Pathways

Nona E. Richardson, Interim Director of Athletics, UC Davis

I started my collegiate trek as a student-athlete at Michigan State University.  I wanted to play volleyball in college, so everyone said go west. Michigan was far enough west to still have access to my home, Albany, New York. That is where my connections began, which enabled me to be where I am today. As a student at Michigan State, I studied Physical Education and Health. My plan was to teach and coach… I never taught in a classroom but did get to teach and coach on the court.

When you are a coach you get to do a lot of administration work, but on a smaller scale. It’s funny as I think about it, but when the NCAA recruiting exams started to come forward, I realized that I liked the compliance (sick, I know). That is the first time I thought about focusing on that aspect of administration. I got my first administrative job in compliance at Valparaiso University.

In this profession it sometimes takes a village to assist you along the way. Each job has a different dynamic which you can draw insight from various individuals. I have had the fortunate opportunity to have been encouraged and surrounded by some amazing woman from the time I was an undergrad until now. The late Dr. Nell Jackson was the Assistant Athletic Director for women at Michigan State, as well as the woman’s track coach while I was a student-athlete. Kathy DeBoer was a former student-athlete who challenged Michigan State on their equality for woman relative to Title IX. Lucy Parker was the Associate Athletic Director at Eastern Michigan University during my coaching tenure and assisted me as I moved forward. Today, there are so many in the profession who I draw from just by being in their presence and gaining perspective through their perspective.

I draw energy and am inspired from those around me.  I am a positive person and I surround myself with those who are also positive.  We all know that every day is not going to be a perfect day, but each day can evolve as you allow it to. The motivation that I have to keep going, is knowing that what I allow to happen with me and around me is a reflection of me. Knowing that I am responsible for the organization is motivation enough to keep one going.

Leaving yourself open and available for opportunities is critical in the world of intercollegiate athletics. Timing may not always be right, but opportunities are not always timed for that ideal job. Who you know may get you in the door (for the opportunity), but what you know will keep you in the door. Have confidence in what your abilities are to get the job done.

Kate Hickey, Senior Associate AD/SWA, Rutgers University

I attended the University of Rhode Island as an undergraduate, earning a degree in Health and Physical Education. While I played tennis and volleyball in high school, I was not an athlete as an undergrad.  I worked various jobs while I was in school including coaching my hometown high school volleyball team all four years I was at URI. After graduating, I went directly to graduate school full-time at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill to earn a degree in sport administration. Going to Carolina got me out of the Northeast for the first time (besides vacations) which was a huge priority for me. I wanted to experience life in another part of the country. Getting my masters was valuable to me from an educational standpoint and from a financial standpoint – it meant I could be paid more money as an elementary school teacher when I finished my degree. In addition to teaching, I was planning to coach at the high school level and eventually become a high school athletic director. Clearly my plan did not work out as expected!

When I applied for the sport administration program at Carolina it was a broad-based sport administration program encompassing high school, intramural, recreational, collegiate, and professional athletics.  I was accepted to the program and offered a teaching assistantship to help pay my way through school.  Then, a few months later–and about three months before I was to start classes–I received a letter in the mail explaining that there was going to be a change in the program, starting with my class. The university had decided to re-focus the program completely on college athletics. I decided to attend anyway, as I believed the aspects of administration at the college level would translate to the high school level and it was a great opportunity at a great institution in a warmer climate. 

In the second year of my graduate program, each person in our class had the opportunity to do a full-time internship in the athletic department at Carolina. I split my time between compliance and academic support. I was given the opportunity to attend some ACC meetings during my internship and was fortunate to make great contacts which became key in my professional advancement after I graduated. After grad school, I was hired at the Southern Conference as an intern (compliance and championships) and then as a full-timer (solely doing compliance). This is when I was first introduced to NACWAA. My boss was hugely supportive of NACWAA and one who valued networking.  So he sent me to the NACWAA convention. Knowing no one and being a bit of an introvert, it was quite a daunting experience. In the end, though, it gave me the chance to learn from some great women and develop some now-longstanding relationships. 

