Post from UCF Message Board Re:Orsini (great read!)
Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 1:46 pmFound this while I was on the UCF message board, and everyone agreed with it. Sounds great for SMU...
Thanks Steve Reply
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I would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve Orsini for all his efforts regarding UCF Athletics.
During his brief but impactful tenure, Steve Orsini:
1. Re-established high expectations and goals for all those connected to UCF Sports...from coaches to support staff to athletes and to fans...when he first came on board, his belief and enthusiasm toward our university and athletic program was a breath of fresh air and quickly became contagious.
2. Stimulated community, corporate and media support which was apathetic and disinterested after 10 years of stagnation under previous sports leadership. Obviously, there's more opportunity to grow here but we're headed in the right direction.
3. Got key business people and industries involved with UCF Sports from the start....the tourism and housing industry heavyweights. Let me count the ways these contacts have paid dividends for UCF Sports.
4. Along with Dr. Hitt, Steve helped create a cooperative and unified environment on campus regarding sports facilities, etc. This was not the case for many years...each of our coaches strictly existed in a survival mode.
5. It was merely four years ago, our previous athletic leadership announced that coming up with a $2M dollar entrance fee in order to join C-USA would, "bankrupt the program"....and an on-campus fooball stadium?..."not in my lifetime". $300,000,000 of sports facility improvements later, here we are.
Here we are....a big-time attitude, direction and future for UCF Sports...thanks again Steve. Your leadership wasn't perfect, beyond reproach or the end-all be-all....hardly, but I remember thinking during your initial screening process that you were the best choice among four very outstanding final candidates. You certainly backed my supicions up and then some. I was even more impressed by the genuine happiness and humility you demonstrated when you signed Coach O'Leary to a contract worth 7 times what you earn. Bottom Line: you are a leader who knows how to get the job done...by surrounding yourself with winners such as yourself. Best wishes to you and your family. UCF is now on the journey to "National Prominance".
Posted on 3/24 9:25 PM | IP: Logged