May 1, 2015
(Editor’s Note: This column has been edited twice since its first submission May 1. Our list of directors has kept expanding!)
Do you realize how many former Vanderbilt athletic administrators are now serving as athletic directors at major universities? Earlier this week Hunter Yurachek was named Director of Athletics at the University of Houston. Hunter was an assistant athletic director for marketing here about 15 years ago. He joins Brad Bates, the AD at Boston College, Jeff Compher, who heads athletics at East Carolina , Keith Gill, the athletic director at the University of Richmond, Derrick Gragg at Tulsa, Mark Richard at Gannon University and Brian Reese, who has been the AD at Presbyterian for five years. Hopefully we’re not leaving anyone off the list! The first three men were at Vanderbilt in various roles during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s with Bates serving 17 years before going to Miami University. Gragg played football from 1988-91, Richard was a compliance officer in the mid-1990’s and Reese worked closely with David Williams and Bobby Johnson while at Vandy. Other connections, both current and former, are poised to be added to this list.
We’ve now had two SEC Male Players of the Year with golf’s Hunter Stewart joining tennis’ Gonzalez Austin with that coveted honor. And there is a chance baseball could add a third member to the club. As has almost become an anticipated routine, our spring sports are shining.
Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine, one of the finest in the world, admits 88 students to each of its entering classes and to think that 5% of this year’sclass were members of Commodore athletic teams is absolutely astounding.
There is still buzz in our hallways about the recent eating contest between Brandon Barca of the communications team and women’s golf coach Greg Allen. Barca, who ran the half-marathon at the Country Music Marathon, challenged Allen to a Krispy Kreme donut show-down. Amidst hoots and hollers from students and staff, Barca wolfed down his 22nd calorie-buster in 15 minutes while Allen was just a couple of bites behind. Who says we are too stuffyaround here?
