Last modified: Thursday, September 2, 2004
What others have said about Rick Greenspan
EDITORS: In addition to our news release announcing Rick Greenspan as the next director of intercollegiate athletics at Indiana University, here are a number of comments provided by several people who have worked with him.
Brigadier Gen. Dan Kaufman, dean of the Academic Board and chairman of the Athletic Committee, U.S. Military Academy, where Greenspan has been athletics director since 1999
"Rick Greenspan saved the Army athletic program ... We hired Rick for a particular reason, and that reason was to turn around a program that was broken, both financially and spiritually. In Rick Greenspan, we were able to recruit a professional who has restored our facilities and our spirit in a remarkable way ... I can't say enough good things about who Rick Greenspan is and the quality of the job he has done in the five years he as been at the Military Academy."
Dutch Baughman, executive director of the NCAA Division 1-A Athletics Directors Association
"Rick has established himself as a highly respected professional among Division 1-A athletics directors. His depth and breath of experience will represent Indiana University in the Big Ten Conference and nationally extremely well. Rick has a very strong commitment to personal core values, the welfare of student-athletes, the success of coaches and loyalty to the institution. He has proven throughout his career to be a person capable of making difficult decisions, analyzing complex situations and finding solutions that are compatible with the purpose and mission of the institution. Congratulations to Indiana University for a search well done."
Jim Crews, head men's basketball coach at Army; Crews played basketball at Indiana University (1972-76) and was an assistant coach under Bob Knight at Indiana University (1980-85)
"College athletics needs more people like Rick Greenspan. I've had the privilege of knowing Rick as both a competitor and a colleague. He was at Illinois State when I was coaching at Evansville. His intelligence and compassion for people are tremendous, and he has great vision. Rick says what he means and means what he says. He's all about the students, the coaches and the coaches helping the students. After all, that's why we're here. Rick gets right into the back of the boat and rows along with you."
Kevin Stallings, head men's basketball coach at Vanderbilt University, who previously coached under Greenspan at Illinois State University
"Rick is the finest university athletics administrator I have ever seen or worked with, and I have worked with some of the best in the nation. He brings about positive change, builds great loyalty and camaraderie among the athletics department staff, and has the ability to develop high morale among the staff ... IU could not hire a better human or athletics director than Rick Greenspan. He holds coaches accountable, tells you what his expectations are and then fights tooth and toenail to help you succeed."
Linda Herman, interim director of athletics at Illinois State University
"Rick is a strong communicator who understands the profession from both the coaching and administration sides ... He places a strong emphasis on academics, character and discipline, and expects his coaches to do the same. He is a tremendous person with a great sense of humor and balance."
Kelly Mehrtens, senior women's administrator and associate director at the University of Kansas, who worked with Greenspan at the University of Miami and is former associate athletics director at the University of Illinois.
"He is a class act who works extremely hard to accomplish goals. He brings a strong understanding of finances and how to raise money. Rick could be described as a coach's athletics director as well as a student-athlete's athletics director. He balances the needs of students and coaches very effectively. He is involved in the programs and takes time to get to know the student-athletes and all of the sports programs. He is committed to all athletic programs and values the non-revenue sports tremendously."
Dave Maggard, Director of Athletics, University of Houston, who hired Rick Greenspan at the University of California-Berkeley and the University of Miami, Florida
"He will always have the student-athlete's welfare in mind. Rick is an excellent fund-raiser, very creative in marketing, and he was always committed to student-athletes. In marketing, he knows who and what can be sold, from an athletics standpoint. He understands and knows branding very well and is an expert in dealing with television and radio contracts."
