Speaker 1 00:00:11 Hello, welcome to the roundhouse podcast. This is Paul Soro of Wichita state university strategic communications. Today's guest is D Lavin D is the first year coach of Wichita states. Men's tennis shockers are getting started this week. They competed unattached last weekend here in Wichita, but they will be sending teams to the SMU fall invitational and to Drake to get the fall schedule started D spent the previous two seasons at the university of Miami in Florida as an assistant coach. He played at old dominion, also worked as an assistant at Princeton and Delaware. So Dar you grew up in Ireland. Uh, tell us your sports background. You played soccer, you'd played tennis. How did that unfold for you as a, as a youngster?
Speaker 2 00:00:54 Yeah, first he, thanks for having me on. Um, yeah, I grew up in Ireland, came to America for college and, um, yeah, my sports background, uh, was always just soccer, tennis, um, was lucky enough to get introduced to the sport of tennis at a young age and, uh, just grew a passion for it and just fell in love with the sport. And I just played properly from the age of like 10, 11, just really got into it and played a lot. And uh, yeah, as like I said, fell in love with the sport and it just took off from there and ended up, uh, coming to the states for college and I got into it a lot and yeah, I just loved the sport.
Speaker 1 00:01:29 What position did you play in soccer?
Speaker 2 00:01:31 I was, uh, a left back, so I was always a bit bigger. I was a younger guy. I was taller stronger than, you know, 12, 13 year olds. Um, so I played left back and think I like thrown up and down the wing a little bit, had a good throw from tennis. So I take the throws and, um, yeah, I was got to an age at like 13, 14 had to really decide between soccer and tennis. Um, you know, competitions were on the same days practices the same days. So, uh, had to, uh, decide my brother was better at, as we call it back home it's football. So he was much better than me and decided I wanted to be some, do something for myself and be better. So then, uh, I went and got ready into tennis even more then from 13, 14 onwards,
Speaker 1 00:02:13 Uh, international soccer, premier league, as it becomes so big here in the United States, uh, you know, over the last, I dunno, 10 or 15 years. Do you follow that really closely? Do you have a team in that,
Speaker 2 00:02:23 In that area? Um, I don't watch it as much as I would like to it's uh, yeah, like early on the weekends, I got two young kids, so, um, I don't get much time to watch it, but when I get home, uh, especially at Christmas time, I get to catch up a little bit and watch the games then, but, uh, not as much. My team is men United. My brother is big man United fan. So you kind maybe convert over to United fan at a young age and yeah, so they haven't had the best of success the last couple of years. So I think maybe cuz of that too, I haven't followed it as much.
Speaker 1 00:02:53 So compare growing up as a youngster in athletics in Ireland to what you know of the American system of developing and, and moving kids along, how's it different? Yeah,
Speaker 2 00:03:02 It's a lot different. Yeah. I think in Ireland we just don't have the resources and the facilities that we have here in America. I think, I mean, just going to universities when we travel as teams, I'm still amazed every week. And I tell recruits, I'm talking on the all the time, especially international recruits, like just crazy the facilities and resources we have available at university level here. And even in high school level in America and Ireland, um, you know, even the professional sports, we have two main stadiums that, um, you know, are smaller than what a lot of universities have here. So, um, just seeing the resources and the facilities here, I'm still amazed every time I go places and see what we have. Um, obviously the weather in Ireland doesn't help. So in a sport like tennis, um, not having as many indoor courts as are needed, uh, developing players is a lot more challenging.
