APPENDIX 2
ATHLETIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS
Athletic Advisory Committee Comments/Suggestions
Question: Centralize men's and women's program under one administrative
support structure with service changes as needed.
Scale 1-5 (1 do not recommend/ 2 slightly recommend; 3 moderately
recommend; 4 largely recommend; 5 strongly recommend).
1. 5 One director with appropriate support staff willenhance the
overall morale within thedepartment. This will also improve the
communication process with support staff.
2. 4 No comment
3. 5 No comment
4. 3 As stated on previous page this may lead to more consistency
and the support staff will feel that we all are working for same goal,
to enhance the service for all athletes.
5. 4 If we go to a one director system, that person must be given
administrative support above and below them. To change to one AD and
then not supply them with adequate support staff will serve to worsen a
bad situation. Also, they must be allowed to make changes to benefit
all departments and teams. The atmosphere here is to take care of
oneself first and foremost. One director must be allowed to make
changes that will benefit the group as well as the individual
departments. This cannot be done without support from the
administration in general.
6. 5 No comment
7. 5 I'm honestly not sure what advantages/disadvantages would be
gained by having one or two AD's, but major changes must be made.
8. 5 The schools which I deal with have one centralized athletic
department. Roles for supportstaff are more clearly defined and it
eliminates the competition between men and women for services.
9. 5 Do not want to lose contact with directors and have to report
to assistants. Administration should not be involved with athletic team
coaching (men's or women's administration). Too many administrative
assistants not being utilized enough.
10. 4 Previous situation I was involved in. Better feelings and
belief that everyone was workingtoward a common goal/objective as a
team (or one unit). People tend to work together witha centralized
decision maker at the top better than separate decision makers.
11. 5 There would be more continuity in the men's and women's
programs. There would be bettermanagement and decision making and a
direct relationship with support staff to resolve issues/concerns.
12. 4 Mentioned on previous page. The program/department would run
more efficiently with one director. Also, there would be less animosity
and less "us vs them" mentality among staff members.
13. 5 Makes for better communication, less in-house competition.
14. 3 No comment
15. 5 No comment
16. 4 Again, hopefully services provided to the athletes would
become equal. Changes need to be made in the areas of fund raising,
marketing and donations, and sports information facilities use.
17. 4 Not sure if centralizing is clearly the best option....my
opinion would depend on a more clearunderstanding of how that would
occur. Currently, it seems like the two programs operate"at odds,"
perhaps with conflicting missions. Not only does it make getting the
job donedifficult, the working environment is full of tension, conflict
and unresolved negative feelings. I do think separate programs can
work, perhaps if missions are brought into line.
18. 5 The athletic department, teams/coaches, etc., need to work
together to establish a new mission for the future of the UNH athletic
program. The athletic director cannot be a coach of a major sport at
this institution. Everyone here spends most of their time protecting
"their" interests instead of the department's interests.
19. 5 A unified UNH mission with all working together to achieve a
common goal. The need for an increase (in support staff, i.e., AD
minimum 2; 2 Sr. Associate AD's; full time Assistant coaching....) in
all areas.
20. 1 I really think the women's programs lose with this structure.
The "AD" will have to pay major attention to the "BIG" sports--whether
the AD is male or female. The same amount of work will need to be done
either way and generally women will have one more person to go through!
21. 4 I would think that by combining the departments it would
maximize what could be accomplished with X amount of dollars. I also
like the ideas of merging them in order to break down some of the walls
between men's and women's.
22. 4 No comment
23. 2 It is a scary/nervous time in the F.H. We feel there is no
direction (mission) and more and more needs come down to us doing it.
Of course, like everyone else, we are under-funded and under-staffed.
24. 2 No comment
25. 5 The Athletic Department needs to have one administrator who
can provide equal leadership to both the men and women's department.
Currently the structure has perpetuated animosity within the men and
women's departments.
26. 5 I believe one person should be in charge that can make
decisions and answer for those decisions. The way our situation is now
it takes an unreasonable amount of time to get answers, if you get them
at all. This is not directed at any individual, but at the system.
27. 5 The centralization of the administration, I believe, could
help improve services. One argument over the years has been will the
women's programs lose their autonomy? I believe with the coming of age
with Title IX the women's programs can be better served. One
administrator working on fulfilling the mission of athletics at UNH.
28. 5 The buck stops at the top. If you do not have a strong
director overseeing athletic programs--you cannot possibly meet the
mission of varsity athletics. We need a director that will be
accountable.
29. 5 I believe that there should be one director for the entire
program. The current structure hasled to turmoil within the
department. One person has to be empowered to make the important
decisions.
30. 5 We need someone to oversee both programs and break the tie.
31. 1 No comment
32. 1 No comment
33. 1 I feel that if the two programs were combined, women's
athletics would be completely overshadowed!
34. 1 There is too much responsibility for two people let alone
one. Also, men's and women's athletics have such different needs that I
don't think one person should handle it all.
35. 2 I am not sure what would happen under one head person, since
I have never been an athlete under one AD. It could go one of two
ways--hopefully towards improvement. I understand there would be many
people underneath working to help the AD meet everyone's needs, butit
is hard to meet the needs to begin with, with two separate AD's.
36. 3 No comment
37. 4 Maybe this could smooth out the static that exists between
the men's and women's teams. It seems as if it is always an issue of
what is equal or what is fair. With one AD, perhaps it would increase
this awareness and thus the effort to improve the situation. Maybe
this is too idealistic though and not realistic.
38. 5 If there were one structure there could be a stronger focus
on meeting the mission statement. Right now there are some services
under one structure--the only thing is the administration. The services
provided for both are better, like academic support, but could be even
better if there was one structure. The attention would be focused more
clearly. Fundraising could become equal.
39. NA Do not know enough about administrative details to make a
decision. Could possibly be a good idea.
40. NA No comment
41. 5 I'm not familiar with the plans for unification. If the two
departments were centralized there would have to be major revisions in
support and I think this might sacrifice quality of service/support.
The current situation needs revision, but keeping them separate keeps
things simpler.
42. 5 No comment
43. 5 With one director for both men's and women's athletics you
may be able to distribute money to men's and women's teams based on
need. This may eliminate over-budgeting for programs that may not
really need the $. More efficient.
44. 5 No comment
45. 4 If you combine the athletics there will be much more
communication between administrators, coaches and the athletes of male
and female sports. I feel if they are combined they will help to
improve all of the athletic programs at this school.
46. 4 One AD should not be biased one way or another. Their job is
to do the best thing for all UNH athletic teams.
47. 2 No comment