After the SoCon, I moved on to the Big East and then to Rutgers. Each next position has surfaced at exactly the right time and been the right fit. So, really, the way I see it, once I was part of that newly re-vamped Carolina sports administration program, I took advantage of the opportunities presented to me in the college athletics world and have not really looked back since. Whether at Carolina, the SoCon, the Big East or Rutgers, I have been very fortunate that there have been many, many women and men over the years who have provided me with advice, encouragement, and opportunities that have helped shape my professional experience and allowed me to advance in the field. I am thankful for all of them.

Like every profession and job, there have been ups and downs over the years. The three most difficult situations I have experienced were when we went through an NCAA infractions case shortly after I arrived at Rutgers, when our institution eliminated six of our 30 intercollegiate athletics programs several years ago, and when one of our football student-athletes was traumatically injured two seasons ago. I have learned from each experience–and our football student-athlete is making strides every day–but I would never want to experience any of them again. Challenges aside, I am excited to go to work every day because of the opportunity I have to work with and help our coaches and student-athletes. I know it sounds cliché, but that is truly what keeps me going.

I also transitioned out of compliance on campus in August 2011 (although I continue to serve as President of the National Association for Athletics Compliance until June 2012). Compliance is a hugely important aspect of our profession and is very stressful on those who must manage the compliance programs on campus. I have realized recently that I did not know how stressed I was until I no longer had the responsibility for compliance. It is hard to do it well for a long time–or at least it was for me. I now supervise of all of our Olympic sports at Rutgers (in addition to the various other things I previously handled). The change has given me an opportunity to have a different impact on our coaches and student-athletes and has been thoroughly enjoyable thus far.

Over the years there have been many things I think I have done well and just as many things I think I could have done better.  However, I don’t think I would really do anything differently.  I wish I had known at age 25 what I know now–but otherwise, I am a firm believer in “everything happens for a reason” and I do my best to take something away from every experience.

There are a few things that I suggest keeping in mind for professional and personal success. First, take some time to figure out what your core values are and then ensure that you conduct yourself in such a way that reflects these values. Always think about the decisions you make, the things you say and how you treat people–and how these will reflect on you, your family and your employer. We all preach this to our student-athletes and we should subscribe to this as well. If we know our core values and are committed to them, decision making becomes easier. Second, and this is particularly directed at our younger professionals, make sure you know what hard work is and then make sure you work hard. Make sure you know what you job is and what it isn’t and then do your job well. You will be rewarded for it.

Monique A.J. Smith, Associate Commissioner, Director of Fall and Spring Championships, SWA, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

I was a mass Media Arts major at Hampton University, where during my sophomore year I began a public relations internship at the CIAA. For the next two academic years, I was a student assistant in the sports information office, where we hosted the Division II Track and Field national championship. My assignments were developing media guides and distributing media credentials.

After working two national championships and several CIAA championships as a student, I knew I wanted a profession where I could promote the student-athlete. During my first year in the workforce, 1990, as the sports information director for Saint Paul’s College, several books on corruption in athletic departments were published and “institutional control” became the buzzword. So instead of getting my master’s in public relations, I decided to enroll in Old Dominion University’s third year Sports Management master’s program. My transition into administration came out of necessity. We didn’t have a compliance officer yet; I was waiting for someone to certify the teams so I could complete my rosters. Becoming impatient, I went to the registrars’ office myself and got it done. I always say people don’t gravitate to titles but to those who get things done. I went through five different athletic directors before I became interim athletic director, then I left to become a compliance director for a Division I program.