Speaker 2 00:03:50 So I think here we have a lot more indoors and, um, the resources and like I said, like indoor course is just huge. Um, we play on a surface for rain in Ireland, it's called Astra turf. It's like, it's kinda like fake grass, artificial grass, like kinda a feel hockey plays on here. Uh, it's got sand so you can play through the rain and stuff. So it's not the best for, you know, developing tennis technique and point construction and stuff like that. So, uh, that's a big challenge that, uh, people in Ireland go through in the sport of tennis, I think. Um, yeah, here you have so many academies and different, so many more coaches and clubs, indoors, outdoors, different programs and, uh, a lot more coaching. And I think, um, just here, it's also a lot more expensive though to, to be part of a sport like tennis. Um, it's also expensive in Ireland, but here it's, uh, a big cost. So I think, um, it's a challenge both in both countries, I think to find the best talent and find, you know, players that you can develop and, uh, get to a college professional level. So it's a challenging in both, but here there's definitely a lot more opportunity. I feel.
Speaker 1 00:04:56 Did you have a tennis role model, a favorite tennis player that you grew up following?
Speaker 2 00:05:01 The first that I can remember would be Andre, Agasy kind of got at the end of his career. I really got, uh, got, got to see him at the end of his career and then reading his book and stuff too. Just really, maybe kind of go back and look at some of his matches and stuff. And then, um, I guess Roger Feder, he's been my, my, uh, I guess as a younger, uh, player myself, I was, he was the one that, you know, got to number one as I was really getting into tennis and just kind of dominated the sport then obviously had like Nadal, JIC come in there too, and Murray, but Feder has been the one for me that over the last, I guess, 15 years that I've really followed and, you know, just looked up to and just been, I guess, amazed by the career he's had,
Speaker 1 00:05:42 Have you been to Wimbledon to
Speaker 2 00:05:44 Watch? Yes, I have. I was, there must have been in 2000, like four, you know, 2000 like eight or nine, I think it was so I was still pretty young, but yeah, I got to go to Wimbledon and I've been to the French and um, the us open obviously a few times here while I was working Connecticut in the summers. So, um, don't wanna have been Australian so on the, on the bucket list to get to one day, but, uh, yeah, the Wim, it is the tradition they have there and everything. It's, it's a really cool experience to go to that. That
Speaker 1 00:06:11 Would be, that would be great. Yeah. One thing I think that's interesting when I write about international athletes, the system over there in most cases, as far as I understand, it's athletics and academics are not connected like they are in the United States, which is why a lot of these athletes come over here to golf, tennis, whatever they may do. Explain that a little bit. What's the lure of coming to the United States to play college tennis?
Speaker 2 00:06:33 Yeah, I think, um, like in most con Americans, really the only country where it combines both in most countries and especially in Ireland, it's a choice you have to make, you know, you're, you're going professional and that's it you're going pro or you're going to college and you're kind of giving up that, uh, I guess, hope or chance to keep competing and playing at a high level. So, um, for me, you know, I just loved competing and playing tennis and didn't want it to end after juniors. Um, I was never good enough to, or to think about going pro, but I still didn't want it to end at, uh, the age of 18. So finding out about college tennis, I think that was, that was huge for me and just, yeah, I opened up so many, so many doors for me in my future and, um, you know, it's really, it's like I teller recruits all the time.
Speaker 2 00:07:14 Just, I don't think you understand really what, what can be done. You can kind of train like you want to train, but you also have your classes and you're gonna leave at a degree at the end of it. So, you know, you can use those four years to really develop and get better. And if it doesn't work out for you to go pro after, you're not at that level that you need to go pro you at least have a degree still, but you're able to train like you want it to and give it your all over those four years. So it's really just unbelievable opportunity. And, um, yeah, I think we see, especially in the sport of tennis, a lot of internationals are, you know, in on teams and they've started to utilize, uh, the opportunity that they can get, come, come to America and get their degree and still training at better and use all the resources that are available.
