For the past seven years, Kirby Hocutt has worked with a successful athletics program at the University of Oklahoma. Now he has moved on as director of athletics for Ohio and sees good things in the future.
The vision of President (Roderick) McDavis truly made a tremendous impact on me throughout my interview process and his vision
not only for the institution but for the athletics department Hocutt said. He wants the athletics department to be a front porch for the entire nation to see the great things that are going on at Ohio University. It speaks volumes for his commitment to intercollegiate athletics.
Hocutt, who signed a multi-year contract for $170,000 a year, has embraced the opportunity to lead what he said is already a successful athletics department. The women's volleyball and soccer teams and the men's basketball team all won regular season or MAC Tournament championships. Hocutt also said the hiring of football coach Frank Solich spoke volumes about the commitment to excellence and success of Ohio athletics.
I feel extremely fortunate to be here and look forward to leading our department not only in the present but in the exciting future that lies ahead of us Hocutt said.
The amount of team success will ultimately have a great effect on the perceived success of the athletics director, Hocutt said, and that he's 100 percent committed to the support of a broad-based athletics program.
I want each of our sports programs to have the facilities and the resources necessary to compete at the very top of the Mid-American Conference
he said. Some of our programs are competing at that level and being very successful
and we have to make sure we maintain our level of support
and they maintain their competitive edge as we move forward. We have some programs that are not competing at that level
and we have to make sure we provide those sports the resources and every opportunity to get better day by day so they can compete at the top of our conference.
Other areas aside from team success will reflect on how well Hocutt performs, such as academic rates of athletes.
We've always done an exceptional job of graduating our student-athletes
Hocutt said. It's a tremendous source of pride for us
and it's a goal for us as we move forward in the year 2010 to be in the top five of all public institutions in the graduation rate of our student-athletes. That is part of President McDavis' vision for us as an athletics department. It's a goal that we embrace and look forward to pursuing.
Another aspect that reflects on Hocutt, aside from team success and academics, is the financial side of athletics. Hocutt said there is an opportunity for growth there, citing football season ticket sales being up 35 percent and the corporate marketing of the football team as key ingredients.
I think financially we're in a position first and foremost to work very diligently to control our expenses but at the same time increase our revenues and be able to reinvest those into our athletics programs
Hocutt said. It's going to allow our programs that are performing at the top of our conference to stay at the top but allow those programs that are not at the top competitively right now to continue to grow and get better so they can compete at the top.
- Kevin Wiseman