Alfreeda Goff, the Chief of Staff/SWA for the Horizon League Conference Office, has been one of the most influential and helpful individuals in my career and advancement.  We served on several CIAA championships committees together when she was the athletic director at Virginia State University. Alfreeda’s leadership is by example; I observed her gain the respect of the Commissioner and other male colleagues by using her knowledge and grasping of the facts to tactfully show the bigger picture. While working within committees to gain consensus she never belittled herself, nor did she look down on others to be heard. She was so respected for what she brought to the table. Alfreeda nominated me for my first NCAA committee in 1997, gave me one of my first speaking engagements, and appointed me the Chair of the NACWAA Awards Committee, which forced me to be the mistress of ceremonies. As a former stutterer in public speaking, this was a huge step for me; Alfreeda threw me into the water, knowing what I didn’t--that I would be able to swim.  

From my 22 years in athletic administration, and the last 11 being here at the CIAA Conference office, I have come to the conclusion that obstacles cause one to become a creative problem solver. It is similar to a game situation where the team is expecting one situation but the opponent shows them something very much unexpected. It is the team/individual who is able to adapt to the current situation that will take home the crown. If you address challenges/obstacles as an opportunity to do something different you can overcome and have another lesson etched in your personal manual. So my opportunity has been dealing with change and navigating the unknown. Addressing these opportunities with new approaches has added to my skills set, maturity and faith.

Seeing others become empowered motivates me. For the last decade I have been presenting leadership workshops for women, youth, senior-citizens and student-athletes. I find the most joy from them and have adopted the mission statement “Planting seeds of empowerment to lead others to greatness.”  In order to do this I am committed to being a life-long learner so I can share with others.

I enjoy the role I serve now for the CIAA, which is governance and championships. However, if I had the opportunity to solely execute professional develop programming and training year-around, that would be great. A dream opportunity would be serving as an advisor to the Department of Education or other government agencies that have intercollegiate and/or scholastic athletics oversight.

I can’t say I would do anything differently, because I believe my steps have been ordered by God, even the difficult paths. The journey has made me a better person and able to leave billboards of advice for others travelling behind me. Some of that advice is : 1) Know why you do what you do  2) Let your motivation be intrinsic and not extrinsic, for if you look for approval from others for your every move you will become paralyzed with fear of disapproval and will enjoy nothing.  3) Live below your means, because otherwise you have to take a position to fit your lifestyle instead taking a position that follows your passion. 4) Most importantly, whatever actions you carry out, be sure you can look yourself in the mirror the next morning.  

Alfreeda Goff, Sr. Associate Commissioner/Chief of Staff, Horizon League

I am a graduate of Slippery Rock State College, now Slippery Rock University.  As a student, the athletic opportunities were limited for women to intramurals and club sports.  I attended school pre-Title IX, but my experiences there prepared me for future leadership opportunities even though I thought I was preparing to be a teacher. My undergraduate major was Health, Physical Education and Recreation.  Knowing what I know today, I would definitely want to return to Slippery Rock if I was choosing a school because of the interaction I had with the women leaders on the campus. They were always pushing us to set the bar high and taught us how we could and should prepare ourselves to reach and even go over the bar.

I had not thought about being an administrator.  Being a coach and working daily with the student-athletes was where I wanted to be as far as a career was concerned.  My son, who was 11 at the time, was very active in academics, sports and leadership programs, and informed me that when I was on the road with my team and could not attend his various activities, that he really missed not having me there.  Without any hesitation, I informed my Athletic Director that I would be stepping down as the Head Coach and returning to teaching at a local high school.  When I explained the reason for my decision, she asked me to consider moving into an administrative position, as she really wanted me to remain on staff.  After a discussion with my son and explaining how this new position would impact me in a positive way as far as travel was concerned, I agreed to be the Administrative Assistant for Women’s Athletics.  I have spent 30 of my 37 years in intercollegiate athletics as an administrator and have enjoyed it to the utmost. After year one as an administrator, I knew that I could help so many more student-athletes, coaches and staff people than when I was a coach and knew then I had made the right choice going from coaching to administration.

