 1985, advancing the Bears to the NCAA East Regional to face a talented Georgia Tech squad led by John Salley, Mark Price and Bruce Dalrymple and coached by Bobby Cremins. Tech won 65-58, but again the Bears represented the Trans America Athletic Conference with dignity. Along with leading the Bears to their first pair of conference championships, Bibb twice claimed Coach of the Year honors. During his tenure, 17 players earned All-Conference honors with Benton Wade and Sam Mitchell earning Conference Player of the Year honors. Tony Gattis and Mitchell were also named Conference Tournament Most Valuable Players and the National Basketball Association drafted eight of Bibb’s players. Mitchell enjoyed the longest NBA playing career from 1985-2002, and has since served as an assistant coach with four NBA teams. He is the current head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I don’t think he liked to single out teams because each of them had its own personality,” said Brad. “Obviously the 1981 team was special because that was the first team to win the 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 a turbulent time, as the teams were spread out across the country including locations in Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana to Oklahoma and Texas.

“I believe he probably took pride from his accomplishment of leading the conference and creating stability in a volatile environment,” said Brad. “When the TAAC started it was so spread out. To be able to get it more centralized, more regional, was something that he was successful with, along

with its growth, and I think that he is proud of that fact.” Since its inception in 1978, the conference has continued to provide and enhance opportunities for student-athletes to compete and to excel at the highest levels in academic, athletics and as contributors in their communities. Today the conference refers to that as its mission of Building Winners for Life, certainly something that bears the mark of one of its early founders in Bibb. “He had much satisfaction being commissioner of the conference and watching the success of the conference develop from the embryonic stage,” said Brad. “He was there at the beginning of the whole thing, more so than as a coach. I never knew that about him until he did it, and once he got into it he was really happy and content.” Bibb’s 50-year career allowed him

to be a part of some interesting experiences. The question was asked once, “In just how many roles can you be involved with the NCAA and postseason?” For Bibb, the answer is eight. As a player he experienced it at the Division I and Division II levels in basketball and baseball. As a coach he experienced it with Trinity, Utah State and Mercer. And as an administrator he enjoyed that success as an athletic director and as commissioner.

Former Mercer Director of Athletics Bobby Pope, Brad Bibb, Kenny Daugherty (from the 1981 Bears team), Ted Gumbart, Sonny Smith and his wife Jan, Bill and Linda Bibb, and former Bears Sam Mitchell (rear), Dartez Talbott (front), and Benton Wade.

Bill and Linda Bibb with their family: With Bill is granddaughter Sarah (11) and with Linda is grandaughter Lexi (14). In the back row are daughter-in-law Shannon and son Brad.

WINNERS FOR LIFE | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY18

The accomplishments during Bibb’s tenure as commissioner are varied and numerous. He oversaw the growth of the A-Sun from an all-men’s conference competingfor just six titles to a men’s and women’s league that sported 17 championships when he stepped down. “Up to that point the TAAC had been only male and I was the first assistant commissioner he hired,” recalls current A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart. “All of that was completely new. The conference

office underwent staff changes and grew from a place that did basketball stats and shipped out trophies and really became a conference operation.” Bibb was responsible for starting the Presidents Council, which today provides valuable insight into leadership and vision of the conference. Bibb recognized its importance at a time when the NCAA’s presidential involvement was growing. During his tenure, the A-Sun’s funds grew exponentially and he negotiated the A-Sun’s “Friday Night Game of the Week” package with CSS for men’s basketball, making it the only mid-major conference for a time with such a deal. As the conference staff continued to grow, Bibb also instituted an additional benefit in the form of a retirement plan. He was just as involved with the things that were not necessarily news items but that showed the loyalty and the concern he had in taking care of people. But as much as Bibb accomplished on the outside to contribute to a healthy conference, the impact he made on the lives of staff such as Gumbart was also immeasurable. “He is a very loyal person, and fair, but he expected you to do your part,” Gumbart said. “If you did, the two-way street was outstanding. If you didn’t, you would have a discussion as to why you didn’t, during which time he could come across domineering because he was that tall,

