Student-athlete experience

Kerri Walsh, former student-athlete

Stanford University

San Antonio News Express

Reflecting on the progress made in women’s sports before the Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship finals December 15-17 in San Antonio:

“It is the 25th anniversary of the NCAA women’s volleyball championships. I can’t help but be excited for the women who are on the court in San Antonio and admire the progress that female student-athletes have made during the past 25 years. ...

“The awareness of, and participation in, women’s college sports has grown markedly because of barriers kicked down during these past 25 years. Today, more than 150,000 female student-athletes participate in intercollegiate athletics and compete for a total of 44 NCAA championships in 20 sports.

“Thanks to the NCAA and a host of supporters backing women’s sports, a generation of women has grown up with its sights set on winning national collegiate titles — while earning academic degrees and developing life skills that will help them long after their time in college. Young girls today can’t imagine life any other way. What a tribute this is to our progress.

“My four years of playing Division I volleyball at Stanford University taught me this: Take advantage of today, make a difference, smile, work hard, dream big, and you will see positive results. I had no idea that the rewards would continue long after my graduation in 2000. ...

“I wonder if people realize the sacrifices and effort these young women, and the ladies before them, have put in on a daily basis, working toward excellence. The reason most of them are here is because they want to excel in academics, earning college degrees they can be proud of. They want to graduate knowing they gave it their all, pushing themselves to be the best students and the best athletes they could be. They are excellent role models because they work incredibly hard and know what it takes to achieve success.

“I am so inspired when I watch women’s volleyball today, with the competition getting more and more intense. Regardless of which team wins the national title, it’s great to see the degree of commitment exhibited by these gifted young women, their level of athletics excellence and the support shown by their schools and fans, elevated to today’s new heights. I can’t wait to see what the next 25 years bring.”

Diversity and inclusion

Eugene Marshall Jr., deputy athletics director

U.S. Military Academy

Newsday

Discussing hiring practices in Division I football from his perspective as membership president of the Black Coaches Association:

“The excuses we still hear are, ‘There’s not enough people out there. The pool is weak. They don’t have enough experience.’ What it really comes down to is their funding people and alumni — will their fund-raisers back these people (of color)? And in some cases, they won’t.”

The business of college sports

Richard Weiss, publisher

SportsBusiness Journal

Athletics Administration

“I would agree that intercollegiate athletics is healthy indeed, but there is no question that running a college sports program today is more complex and competitive than ever before. I see that continuing in the years ahead. The truth is college sports have become a very big business, but unlike other businesses for which the stated goal is to make a profit, athletics departments serve the greater educational mission of the colleges and universities.

“The challenge in the years ahead will be for athletics directors, working in concert with their presidents, to effectively manage and grow their budgets to keep pace with escalating costs, while keeping in mind the over-arching educational mission.”