Several individuals influenced me throughout my career.  First, my parents, Albert and Lola Smith, who always encouraged me to pursue my dreams regardless of obstacles that might be put in front of me.  Second, my college professor, Marie Wheaton, who made sure that we did not see ourselves as second class citizens and that we were prepared to make a difference in the work force and have a positive impact on the lives that we touch. Third, and probably the most influential, is my son, Anton. Any decisions that I made regarding my career, I discussed with my son and continue to do so even today.  I value his opinion and when he was younger, I wanted to make sure that at no time would my decisions have a negative impact on him.  For advancement of my career, I give credit to my supervisors at the various institutions where I worked and my connection with individuals in professional organizations such as NACWAA, NCAA, MOAA, NACDA, etc.

As a minority female one of the most challenging experiences is having to continually prove to others that you are competent and can do the job as well if not better than your counterparts.  I was determined not to let my gender or ethnicity define me in the world of intercollegiate athletics.

The young people that I get to work with on a daily basis and those that reach out to me for guidance keep me motivated. This career has afforded me many opportunities that I otherwise would not have experienced and enjoyed, so I want to be able to give back as much as I can. Each one reach one is my professional and personal motto.

If I could have any position, it would be the position that I currently have.  I work with an outstanding staff, live in a great city and love what my job responsibilities are. Looking back, one of the things that I would definitely change would be negotiating contracts for myself and when doing them with staff.  It was a skill I learned late in my career and feel it was skill set that I did not pay a lot of attention to in my early years in intercollegiate athletics.

The best advice I can give is be true to your values.  Do not forsake your integrity to advance your career. Treat people as you would want to be treated. Learn to listen as well as talk.  Communication is a two-way street. Be willing to give back. Make sure that you have some fun.  Be the best you can be each day knowing that some days you will be better at what you do than other days.  Keep in mind who we serve--our student-athletes.

Erica Wilson, Assistant Director for Development, University of Tennessee

Throughout my high school career, I was determined that I would go on to play volleyball in college. I was fortunate enough to have that dream become a reality when I was offered a few scholarships. After my official visits, I choose East Carolina University for several reasons. For one, I felt the most comfortable with the coaching staff there at the time, and two, it was located south of the Mason-Dixon Line. I had grown up in Toledo, Ohio, and was ready to say goodbye to winters! We definitely had our hardships as a team throughout my career at ECU, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Being a college athlete is an amazing experience and it molded me into the person I am today. I was always a good student, but to be honest I never gave much thought to what I wanted to do with my career. I majored in marketing and before I knew it, graduation had come and gone and I was still adjusting to life without volleyball. That was who I was and I felt lost at that point in my life. I interviewed for several jobs and had offers, but nothing appealed to me. I finally settled on becoming a loan officer at a local bank in North Carolina. I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me and how much I missed athletics in my life. So I quit my job, enrolled back in school to get my MBA with a Sports Management certificate and never looked back.

I was into my second semester when I learned about an organization called NACWAA. My Sports Law professor forwarded us some internship opportunities and that one caught my eye. I applied, but didn’t hear anything back for quite some time… so I started calling. I’d like to think it was my persistence that got me the internship, but in reality I think Jennifer Alley, Executive Director at the time, was so sick of hearing my voice on the phone that she finally just gave in and hired me! Two interns had already been offered, but Jennifer decided to let me jump on board too. I was in Wilmington the next week.

My experience at NACWAA was my foot in the door to athletics and I owe a lot of where I am today to my opportunities there. I was hired full-time after 8 months and gained valuable skills in event management, membership relations and most importantly, leadership. Due to some circumstances out of everyone’s hands at that time, I was thrown into many situations without much training or guidance. However, I figured things out along the way and in the process learned a lot about myself, teamwork and how to get things done.

Another valuable asset I gained was the network I established at NACWAA. I was able to connect with so many powerful administrators across the country and I took advantage of that. Some of my mentors (even though they may not know it) include Julie Hermann, Carolyn Center and Robin Harris. Many of the board of directors at that time and members I met at conventions have been huge advocates for me and my career and I believe it’s due to the work they saw me perform at NACWAA and how I handled situations.