Speaker 1 00:07:54 So you played at old dominion yep. In Virginia. Uh, had you ever been to the United States, did you make a camp campus visit? How did that all
Speaker 2 00:08:01 Unfold? Um, so I was in America once. Uh, I think I was 14. So in our like high school, you have, um, kind of a, a gap year where you kind of, you still go to school, but it's not like a stressful year. You're not learning as much. You're doing different things. We had a ski trip that we went to, um, Boston and, uh, went out to, um, New Hampshire skiing. So I did skiing there. That was my first time in the states. And then, um, yeah, I found out there was, um, I was playing league at home, uh, men's league at, uh, like the age of 16, 17. Um, one of the guys in the team, his cousin was a, from my club back home before I was there. And he was that coach at, um, university of Memphis, mark Finnegan. So he, um, you know, got me in touch with coaches and with himself.
Speaker 2 00:08:46 And I ended up actually going to university of Memphis first as a spring starter. So I graduated, um, I'd been injured a lot before, so I was gonna take the year off and the, the NCAA changed the rules you had to go in in six months. So then I, um, went to the university of Memphis and, um, then I wasn't making the lineup there. So I decided, uh, we decided it was best for me to transfer and go somewhere where I could try to get more playing time. Uh, which was great. Cause like mark was very helpful and that, and just honest with me, like, so he helped me from that day to just find somewhere new and ended up at ODU, they'd play them in the season and he'd, they, uh, he had seen us a really good school and that there were a team on the rise. So he, um, helped me kind of get in touch with the coaches there. And yeah, I ended up going then to ODU and had a four or four great years there. So I was, uh, yeah. Good experience.
Speaker 1 00:09:32 Coaching is a career. How did you, how did you land on that and enter into this
Speaker 2 00:09:36 Profession? Yeah, so I am in the summers, coached a lot in country clubs in Connecticut, so I did that and, um, I enjoyed it, but I knew I really wanted something with a team and competitive. Um, you know, I, in my college career I spent a lot of time with the sidelines injured. So I was kinda like a lot of time where I was talking to the coaches and kind of thinking like them a little bit and kind of seeing, you know, having conversations with my coaches and how they kind, the lens they look at are from. So I think, um, and someone had mentioned to me, like, I think it was my junior year, like, oh, I could see you being a college coach. And I think that kind of, uh, you know, had me thinking all the time, oh, this is what I want to do.
Speaker 2 00:10:11 Like, I, I love being around a team, love being, you know, part of a competition and just competing with a team. I mean, part of that. So, um, after I graduated, I did one year working at ODU and like student athlete development and, uh, working like international students and helping them kind of adapt their, uh, to like the new environment they were in. But, um, I just missed, I was missing something. So I was at the us open actually. And I saw Billy pay the head coach from Princeton. Um, he was watching one of his former players playing and I played one of his players in one of my fall tournaments a couple of years before. So I was like, oh, I wonder if he remembers me or not. And I was like, well, I won't. I go up to him like, see what opportunities are out there.
Speaker 2 00:10:51 And I just went up to him and introduced myself. He remembered me and we got chatting, exchanged numbers. And, uh, then I went off to O and worked the year and did what I was doing there. And March April came and I was just, I really want to, I just want to coach, I want an opportunity. So let me reach out to him again. And I reached out to him and just asked him if he knew of any coaches looking for volunteers or assistant or grad assistance the following year. And, um, he was actually looking for a volunteer that himself that year. So my way up to Connecticut, I stopped off kind of interviewed with him and his assistant Damien. And, uh, they offered me the job a couple days later and that I just worked there for two years and I've been going at it since and having looked back.
Speaker 1 00:11:28 So when you were out of tennis, did you miss the competition? Did you miss the camaraderie? What, what was, what was the absent that you wanted to get back
Speaker 2 00:11:37 To? I think, think everything. Yeah. And just like I was around still, I told you like the tennis team out, help out their matches and stuff and kind of on game day set up and whatnot, just as much as I could. And I just missed having part of a team and just, you know, like the winning, the losing, all of it, just, I just missed it and just realized like I liked, I loved coaching too. Um, and then at that level too, I just missed being part of a team and helping people develop and get better and put the work in. So yeah, I was, yeah, I definitely missed it. I knew that's what I wanted to do from then onwards.
