Orsini Rebuilds SMU
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:03 amhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/o ... 7046.story
After helping build UCF's sports programs, Orsini does same at SMU
Kyle Hightower | Sentinel Staff Writer
November 15, 2007
He's been the AD at SMU for about a year-and-a-half now. But as he begins to search for a new football coach following the dismissal of Phil Bennett, he said this week that the tasks he's facing in Dallas are very similar to the ones he faced at his old job at UCF.
"I do see the similarities, and I think, more importantly, the leaders here at SMU recognized how similar the tasks were when they were looking at who their next AD should be," Orsini said. "I think my time at UCF is the biggest reason why I was attractive here in Dallas."
The Knights' AD from 2002-06, he left Orlando as easily the most productive AD the school ever had.
Orsini was the guy who made an immediate big splash by courting and hiring George O'Leary as football coach in December 2003. He was the guy who guided UCF's sports programs to Conference USA membership a year later and steered the athletic department into its private, nonprofit, direct support status.
And he was the financial wizard who oversaw several facilities upgrades and, along with Jerry Roth, planted the seeds that would become Bright House Networks Stadium.
Though he said there was a little more nostalgia this week, he is slow to accept much credit for the direction UCF's programs are going. Even if it's a blueprint he is trying to emulate at SMU.
"I give the credit to UCF for building on the plans that are now physically in place and to [UCF AD] Keith [Tribble] in finishing [the] plans," Orsini said. "I didn't finish the race, Keith finished it."
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Orsini's tenure at UCF has to be O'Leary. Acquainted with Orsini originally during his term as an associate AD at Georgia Tech, O'Leary said that much of the progress that UCF has experienced is directly related to his work.
"When you talk about the guy that had the initial blueprint here, it was Steve," O'Leary said. "There were a lot of people that had input, but Steve is the one that kind of put his foot forward and put his [plan] out there. And it wasn't always that easy.
"There were a lot of people taking shots out there, saying 'we can't do that stuff.' He stuck to his guns, and that tells me a lot about a man."
O'Leary said the similarities and belief in athletics at both SMU and UCF has been a big help to Orsini both at UCF and currently.
"They're helping him out administratively, which I think is the key to any AD," O'Leary said. "You can have a great AD, but if the administration isn't behind you, you aren't going to move forward. I think that's the key to why it worked out so well [at UCF]."
Like he did at UCF in helping attract the money that eventually went into the building of Nicholson Fieldhouse, the state's first collegiate indoor football practice facility, he did not wait long at SMU in building the Crum Center. Built to house the practice facilities for basketball, it was a big reason he was able to snare Coach Matt Doherty.
"I'll always treasure the relationship of four years and being a part of the UCF team," Orsini said. "I'm especially looking forward to seeing [UCF President] Dr. [John] Hitt. He gave me the opportunity to be an AD. He saw something in me to allow me that opportunity . . . I'll always be indebted for that."
And what of the possibility of his 1-9 Mustangs putting a black mark on the progress his former school is enjoying?
"That's why they play the games," Orsini said. "We surely could. . . . We're a 1-9 team, but no one should take us lightly."
After helping build UCF's sports programs, Orsini does same at SMU
Kyle Hightower | Sentinel Staff Writer
November 15, 2007
He's been the AD at SMU for about a year-and-a-half now. But as he begins to search for a new football coach following the dismissal of Phil Bennett, he said this week that the tasks he's facing in Dallas are very similar to the ones he faced at his old job at UCF.
"I do see the similarities, and I think, more importantly, the leaders here at SMU recognized how similar the tasks were when they were looking at who their next AD should be," Orsini said. "I think my time at UCF is the biggest reason why I was attractive here in Dallas."
The Knights' AD from 2002-06, he left Orlando as easily the most productive AD the school ever had.
Orsini was the guy who made an immediate big splash by courting and hiring George O'Leary as football coach in December 2003. He was the guy who guided UCF's sports programs to Conference USA membership a year later and steered the athletic department into its private, nonprofit, direct support status.
And he was the financial wizard who oversaw several facilities upgrades and, along with Jerry Roth, planted the seeds that would become Bright House Networks Stadium.
Though he said there was a little more nostalgia this week, he is slow to accept much credit for the direction UCF's programs are going. Even if it's a blueprint he is trying to emulate at SMU.
"I give the credit to UCF for building on the plans that are now physically in place and to [UCF AD] Keith [Tribble] in finishing [the] plans," Orsini said. "I didn't finish the race, Keith finished it."
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Orsini's tenure at UCF has to be O'Leary. Acquainted with Orsini originally during his term as an associate AD at Georgia Tech, O'Leary said that much of the progress that UCF has experienced is directly related to his work.
"When you talk about the guy that had the initial blueprint here, it was Steve," O'Leary said. "There were a lot of people that had input, but Steve is the one that kind of put his foot forward and put his [plan] out there. And it wasn't always that easy.
"There were a lot of people taking shots out there, saying 'we can't do that stuff.' He stuck to his guns, and that tells me a lot about a man."
O'Leary said the similarities and belief in athletics at both SMU and UCF has been a big help to Orsini both at UCF and currently.
"They're helping him out administratively, which I think is the key to any AD," O'Leary said. "You can have a great AD, but if the administration isn't behind you, you aren't going to move forward. I think that's the key to why it worked out so well [at UCF]."
Like he did at UCF in helping attract the money that eventually went into the building of Nicholson Fieldhouse, the state's first collegiate indoor football practice facility, he did not wait long at SMU in building the Crum Center. Built to house the practice facilities for basketball, it was a big reason he was able to snare Coach Matt Doherty.
"I'll always treasure the relationship of four years and being a part of the UCF team," Orsini said. "I'm especially looking forward to seeing [UCF President] Dr. [John] Hitt. He gave me the opportunity to be an AD. He saw something in me to allow me that opportunity . . . I'll always be indebted for that."
And what of the possibility of his 1-9 Mustangs putting a black mark on the progress his former school is enjoying?
"That's why they play the games," Orsini said. "We surely could. . . . We're a 1-9 team, but no one should take us lightly."
I just hope we can keep him when the big boys come sniffing around!