However, I knew I wanted to eventually get back to working on a campus. To help prepare me for a development position, I volunteered at UNC-Wilmington with the Seahawk Club and was a Pirate Club Rep for the Cape Fear chapter of my alma mater. As a rep, I met my future boss. At our rep training, I made it clear to him that I wanted to get into development. About a year later, one of his directors moved onto another job and he called me with an offer. It was a perfect fit and such an easy transition into development since it was my alma mater. Recently, I was presented another opportunity with the University of Tennessee. I wasn’t particularly looking for this job when it became open, but everything just fell into place and it was too perfect to pass up. It provided me a chance to grow professionally and the timing personally was ideal.

I owe my inspiration and motivation to the student-athletes. Being a student-athlete is such a unique experience and I get satisfaction knowing that I’m helping to provide them with even more opportunities than I was given. I love development because I’m able to meet new people every day and really get to know them. It’s gratifying to witness donors build a connection with the program and student-athletes firsthand. Some of the relationships I’ve established through work will stay with me for the rest of my life, which is yet another reason why I enjoy this career.

Aspirations of becoming an athletic director are probably in the back of everyone’s mind when working in this career and it’s definitely crossed mine several times. However, I am very happy in development and my current plans are to stay within this department and continue to advance. My advice to anyone pursuing a career in athletics is to network! As we all know the world is small, but the world of athletics is even smaller. And it’s just not about who you know, it’s who knows what about you. Tell those you meet about your goals and where you want to be. You’ll be surprised at how much they will try to help you get there.

Suzette McQueen, Associate Director of the Davidson Athletic Foundation, Davidson College

I attended the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship where I ran track & field and majored in Communications. While I never had time to find a job during the year, I volunteered to write copy for the public radio station and it was a great experience. After graduation, I spent the next 10 years in various jobs in corporate America. I was a retail sales manager in North Carolina for a large cellular company, overseeing three locations and 15 employees when I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to. So, I decided to go back to college and since I was always interested in sports, chose the Sport Administration graduate program at the University of North Carolina.

I have been inspired by many people and still am. My sister, who is a principal, is someone I look up to because of her integrity and commitment to her staff and students. She really inspires me. My professors at UNC instilled the passion for college athletic administration. I have found many role models in NACWAA that I look up to and aspire to be like. My A.D. has also been very supportive and allowed me to really grow within my position.

At UNC, most of my classmates had come right out of undergrad and I was the oldest. I wish I had made the transition to college athletics sooner, because now I am at a point in my life where work/life balance is the biggest challenge for me.

When I was young and single, I would work 10- to 12-hour days and come in over weekends and holidays—but not anymore. There are so many opportunities that I would like to pursue, but as the mother of two small children, I struggle internally with my need to excel at work and desire to be with them. Guilt (for not being at home or at work) is always lurking.

However, the student-athletes definitely keep me inspired. I love trying new technologies and different ways to improve what we do and my A.D. is 100% supportive of that. My motivation is to make sure that our department is always doing its best and that we serve the needs of our student-athletes.

Division II has allowed me to wear many hats. I like that aspect quite a bit. One day I am planning an event, the next I’m counseling student-athletes for internship opportunities and another, I’m working on web-streaming and social media or fund-raising. There’s never a dull moment. As long as I can keep that flexibility and creativity at work, I will be very happy.

Other than wishing I had started earlier in my career, I wouldn’t change anything. Athletics can be very demanding. My advice is to make sure it’s the career for you, because it will take all that you can give and then some. You must have a life outside of work, guilt or no guilt. There will always be more work to do and a reason to stay just a little longer. However, you must remember to have some balance in life. Everyone is replaceable at work. If you get sick, believe me, the “show” will go on. However, that’s not the same in your personal life--there, you are irreplaceable. Be the best sister, friend, mother, aunt, niece, or spouse that you can be. At the end of the day, that’s really what’s most important.