Speaker 1 00:12:07 So you mentioned Billy pay mm-hmm <affirmative> the coach at Princeton has been influential on your career. Mm-hmm <affirmative> what did you learn from him? How has he helped get you to this point?
Speaker 2 00:12:15 Yeah, he's just an amazing mentor. You know, there's so many coaches in college that he's helped mentor has connections to, I think, uh, just knowing him and just being able to, you know, call him and ask for advice. It's just been very helpful. And, um, I think like every job I've got, it's been, you know, through conversation, I'd call him and ask for advice on it or he'd know, um, more about the program and everything, and be able to say, yeah, this is a good step for you or not. So I think just being able to have someone like that, that you can call up and, you know, if there's any issues or anything like, Hey, how have you dealt with this in the past? And, um, you know, just when I was around him and Damien for two years, just seeing how they run a top program was just very helpful for me and beneficial to be around that and see, you know, what works. So I think, um, yeah, I've been very lucky and fortunate to, to know him and get to work with him.
Speaker 1 00:13:02 Coaching at Princeton seems like quite the opportunity just because it's, it's Princeton and it's the Ivy league. What was it like being a part of that program and that school?
Speaker 2 00:13:10 Yeah, no, obviously there's a lot of, um, you know, a lot comes with being at Princeton and everyone knows Princeton. So I think it was, uh, yeah, very, very exciting two years I had there, you know, we had good teams. Um, it's a lot different cause the academics is very rigorous there. So, um, you know, being with the teams, um, you get like only so much time every day and the class schedule is a lot different. So, um, learned a lot. I think, you know, you're recruiting a lot different there too to other schools. So it was just a lot different, but it was a really good experience and I had a great time there and yeah, it was, uh, just to like say I got to work at a place like Princeton was, was, uh, yeah, every time I tell people back home, they're like, oh, you must be smart. But I was like, I don't, I don't go there. I just work there. So it was, uh, it was a lot of fun though, and I had a great time there.
Speaker 1 00:13:57 So take us back to the summer. You get hired at Wichita state mm-hmm <affirmative> yeah. You've gotta move pack, travel, do all these kind of things. You, your family, new team, new university, what are the first things you start to do to figure out, you know, your evaluating your roster? What do I have, what do I need to do? Take us through maybe the first, you know, few weeks of being the, the Wichita state tennis coach?
Speaker 2 00:14:21 Yeah, it was, uh, whirl end of the summer, I guess, cause I was still in Miami and we had summer camps and I was actually recruiting when I started my interview process. And then I came over, back over here and got the job and then I'd go back to my move, everything do camps and then come here and then yeah, I was just straight into it, just trying to figure out, um, you know, where we are right now as a team, what are we, what, what are we looking for? What are we missing? And, um, hire an assistant coach. And it was just, yeah, a lot going on. And um, yeah, just kind of seeing, you know, like you said, where are we at at roster wise? Um, a couple of people had left throughout the summer before I got the job. And um, then, uh, was just kind of, kind of rebuilding and seeing, you know, what new guys we have coming in, which has been great to know, get to see everyone on campus and see where we're at. So yeah, it was a lot going on, a lot of, uh, observing and it's kind of getting to know how things are run and what needs to be done.
Speaker 1 00:15:11 Are you able to watch video? Do you like doing that or do you really wanna wait till you get 'em here and, and watch 'em practice? How do you think about that part of the process?
Speaker 2 00:15:19 Yeah, for the guys, like on the roster, it was more just, you know, let's get them here and get to work and kind of make up my own, um, you know, judgment and see where we're at and what needs to get better. So, yeah, we've had a good couple of weeks now of practice. And like you said, we had that one tournament last weekend, they got to compete unattached. We had a, it UTR event here, which was great just to get the matches and see where we're at and what needs to, what we need to do going forward. So it's been, yeah, it's been great.
