December 27, 2007 | 01:31 PM
Fridays
are no longer casual in the Stony Brook University (SBU) athletic
office. Now, as part of the brainchild of Athletic Director (AD) Jim
Fiore, dressing down is simply unacceptable. Instead, dressing red has
become mandatory, part of the "Go Red Fridays" campaign that Fiore has
implemented. It is a befitting microcosm for describing his five-year
role as AD.
Upon Fiore's hiring in July of 2003, SBU President
Shirley Strum Kenny said, "Jim has the energy, drive, enthusiasm and
intelligence to take this program, in the tradition of Stony Brook,
very far, very fast." After five years, she now exclaims, "His
aspirations are strong and they match the aspirations of the university
to be one of the greatest institutions in the country. I think he has
done amazing things in the short time that he has been here. He is a
leader, his coaches and directors are outstanding ? they really have a
kind of prominence on the campus that comes from character and
commitment."
Many who speak about Fiore refer to his "vision,"
"grand design" or "plan." He thinks on a higher plane than just wins
and losses; he seeks to improve the university and the community, which
in turn, he believes will eventually translate to a better, more
successful athletic program.
This grand vision undoubtedly comes
from his background at Princeton University and Dartmouth College,
where he served as administrative assistant to the Department of
Athletics and assistant director of athletics, respectively.
"Each
university has a brand, an identity, a school color, a mascot," Fiore
said, and the universities he served before SBU had strong community
pride, something he feels is improving in the Three Village area. This
desired chemistry between community and university has been the impetus
behind the renovation of the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium and the
currently on-the-drawing-board and fundraising stage of a major
overhaul to the Sports Complex. The Village Times Herald has had an
inside look at the plans for the new complex and, if all goes according
to Fiore's plans, it will be extremely innovative and community
friendly.
"I feel like the community and the university need to
partner and accept and welcome each other," he said. Fiore is confident
that the university is "making our way in the right direction."
First
and foremost, Fiore is excited to point out that the SBU community is
getting more involved in the athletic program. "Go Red Fridays" is not
just for the athletic department ? it is a campus-wide initiative. He
explained that before fall 2008 he expects the entire SBU staff to be
taking part in this endeavor, reaching all the way up to President
Kenny. Still there are more facets of his vision to increase school
spirit.
"Every Friday Wolfie, our mascot, will walk around
campus and the hospital and anybody, student or staff, that is wearing
something other than Stony Brook ? a Syracuse shirt or a Hofstra hat ?
are going to be handed a citation. This citation is actually a summons
to the campus book store or vendors for an x amount discount if you buy
Stony Brook red apparel." It is ideas like this that have endeared
Fiore so quickly to the SBU staff and student body.
"Jim brings
a passion, energy and leadership to SBU." said Rob Emmerich, assistant
AD for External Services. "He has chartered an outstanding course for
success and it is his vision; and this is the type of leadership that
we need for our development."
Fiore's leadership has included
increased concern for well-rounded, academically focused athletes. In
the spring of 2006 Fiore helped unveil the Goldstein Student-Athlete
Development Center, a 6,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that
can accommodate 400 student-athletes, with computer labs, study halls,
a careers resource room, library, private tutor rooms, and an athletic
tutor to help struggling students in any subjects. Under Fiore's
leadership, SBU student-athletes boasted their best ever overall grade
point average of 3.01 last year, up from 2.7 during his first year at
SBU.
Walking around the Goldstein Center Fiore is greeted by all
of the student-athletes. He doesn't know all of them by name, but he
tries, he said. Fiore explained that he treats all of the
student-athletes with respect, "as if they were family, there is no
reason to treat them any other way. Except the freshmen," he jokes,
"they have to wait until they are sophomores."
Men's basketball
head coach Steve Pikiell shared his thoughts on Fiore. "He is first of
all the hardest working, most dedicated person that I have ever been
around; and he lives this university," Pikiell said. "He has done a
tremendous amount for this community and for this university and it is
an honor to be working under him."
Dan Meducci ? who was on the
committee which hired Fiore, and who serves as a liaison between the
athletic department and president's office ? explained, "He really
brought a wonderful combination of aggressiveness toward an athletic
program and appreciation for the need for a quality education and the
right balance for a student-athlete. He has really moved the program
forward and embedded the program with some really great principles."
Anyone
currently involved in SBU athletics understands those principles. In
fact, they are crafted on the wall of the Goldstein Center, and can be
found on the athletic website and many other places on campus. Fiore
refers to them as the five core values ? Commitment, Passion, Pride,
Respect and Swagger. It is no surprise that Fiore has embedded these
values into the psyche of all involved in SBU athletics. These are the
same values he practices, and that is why he is the The Village Times
Herald's Man of the Year in Sports for 2007.
More accomplishments:
?
Fiore accepted an invitation into the Big South Conference as an
associate member for football in 2007. In doing so, he assured the
long-term future of Stony Brook football, enabling it to eventually
compete for a national championship alongside institutions with similar
academic and athletic standards.
? During the 2005-06 academic
year, SBU inked a television deal with Madison Square Garden Network to
broadcast a multi-game package during the 2006-07 academic year, the
first television deal in the program's history. In January 2006, the
department also launched The Stony Brook Sports Report, a 30-week
television show that is produced on campus and aired nationally on
CSTV. Fiore also spearheaded the bid that resulted in Stony Brook
hosting the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse North Quarterfinals in May
2006.
? Attention to the bottom line relieved the department of
an annual deficit, resulting in a balanced budget for the 2004-05
academic year ? the first time that Stony Brook has realized that goal
since moving to the Division I level. Beginning that same academic year
SBU athletics realized a near 20 percent increase in its operating
budget due to new revenue streams for the department.
? In the
fall of 2004, Fiore implemented a Minority Apprentice Program to assist
in the development of young professionals in intercollegiate athletics.
?
In the fall of 2004, he was recognized by the Long Island Business
Association as one of the Top 40 executives under the age of 40 on Long
Island.
? Fiore serves on Kenny's cabinet ? appointed by the president to co-chair the strategic plan for image and identity committee.
?
He has also served on the honorary degree, weekend life, NCAA
certification and the university sponsorship committees. In 2005 he was
appointed to the Executive Committee of the America East Conference and
currently chairs that group. Fiore also is a member of the NCAA
Division I Championship and Competition Cabinet and the NCAA Division I
Misconduct Appeals Sub-committee.
? In June 2004, Fiore was a
featured speaker at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of
Athletics convention in Dallas, Texas. |