Vicky Chun, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Colgate University

I grew up in Southern California and wanted to follow in my cousin's footsteps by going to a private college/university on the East Coast. I decided to attend Colgate University, a small liberal arts school with NCAA Division I athletics. At Colgate, I played varsity volleyball for 4 years and studied Political Science and Education, which led me into the coaching profession. While I enjoyed coaching Division I volleyball, I wanted a career change but still wanted to remain involved with intercollegiate athletics. This is when I knew athletic administration was where I wanted to be.

I have relied (and still rely) on several important people in my life who served as mentors to me (whether they liked it or not :) ... Peg Bradley-Doppes (Denver University), Mark Murphy (Packers), Janet Justus (UMKC), Stan Johnson (consultant), David Roach (Colgate University) and Sandy Barbour (UC Berkeley).

No matter how big your athletics department is, you will know most of your co-workers and student-athletes very well. Therefore, it is not easy telling them they are not working hard enough, they need to change their behavior, their performance is subpar, etc. I find this difficult to do on a daily basis but something that has to be done. Of course there was this time I had to coordinate a fighter jet flyby for a home football game and although I broke several FAA rules, it went rather smoothly.

Working with student-athletes and professional colleagues and always trying to make a positive difference in someone's life are two things that keep me motivated and inspired to stay in this profession. I am very happy with the position I am currently in. I get to work in a strong academic institution, with outgoing student-athletes and hard-working colleagues. Therefore, an ideal situation would be to serve as the Director of Athletics in such an environment.

Looking back, if I could do anything differently, I would, say "thank you" more often and to say "yes" when opportunities present themselves. Lastly, if I could offer any advice, I would say to find your "Who" people (The Power of Who by Bob Beaudine) which leads to my second advice...read, read read!

Kelley Kish, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance/Senior Women Administrator, University of Indianapolis

I attended The University of Florida and received my undergraduate degree in telecommunication, initially wanting to be a sports broadcaster. After interning and working at a couple of stations, I realized I wanted to be on the other side of the camera and my outside concentration in sport management confirmed that was my true passion.

I attended The University of Florida and received my undergraduate degree in telecommunication, initially wanting to be a sports broadcaster. After interning and working at a couple of stations, I realized I wanted to be on the other side of the camera and my outside concentration in sport management confirmed that was my true passion.

While working at the University of Florida as the Volleyball Staff Assistant, I knew sport administration was exactly what I wanted to do. I was fortunate enough to earn my Master's at the University of Florida during my nine seasons with the volleyball program. Between my education and exposure to the many facets of college administration, I built a broad and solid foundation in athletics administration.

Lynda Tealer (Sr. Associate Athletic Director at Florida) is one the most influential people in my career and someone I looked up to while at Florida. She is the one that suggested I apply for NACWAA/HERS, which was a huge step in my career. Besides the week-long knowledge and friendships gained, without attending NACWAA/HERS I would never have entered the 2009 NACWAA Awesome Auction. In that Auction, I won a mentorship from my current boss, University of Indianapolis Athletic Director Dr. Sue Willey. That mentorship and all that I have gained from it has never ended. Instead of emailing or calling when I need her, I just walk down the hall to Sue's office. =)

My former boss at the University of Florida, Head Volleyball Coach Mary Wise, has also been extremely influential in my career. Without her willingness to expose me to as much as possible at Florida, and encouragement to grow my career, I would not be where I am.

I am most proud of achieving my master's while working more than full-time at Florida. It was very challenging to balance my duties at Florida and graduate school, but with the support of my coworkers and family, I was able to get it done!

I work every day to make the lives of our student-athletes better and help them achieve their goals. I am fortunate that all of my positions have allowed me to see the positive impact I am making, and that drives me every day.

The position I have right now is perfect. I have been at the University of Indianapolis for just over 5 months and have loved every minute. I drive to and from work each day with a huge smile and know this is the right place for me!

I would not change anything about my career path and how it has unfolded. I have been lucky to have wonderful mentors and role models along the way, and met some lifelong friends and colleagues at NACWAA/HERS.