Speaker 1 00:15:44 You mentioned, uh, hiring an assistant coach Connor Bernard hired him in August. What's the connection with him? How did you hire Connor
Speaker 2 00:15:51 Connor? So, yeah, actually an ODU connection. Um, Serge, the head coach there, he was the assistant at, um, ODU for a couple of years. The year I, um, graduated, he got the assistant coach job. So I talked to him about, we're just doing our schedule for this year and he told me, uh, you know, I have a great volunteer. Uh, if you're looking to hire your assistant, you haven't hired Jen. Like, just let me know. I'll get you guys in touch. So just had some conversations with, uh, both Serge and Connor and just knew he'd be a good fit for what I was looking for. And, uh, yeah, he's been great so far, you know, we've been here a couple weeks together and just skinned the work every day. He's been, been great alongside him.
Speaker 1 00:16:26 So you mentioned, uh, competed unattached last weekend. Um, many of your, many of the shockers you've got the two tournaments this weekend. What do you like about what you've seen so far this fall from the shockers?
Speaker 2 00:16:37 Yeah, I think we've a great group. You know, it's been fun to be around these guys and you can tell they're close, close groups. I think, you know, they, they work hard, they're pushing each other, get better. Uh, you know, we've got good, good talent on the team, so it's just putting it all together. And I think, you know, talking about like tennis is a sport, you know, we have a young team, so, um, college tennis you're, you become a team. So it's, you know, really working on how can we become a better team and obviously you're still competing individually, but it's all for the team at the end of the day. So it's, you know, just kind of getting that across and just working that into practices and you know, when they're playing, like we're not individuals anymore. We're, we're, we're about more than just ourselves. So, uh, it's been a lot of fun just working hard, you know, they've been putting in the work and, uh, yeah, excited to see how we can keep improving and get better and not too much focus on the results right now, you know, the falls the time just to work on some things and improve. So, um, no it's been good and the guys have been, uh, very receptive and doing a great job.
Speaker 1 00:17:34 The team aspect of it is interesting. Yeah. I know when I talk to international student athletes that come over here, they're not really familiar with that part of it, but many of 'em really grow to, to enjoy it. Mm-hmm <affirmative> how do you, you know, how do you go about teaching that or, or guiding them, them toward that team team spirit.
Speaker 2 00:17:50 Yeah. And I think a lot of international too, they play a lot of league tennis back home, so they do love the team aspect of it too. So, um, I think just in practices, just compete, like doing team drills, team games, uh, just kind of talking about it, explaining like, you know, if you have a bad attitude, you're hurting this other person, if you throw your racket or whatever it can affect, like in college tennis, you can give a point penalty to the other guy, if your match is over. So just understanding your actions can have, uh, consequences down the, down the team. So just talking about it and just letting them know and, you know, trying to do what's best for the team always and think it's, uh, being good so far. So we'll, uh, keep working on it and come springtime. That's when you want it to be, uh, at its best.
Speaker 1 00:18:34 Describe your coaching philosophy.
Speaker 2 00:18:36 Yeah. So for me, this is something I put a lot of time into and we've been lucky. Our new ad has been awesome here and had some people come in and just kind of talked to the head coaches recently, Jason Cummins from horizon has been, uh, very helpful and it's kind of sat down with me about it. So I think as a new head coach, you know, it's been something I'm putting time and effort into to just really be like, this is what I'm about. So I think for me, it's really about just investing time and building relationships, you know, to, as a tennis coach, to help people, you know, they're at a time in their lives where you can really help guide them. And, uh, I think just showing that you're investing your time and in your players and, uh, just building that relationship is huge and then just hard work and discipline and holding it are accountable. So that's kind of how I, how I would do things. And, uh, hopefully my players will, you know, keep doing that right now. They're doing, doing it the right way and we're gonna keep doing it the right way.
Speaker 1 00:19:23 So you're coming into a strong tennis conference. Mm-hmm <affirmative> the American had four teams in the NCAAs last season. Mm-hmm <affirmative>, uh, you would've faced USF in the first round with Miami. Yeah. Uh, tell us a little bit about what are the challenges of playing tennis in this conference?
