Northeastern Voice

Administration affirms commitment to athletic excellence

Athletic Director Peter Roby explains his recommendations for Husky sports. / Craig Bailey

A focus on student-athletes — and on their academic as well as athletic success — and a commitment to exellence highlighted Athletic Director Peter Roby's recommendations culminating a comprehensive review of the university's athletic programs.

That review was conducted in collaboration with the Athletics Review Panel, with members representing a broad cross-section of university stakeholders.

In addition, a groundbreaking fund-raising initiative will add renewed vigor to Northeastern's athletic program, which moves forward with all 19 teams competing at the highest levels, said Roby.

His top-to-bottom review of the athletic program, following his appointment as director in June, was intended to determine "how we achieve and sustain excellence, across the entire scope of athletics, in the long term," said Roby, at an event Tuesday unveiling the recommendations he has made to President Joseph Aoun for the future of Husky athletics.

Among those recommendations:

• Northeastern "will continue to support a full complement of intercollegiate programs. … There will be no change in the offerings."
• Pending trustee approval, the university will "infuse the athletic budget with additional resources," mostly focused at staff and infrastructure.
• "For the first time in Northeastern's history," there will be a fund-raising initiative specifically targeted to athletics. It will be led by trustee emeritus George Behrakis, "one of the most loyal and generous people and alumni that Northeastern has ever known."
• Roby and other administrators will concentrate on "a long-range plan to assess and find solutions to our facilities issues."

He said he is committed to "working with a number of constituency groups" at Northeastern on the future of athletics, and hopes to meet with both alumni and students to continue the discussion started during last fall's meetings of the Athletics Review Panel.

At Tuesday's event, Roby thanked the group — led by trustee Carole Shapazian — for its "support, insight, feedback and candid contributions."

In response to questions, Roby said Northeastern belongs in the Colonial Athletic Association, which is both competitive and aspirational for Husky teams.

He also pointed to Aoun's enthusiam for a stronger athletics program.

"The biggest reason I'm excited about where we're headed is President Aoun's support," Roby said.