91成人导航

91成人导航鈥檚 Cabinet, composed of the top executive leaders of the institution, has banded together to support the university鈥檚 NCAA athletic teams at an unprecedented level.

Inspired by the close-knit, supportive relationship fostered by First Lady Jean Callahan with the women鈥檚 basketball program last season, Cabinet asked 鈥渨hy not have similar liaisons for all 17 programs?鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 so excited that our university leaders are expanding the #WomenSupportingWomen concept to adopt every one of our women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 teams for the new year,鈥� the First Lady said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a great new era for Tiger Athletics.鈥�

The team ambassadors will attend as many games as possible and urge others to show up and support the teams. Additionally, many will stop by practices, talk to student-athletes about how things are going in class and generally offer encouragement.

The effort is the brainchild of Chief General Counsel Lauren Schoenthaler. She suggested having Cabinet relationships for all teams, and her colleagues responded with enthusiastic support.

Schoenthaler certainly is doing her part, signing up to support four athletic programs鈥攇olf, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 swimming and women鈥檚 water polo.

鈥淚 love college athletics because it brings our entire community together in the shared goal of cheering the Tigers to victory,鈥� Schoenthaler said. 鈥淎s the mother of a recently graduated college swimmer, I know first-hand about the hours it takes to master a sport and the work needed to compete at the Division I level. Once a swim mom, always a swim mom.鈥�

One of the frequent supporters of Tiger athletics is Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. The university鈥檚 chief academic officer already has met with volleyball coach Greg Gibbons to discuss opportunities for the upcoming season.

鈥淚 got to watch some of their games last season. They are an exciting team and volleyball is a great game,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 played Division III volleyball in college, so I understand the sport. I also wanted to support women student-athletes and have them get to know how academic affairs and the provost are here to help them succeed.鈥�

There is considerable change in the men鈥檚 basketball program under new coach Dave Smart. Two Cabinet members鈥擟hief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations James Walsh and Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi鈥攁re men鈥檚 basketball liaisons.

鈥淚 feel privileged to support men鈥檚 basketball as well as our women鈥檚 tennis team,鈥� Lomax-Ghirarduzzi said. 鈥淚 have had athletes in my communications classes and I enjoy my work with them.鈥�

Vice President of Enrollment Strategy Chris Ferguson and Chief Technology Officer Rob Henderson will spend plenty of time at the diamonds. Ferguson is an ardent baseball fan and Henderson has a daughter who played on a softball travelling team for 12 years. He said he 鈥渓oves the sport.鈥�

Ferguson said: 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to connect with our new baseball coach Reed Peters. I鈥檓 looking forward to a great year.鈥�

Roster of Cabinet sports liaisons

Men鈥檚 sports

• Baseball 鈥� Chris Ferguson, vice president for enrollment strategy
• Basketball 鈥� James Walsh, chief financial officer and executive vice president for finance and operations; Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion
• Golf 鈥� Lauren Schoenthaler, chief general counsel
• Soccer 鈥� Rob Henderson, chief technology officer
• Swimming 鈥� Lauren Schoenthaler
• Tennis 鈥� Sallie Poggi, chief communications officer
• Water polo 鈥� Scott Biedermann, vice president for university development and alumni relations

Women鈥檚 sports

• Basketball 鈥� Jean Callahan, first lady
• Beach volleyball 鈥� Maria Blandizzi, vice president for student life
• Cross country and track 鈥� Maria Blandizzi
• Soccer 鈥� Ashley Williams, director of presidential strategic initiatives
• Softball 鈥� Rob Henderson
• Swimming 鈥� Lauren Schoenthaler
• Tennis 鈥� Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi
• Volleyball 鈥� Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs
• Water polo 鈥� Scott Biedermann and Lauren Schoenthaler