Speaker 2 00:19:36 Yeah. You know, I think it's a conference where, so I just come from a power five conference and you could see, this is a conference where we talk, you could see, I know a lot of teams between like power six and I definitely think, you know, like you said, we had how many teams, again, in the top four teams in the top 40, um, it just shows how, you know, deep college tennis is right now. And I think it's a conference where, um, you know, we can, we can be competitive. And if you got a, you know, if you're making runs at a championship games, you're gonna be gonna the NCAAs. So I think it's, uh, it's great. You know, that's what we wanna do. We wanna be competing with the best and trying to win championships. So I think it's a conference where yeah, we can, we can, uh, get that tough, tough competition every week. And, um, you know, we don't have a set season schedule, but we try to schedule as many conference teams as possible throughout the year. So we get to conference, you know, we've kind of seen each other, we know what, what we need to do. So, uh, yeah, it's a tough conference, excited to, to compete in it and see what we can do in it.
Speaker 1 00:20:38 So college athletics is going through a big transition period. I think everybody's trying to figure it out from the fans. Do the coaches with, uh, transfer portal, name, image, and likeness. Uh, how do you as a new head coach begin to navigate that and, and make decisions?
Speaker 2 00:20:55 Yeah, it's, uh, interesting times I know a young head coach, but I think even in my time, things have changed so much in my, you know, 10, 12 years in college athletics. So I think, um, yeah, just, you know, staying updated. I think we do a good job, uh, with compliance and everything just kinda being trained and knowing what's going on and rules changing and everything. But, um, just having the guys inform the players, inform the student athletes, knowing what's going on. Um, we have part of with open endorse, um, at our university. So I think it's been great that they had trainings and stuff for staff and for the athletes already. So they kind of understand what they can and can't do and how they can go, how they, like, you know, they can get little jobs or whatever, little deals on the side.
Speaker 2 00:21:39 And as it, for us international guys, they cannot do things. So when they're in America, they can do it when they're at home. So I think just they're aware, you know, like there's not really opportunity for them while they're here. So there's only a select few that we already have to focus on that can do it. Um, it's definitely changing it, I think in the power of five schools and the bigger sports, I think tennis, it's not there yet, but we'll see, you know, there's, uh, with all these different companies helping and you just go to your phone and accept the deal or whatever. So I think it's gonna be interesting to see how that develops and over the next couple of years, and if, you know, um, people can really, you know, make money off of it. And, um, I mean, if there's obviously some deals out there that are crazy, but, um, I think if they can, you know, make some extra money by doing something, I'm all for it, you know, why not, if, um, people are willing to pay and they're worth it, then why not?
Speaker 1 00:22:31 So you're 29. So you are very much or pretty close to this generation. Mm-hmm <affirmative> mean you're gonna be coaching people who are 22 or, or 23. Do you think that helps you with the adjustment to, to some of the changes that are going on in college athletics?
Speaker 2 00:22:45 Definitely. I think, yeah. Cause I understand like the social media stuff and all that. So, you know, lot of our job is on social media with recruiting and everything. So I think, uh, it really helps, you know, just kind of understand when they're talking about things or if these changes are happening, I'm kind of aware and understand how, how this, uh, how they go about it. If it's a new app or this or that, you know, I kind of understand it what, what they have to do. So, and everything that helps. And I can just have conversations with them about it and just see if they're like, Hey, I got this deal. I did that. I kind of, I have an idea and I'm not completely lost. And just out of it, you know, maybe wish I had this when I was in college or I could use it when I was back home or whatever, but I think it's pretty cool and, um, just helps 'em build a brand for themselves and they can kind of start thinking like too from a young age. So I think it can really, you know, if they do it the right way, they can, they can, uh, make something out of it.