The advice I would offer women just starting out in their career is to use all networking and career development opportunities to the fullest. I think the NACWAA Awesome Auction ticket I bought was better than winning the lottery. Without the recommendation and support to attend NACWAA/HERS and staying involved in NACWAA, my life would be very different right now. And when those opportunities present themselves, grab them and go for it! While I have grown and learned from every mentorship and educational session, I know they have made me a better administrator, and that is what is most important to me—being the best administrator for our student-athletes and staff that I can be.

Carrie McCaw, Practice Group Specialist Collegiate Sports Practice, Ice Miller LLP

In August 1994, I decided to leave my hometown of Louisville, KY, and attend school at Syracuse University. While volleyball was the main reason for making such a big move, I also wanted the opportunity to live in a different part of the country, meet new people and have new experiences. I immediately enrolled in the School of Management, bound and determined that I was to one day become a career business woman with a nice leather briefcase and corner office. However, I was a naïve 17 year-old girl and had no idea what that really meant. I began taking classes in accounting and finance, neither of which interested me with regards to finding my major, much less a career path. The marketing major seemed oversaturated to me and by the time I completed my first year and a half at Syracuse, I was left wondering if the School of Management was the right choice for me.

During the second semester of my sophomore year, I took the introductory class for business law. Halleluiah! I found my calling!! I loved the class because I was able to deconstruct situations and construct a finding accordingly. My professor, Elet Callahan, who I can only describe as amazing, agreed to become my advisor as I worked toward my major: managerial law and public policy.

Professor Callahan and I sat down to determine what I could do with this degree. She informed me that law school was the usual next step for such a degree, but given my status as a student-athlete and my interest in athletics, NCAA compliance would be a logical direction to take my career.

I began working as an undergraduate intern in the athletics compliance office and was permitted to use this time as credit towards my degree. I assisted the compliance coordinator with the revision of the athletics compliance manual and with compliance monitoring efforts. During my senior year, I also served on the Syracuse University Certification team on the Commitment to Equity Subcommittee. On this subcommittee, I received an education on Title IX and gender equity issues and was a part of developing solutions to any equality issues at the University. I also was able to work with senior members of the athletics staff and University administration.

Another thing I took advantage of my senior year occurred during Christmas break. I knew the NCAA was planning a move to Indianapolis, so while I was home in Kentucky, I drove two hours and met for "informational" interviews with the Horizon League's Commissioner, the CEO of the Indiana Sports Corporation and two sports lawyers, one of the attorneys being with my current firm, Ice Miller. The purpose of these interviews was to have them look at my resume and determine what I needed to add to my resume in the next couple of years to be deemed "hirable". Most recommended a background in coaching or athletics administration as being useful. Upon graduation, I moved to New Jersey with my new husband and began searching for a job in athletics. Fortunately for me, Rutgers University was looking for an assistant volleyball coach. I was hired in August and hit the ground running.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the coaching aspect of the job, I knew the recruiting aspect of the job was not what I was looking for in a career. In the summer of 1999, I had the opportunity to move to Indianapolis and immediately submitted my resume to the NCAA headquarters, which was in the process of moving from Kansas City to Indianapolis. I also made a call to the attorney at Ice Miller who I met with during my senior year. During our meeting 18 months before, he described the firm's desire to start a collegiate sports practice. He offered to bring me in for an interview. I soon was hired, and the Ice Miller Collegiate Sports Practice began. I liked the idea of working at Ice Miller because I was able to work on a multitude of NCAA compliance-related issues, including major and secondary infractions cases, student-athlete reinstatement and waiver issues, as well as assisting NCAA institutions in a proactive nature through rules-education and compliance reviews.

