A regular column by Athletic Director Bill Husak.
April 2003
In the Athletics Department, I have one Senior Associate Athletics Director who is Betty Werner and two Assistant Athletics Directors who are Dan Smith in charge of compliance and Maria Behm who oversees business affairs. You have met Betty and Dan in previous Perspectives and in this issue I ask Maria to share with you her duties. Maria's duties and responsibility can be summarized as ensuring that the athletics budget always stands in a positive dollar flow. As our budget has grown in the past five years and programs have begun to receive the kind of support they each deserve, the challenges to stay within budget have also increased. This past year, we changed our budgeting model to a zero based approach. Essentially, we tried to provide each program with the dollars that it need to operate and eliminated all entitlements that programs traditionally enjoyed. Maria has lead this change in direction and her work and perspective has been invaluable. So now, let me introduce to you our Assistant Athletics Director for Business Affairs, Maria Behm.
Maria Behm:
I graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY with a B.S. in Accounting. My business experience began with a seven-year commitment in corporate banking at State Street Bank in Boston and Manufacturers Hanover in New York City.
Having begun my relationship with the Athletics Department in 1994, it is obvious how much I enjoy my current role as Assistant Athletics Director for Business Affairs. This longevity has given me the opportunity to work with terrific coaches, hard-working administrators and outstanding student athletes. My primary responsibilities include the management of the Athletics budgets that cover operating, scholarship and salary components. Our budgets have increased annually with additional scholarships, new coaching positions, improved operating expense guidelines to coincide with cost of living increases and even a new sports program; women's water polo in 1997. Our Athletic department revenues have also improved with increased fan attendance at our competitions, improved corporate sponsorship support, and higher fee revenue from our popular youth summer sports camp.
My position also allows me to work directly with several departments on campus on behalf of the student athletes. Student Housing, the Financial Aid Office and the Student Account Department are offices with whom I interact on a daily basis. From athletic grant recommendations and financial aid counseling, to meal plan stipends and student account adjustments, to requests for on-campus Housing for a last minute transfer or recruit, I am able to provide our student athletes with a personal, student-centered response to their needs and challenges.
As the cost of travel, recruiting, uniforms and equipment rises, so do the expectations that the department will maintain its fiscal responsibility and continue to effectively manage its resources. Other than the tremendous support provided by the University, one of the main sources of external support has come from the LionsFund. Gifts to the LionsFund primarily support our athletic scholarships. The number of scholarships available for LMU student athletes continues to rank as the highest of all eight schools in the West Coast Conference. Without this commitment from our parents, alumni, fans, boosters and staff, my job would be much more challenging. Thanks for all your support. If I can answer any questions about the Athletic Department, please don't hesitate to contact me at mbehm@lmu.edu.
Go Lions!