Speaker 1 00:23:36 I'm glad you brought up social media. I think that's an interesting part of recruiting mm-hmm <affirmative> and maybe not everybody is, you know, aware or understands its importance. How, how would you describe it? How much do you use the social media?
Speaker 2 00:23:47 Oh yeah. I mean, if, when I was getting recruiter, it was more like Facebook messenger and like some WhatsApps now it's like Instagram and you know, you're trying to, you're trying to like search people, send the messages and hope they respond and some respond some don't, you know, adding friends on Facebook and yeah, it's everything, you know, between myself and Connor were going at all avenues and it's going to tournaments getting WhatsApp numbers, staying in contact. So yeah, it's definitely a big aspect and you know, you gotta also, you get to know a lot about people through their social media. So, you know, you're looking through how do they represent themselves and you know, if that's some something you wanna bring to your team, so it can really tell you a lot about people. So we do our homework that way too.
Speaker 1 00:24:29 So if you are an athlete in Europe or south America, does social media really make it feel like you are more comfortable, more familiar because you've seen pictures, you can talk, you know, you can talk to people yeah. As it might have been 25 or 30 years ago. Is
Speaker 2 00:24:46 That a difference? Yeah, definitely. I think you can learn a lot about them. You can kind of, um, you know, sometimes they have tennis videos on there, they get tagged in videos, you can kind of get to know more about their game, how are they training? Um, so that's definitely something that, uh, I think it's a benefit for coaches. And I think, you know, before you'd have to travel, get to see them in person. Now you kind of just go on a zoom call or FaceTime or whatever, and you can kind of get that face to face contact and conversation. So I think that's important and can really help build those relationships faster than in the past
Speaker 1 00:25:17 Last thing. And then I'll let you go. You mentioned your work at a, uh, as a club professional earlier, and it's always interesting, you know, I think all the sports here have connections with the community mm-hmm <affirmative>, but I, I really think that's important in tennis with the tennis community, uh, and Colin and foster, the women's coach and Danny Bryan, the previous men's coach put a lot of time in that, whether it was through clinics or playing themselves and inviting people on campus, those kind of things. Mm-hmm <affirmative> why is that connection with the Wichita tennis community? Why, why is that important to this program?
Speaker 2 00:25:47 Yeah, I think that's something that's special here too. Um, all the programs I've been part of in the past, there's been little bits of it, but here, you know, we have our Monday night lead. That was our big fundraiser in the start of, uh, the fall. And that's just something that Danny and co done tremendous work previous in the previous years. And, um, I've been looking enough to kind of come into it and it's already established and now it's just, you know, keeping the relationships, you know, we've got some amazing donors and just people in this community that just love tennis and just love Wichita state athletics. So being lucky enough, like hit the ground, running with that and just kind of getting to know people right away and just, you know, the women play at the Wichita country club, you know, myself and calling the clinic there one night, just kinda get to know members and know people in the, in the area. So I think that's very important. I think it makes, you know, the experience for the student athletes and they're playing games, you know, to have people out there supporting them, they already have kind of a relationship with them. They, you know, the people are there to actually support them. They know them. My first name, they know them, uh, makes them more exciting. Makes that student athlete experience just more fun for, for the people involved.
Speaker 3 00:26:58 Hi, this is Rick NEMA, president of Wichita state university. Check out the latest episode of the forward together podcast. Each episode, I sit down with different guests from shocker nation to celebrate the vision and mission of Wichita state university. Listen, wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 1 00:27:27 Thank you for listening to the roundhouse podcast, courtesy of Wichita state university's strategic communications. We appreciate your time. We encourage you to rate reviews, subscribe wherever you get your podcast, such as on iTunes or Google play. You can find more roundhouse
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Speaker 4 00:27:48 And they let him pass it up court. And then he gets picked off along three by Pango. No good. One second. It's over its over and Wichita state pass beaten the number one team in the nation to go to the sweet 16. Go crazy with Utah. I know you are.