I always thought I would stay at Ice Miller for about three years to gain experience and move on to the NCAA headquarters. However, the more I worked at Ice Miller, I liked the idea of working in all aspects of NCAA compliance and not being pigeonholed to one area. I now have been at Ice Miller for over 11 years, and the amount of experience I have gained in all areas of NCAA compliance, as well as the business of athletics, has opened up more career paths to me outside of athletics compliance. I have seen how institutions operate in and around athletics and have developed a list of best practices for athletics department operations, policies and procedures. I also work with organizations which operate in and around collegiate athletics with sponsorship and event planning opportunities. This expertise only helps me offer Ice Miller clients the best service possible and enhances my resume if I choose to embark on a different career path. In addition, after working seven years for Ice Miller, the firm allowed me to move back to my hometown of Louisville and work from a home office. Being a mother of four, this kind of flexibility allows me to have a career in athletics and create time to dedicate to the parenting of my children—not always an easy task.

Based on my experiences, the best advice I can give to anyone interested in a career in athletics is to put yourself out there, talk to anyone you can regarding preparation for your desired career path, and volunteer for committees or activities which allow you to gain experiences to not only enhance your resume, but to enhance your network and get to know employment decision makers. You never know what can open your eyes regarding an athletics career path and the many possibilities that exist in the industry. If you have any questions regarding my career path or current position, please feel free to contact me at carrie.mccaw@icemiller.com.

Jennifer Strawley, Director of Academic and Membership Affairs, NCAA

When I began college, I could never have imagined my professional career playing out the way it has to this point. Although athletics had always been an important part of my life and helped define me as a person, I enrolled in college with the dream of practicing law. I attended the University of Pennsylvania and played softball. During my time as a student-athlete at Penn, I had the opportunity to work in the athletics department and also to be involved in various student activities, including being a member of SAAC.I was very fortunate to meet Carolyn Femovich, who was a Senior Associate Athletics Director at Penn during my time as a student-athlete. Carolyn was my first professional mentor and a very important mentor I rely on to this day.   

After graduating from Penn, I was offered the opportunity to intern with the NCAA. The NCAA internship helped create the foundation for me in college athletics. It provided tremendous opportunities, allowed me to network with a wide variety of people and helped me define my true passion for college athletics. As opportunities presented themselves, I tried to take advantage of those opportunities and put myself in a position to be successful. There is no question that sometimes being in the right place at the right time plays a role in opportunity, and I recognize that I have been very lucky in my professional career; but at the same time, seizing opportunity, working hard and always putting your best foot forward allows you to be recognized when the luck of timing works to your benefit.

During my nine years at the NCAA I had tremendous opportunities to grow professionally and personally. Some of those growth opportunities came in the form of promotions, but many of them also came in the form of different assignments and interactions. Truly, opportunities and growth are found in a variety of forms and taking advantage of all opportunities helps provide the greatest possibility for growth.

I left the NCAA to become the Associate Athletics Director for Intercollegiate Sports Programs and the Senior Woman Administrator at Columbia University. Going to Columbia was a tremendous opportunity for me to experience campus life and to learn from Dianne Murphy. The Ivy League is a special place and the place where my journey in college athletics began. The passion I had developed for college athletics drew me to the campus. The opportunity to have more direct impact and interaction with student-athletes was truly rewarding. Working directly with coaches was also an experience I truly enjoyed.

Returning to the NCAA was a difficult decision, because of my passion for working directly with student-athletes. That being said, I have equal passion for working on national issues and working in the area of academics. When the NCAA opportunity presented itself, it was the right job for me at the right point in my life.  

Change, solving problems, working with people and being challenged are what keep me motivated on a daily basis. There is no question for me that the best part of working in college athletics is the people. I have been very fortunate to have numerous mentors and role models who have played an important part in my professional development. Cultivating relationships is a very important part of professional development. I know that I would not be where I am today if it were not for others taking the time to help me grow. I only hope that I can pay that forward in some small way throughout my career. 

Mentors are an important part of navigating a career in college athletics. I encourage all young professionals to seek out mentors who will be honest with you, genuinely care about you and who will help you navigate opportunities. The world of college athletics is a small and powerful network of people. Always take advantage of opportunities that present themselves and work hard at all you do. Even if the task does not seem important, be open minded to possibilities and always follow your heart. Only you know what makes you happy, and, ultimately, that is what is most important.