A regular column by Athletic Director Bill Husak.
Feb. 2004
At LMU, just as at any other school, there are many facets to the establishment, organization, and administration of a successful NCAA Division I Athletics Department. One important part of this is to recruit and retain not only the very best student-athletes to represent LMU, but also the very best coaches to lead them as well. We strive to attract a coaching staff that is professional in performing their coaching duties, are truly dedicated to developing our young athletes as people, and are a good fit for this institution. Because of all that we represent here at LMU, that last category of "good fit" is extremely important for me as the Athletics Director.
When we have programs that are successful, and the reputations of the coaches who guide those programs grow, they often become candidates for positions that open at other institutions. This is a double-edged sword for LMU. We certainly want and wish the very best for our coaches, but we also don't want to lose them. To ensure that this doesn't happen, we have made many efforts in recent years to increase funding to programs to enhance facilities, scholarships and budgets. This is especially relevant right now because at the end of the fall season, we had two coaches who became finalists for positions. I am happy to report that both of these coaches will remain with us and lead our programs next year and into the future.
A great example of the success of this continuity here at LMU is our Women's Basketball program led by Julie Wilhoit. Now in her ninth season as the Head Coach, Julie inherited a program that had finished eighth in conference, and injuries contributed to a few challenging seasons in her first few years. But Julie was building the foundation for a long-term successful program, and recruiting the right kind of well-rounded quality student-athletes to represent LMU. This work paid off with the program's first-ever 20-win season in 2000-01, and this year the team is currently in first place in the WCC. Continuity in coaching is a trademark of perennially successful programs in the country, and it is no coincidence that Julie's top assistant, Lynn Flanagan '91, has also held that position for 13 consecutive years as well.
These coaches and programs are prime examples of the value in long-term continuity of a coach and coaching staff remaining intact toward our goal of Building Champions. Our commitment to you as fans is to do the best job possible in finding good coaches. Come out to support your favorite team and cheer these coaches and athletes to victory. We hope to see you there and as always...
Go Lions!
Bill