imposing figure, with a booming voice that was a part of his presence.” Brad Bibb echoes Gumbart, having seen his father’s commitment and loyalty to those who he touched exhibited time and again. “His loyalty to people has always been paramount,” said Brad. “If you were employed by him or played for him, and did the things that were asked of you and showed that your heart was in the right place, his loyalty to you was never ending. “I recall watching basketball games with him, and it was amazing to learn so much about the game by sitting with him,” Gumbart added. “He definitely fulfilled a role as mentor, and there is no way I could be the commissioner without his support, his guidance and his work on my behalf as his career was winding down. For Gumbart, the takeaways are many. First, always be prepared. Never go to a meeting without knowing what people think - do your homework before and if it means enough, go and sit down with them and look them in the eye to discuss. Second, Gumbart says he learned to continue to remember the people who you have touched or who have touched you throughout your career. “He kept up with them, knew where they were, and what they were doing. I try to do the same, even if just to say thanks. There have been a lot of people along the way, and nobody does it by themselves.” Next - care about what you do. “He did not want things going out that did not reflect the level of operation that we were running. I guess that made him a ‘measure twice, cut once kind-of guy.’ Ask yourself constantly, are we getting better, are we getting it right?” Finally, do the right thing, which is not always the easiest thing to do. The decision to do what is right is sometimes challenging. Once you make it, don’t look back. “He had no problem making what he felt was the right decision. It was always fair, never cavalier.” said Gumbart.

“It is a special relationship when you can enjoy the professional accomplishments and personal time together,” said Gumbart. “We developed a great personal and professional relationship, and I enjoy it immensely.” For Bill Bibb, his time and service has been good to literally thousands of student-athletes, coaches, administrators, staff and fans who have shared in the experience of Building Winners for Life. As a founding father of the conference, he had the longest tenure and stayed involved with its development. He touched the conference in a meaningful way, and to this day he will

still tell you that being commissioner was the best job that he ever had.

Trinity University Head Coach Bob Polk and assistant coach Bill Bibb. The two worked well together and also went to St. Louis University together. Bibb actually turned down Polk’s vacant job at Trinity to go to St. Louis with him. Bibb subsequently left to go to Utah State as assistant with another coach T.L. Plain.

Bibb led Mercer to a pair of conference championships in 1981 and 1985 and earned Coach of the Year honors as well during those years. His 222 wins during his 15 years are still the high mark for coaching success at Mercer.

19ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | WINNERS FOR LIFE

A-SUN STAFF | ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY20

At 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.

Q: What were your feelings when approached about considering this position?A: First, I was honored. I felt some pride that the group approached me about it. I had served as our sub-division Vice President a few years back, but it was two summers ago this really came about. Carolyn Femovich of the Patriot League (CCA President at the time) was finishing her term and asked if I would consider the position and I agreed. So two years as the Executive Vice President and now the first of two as President. Obviously, there are many others who could fill the role, and I smile as I get the normal ribbing responses like “I don’t know whether to congratulate you or offer you condolences.” But as soon as I moved into the President role, immediately I felt a strong responsibility to do a good job. Whatever I am asked to do, if I can’t, then I need to say no. And that is really hard. As you move up in office, it’s just part of the package - you are asked to do things. If you accept an appointment, then you need to do it to the best of your ability, take it really

seriously. For me, that means I have to read everything – all the reports, all the minutes, all the agendas - not just show up at a meeting without being prepared. Hopefully, my attending to that helps make everyone more productive.

Q: What do you bring to the position?A: For one thing, I believe I have the ability to talk openly to anyone in the group, on any side of an issue. As a non-football conference, that sometimes conflicting football dynamic doesn’t push me in a certain direction. I find that, overall, people prefer to work openly and together to resolve issues. I like to think that I can engage people on both sides of an issue and get the discussion to its point. I also am not afraid to move meetings along. No matter what the issue or who is speaking, there comes a time when you have to move on, stay on schedule and get business done. It frustrates me when that isn’t the case,

so I’m very conscious that we need to move along.

Q: What has been your approach to the position thus far?A: I become president in a unique situation. The immediate past CCA President (Britton Banowsky) is no longer a commissioner, so he isn’t participating. Greg Sankey, who did a fantastic job in recent years keeping our group on task as CCA secretary, is now SEC Commissioner, so we have new person in the secretary role. And David Berst, who was our valued and relied upon NCAA liaison, retired. Dave was the one that when all else failed you just turned to him and asked, ‘David, what is the status on this?’ and he could fill you in. So here comes Ted, a commissioner who doesn’t have football, jumping into this role just as we finish establishing a new Division I governance system. We don’t have a past president and the secretary is still in the room but he is wearing a different hat and we have a new NCAA

EXPANDING THE A-SUN’S REACHCCA POSITION NEWEST LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR GUMBART

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.

21ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERLY | A-SUN STAFF

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 student-athletes? How will we use the two-year 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.

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.