Welcome New AD Marvin Lewis

Patriot8

All-American
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
To be fair, what Taylor is asking is that those who are excited explain the reasons to him why they are excited - since it implies there is a basis for the excitement. That is all he is asking - why are others excited?

I am excited - but I'm NOT telling you why!!!!
My reasons for excitement:
- 15+ years of experience across 4 schools that operate at various levels

- Primarily a finance/business office background which means he has to touch every aspect of each department he was in. Understanding how each division within functions, budgetary needs, short falls, etc. He knows how a successful department needs to operate at every level.

- At Brown his role expanded to essentially overseeing the day to day operations of the entire department. He was in charge of external relations which placed him over out-facing marketing, development, and sponsorships, so while he doesn't have much direct experience on the external side, he got more of a taste of it at Brown, which can help him implement an overall vision and hire people to execute it day-to-day. In addition, he was the sport administrator for Basketball & Baseball at Georgia Tech, and Lacrosse at Maryland.

Most ADs are going to take two paths, Internal Administration or External Outreach. I can understand why someone would prefer an AD who took the external path, but the qualities a seasoned administrator brings are equally as important. You can raise all the money in the world, but if it's not being used correctly, then it's not all that beneficial to the overall department.

I've worked in collegiate athletics for about 10 years. I've seen both prototypes succeed, and i've seen both fail. Part of that experience was in the Ivy League and I can assure you that moving from a 2nd in command role in the Ivy, to an AD role at Mason isn't some astronomical jump. It's clear that Lewis took the job at Brown, in part, to round out his resume in hopes of becoming an AD. I know two people, one of which is a Mason grad, who have worked alongside Lewis at 2 separate stops, and both have great things to say. Again, an AD is only as good as the people he hires, so let's hope he hires well.
 

gmujim92

Hall of Famer
GIVING DAY 2023
My reasons for excitement:
- 15+ years of experience across 4 schools that operate at various levels

- Primarily a finance/business office background which means he has to touch every aspect of each department he was in. Understanding how each division within functions, budgetary needs, short falls, etc. He knows how a successful department needs to operate at every level.

- At Brown his role expanded to essentially overseeing the day to day operations of the entire department. He was in charge of external relations which placed him over out-facing marketing, development, and sponsorships, so while he doesn't have much direct experience on the external side, he got more of a taste of it at Brown, which can help him implement an overall vision and hire people to execute it day-to-day. In addition, he was the sport administrator for Basketball & Baseball at Georgia Tech, and Lacrosse at Maryland.

Most ADs are going to take two paths, Internal Administration or External Outreach. I can understand why someone would prefer an AD who took the external path, but the qualities a seasoned administrator brings are equally as important. You can raise all the money in the world, but if it's not being used correctly, then it's not all that beneficial to the overall department.

I've worked in collegiate athletics for about 10 years. I've seen both prototypes succeed, and i've seen both fail. Part of that experience was in the Ivy League and I can assure you that moving from a 2nd in command role in the Ivy, to an AD role at Mason isn't some astronomical jump. It's clear that Lewis took the job at Brown, in part, to round out his resume in hopes of becoming an AD. I know two people, one of which is a Mason grad, who have worked alongside Lewis at 2 separate stops, and both have great things to say. Again, an AD is only as good as the people he hires, so let's hope he hires well.
This … plus much of the old guard in the AD has moved on already. There should be plenty of opportunity for Lewis to put his thumbprint on the department right away and establish that however things worked in the past, those days are most definitely over.

At least he comes from a basketball background and won’t be best known for his exploits in a sport Mason doesn’t sponsor lol.
 

GSII

Hall of Famer
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GOLD SPONSOR
GIVING DAY 2023
Not in depth, but I’m also not the one claiming to have known about this for weeks and am celebrating the hire. If you have the answers please do share them — because absolutely nothing anyone has posted yet has anything that he has actually done other than being named to a list of up and comers, which depending on the organization could be something that you just know people on or make a timely donation to the cause for recognition.

So educate me, what has he done that makes you confident he’s going to be well placed to address our fundraising, infrastructure, and declining attendance issues?

Kim hadn't won a single game before Mason and he did average enough to get a good gig. When you go young, you can't ask these dumb questions. It's based on his future potential. Kinda like your first time with your partner. They gave you a shot when had never done it before. Gotta start somewhere even if the pickings are slim. Honestly, I'm just glad someone wanted the job.
 

GMUgemini

Hall of Famer
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Kim hadn't won a single game before Mason and he did average enough to get a good gig. When you go young, you can't ask these dumb questions. It's based on his future potential. Kinda like your first time with your partner. They gave you a shot when had never done it before. Gotta start somewhere even if the pickings are slim. Honestly, I'm just glad someone wanted the job.

That’s the spirit…nice backhanded commentary there.

I’m assuming everyone who is super negative wanted another Brad Edwards type?
 

Falco

Hall of Famer
GIVING DAY 2023
I’m assuming everyone who is super negative wanted another Brad Edwards type?
I thought we get a second in charge from a P5. Someone who’s been navigating NILs with success, not an Ivy League. Ivy League’s don’t prioritize athletics.. but maybe that’s why he wanted to leave Brown.
 

tblack33

Hall of Famer
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
My reasons for excitement:
- 15+ years of experience across 4 schools that operate at various levels

- Primarily a finance/business office background which means he has to touch every aspect of each department he was in. Understanding how each division within functions, budgetary needs, short falls, etc. He knows how a successful department needs to operate at every level.

- At Brown his role expanded to essentially overseeing the day to day operations of the entire department. He was in charge of external relations which placed him over out-facing marketing, development, and sponsorships, so while he doesn't have much direct experience on the external side, he got more of a taste of it at Brown, which can help him implement an overall vision and hire people to execute it day-to-day. In addition, he was the sport administrator for Basketball & Baseball at Georgia Tech, and Lacrosse at Maryland.

Most ADs are going to take two paths, Internal Administration or External Outreach. I can understand why someone would prefer an AD who took the external path, but the qualities a seasoned administrator brings are equally as important. You can raise all the money in the world, but if it's not being used correctly, then it's not all that beneficial to the overall department.

I've worked in collegiate athletics for about 10 years. I've seen both prototypes succeed, and i've seen both fail. Part of that experience was in the Ivy League and I can assure you that moving from a 2nd in command role in the Ivy, to an AD role at Mason isn't some astronomical jump. It's clear that Lewis took the job at Brown, in part, to round out his resume in hopes of becoming an AD. I know two people, one of which is a Mason grad, who have worked alongside Lewis at 2 separate stops, and both have great things to say. Again, an AD is only as good as the people he hires, so let's hope he hires well.
Thank you for posting something actually insightful on it. Personally still don’t think it was a homerun hire, but I’ll be rooting for him to do well and spend our money wisely.
 

mkaufman1

Administrator
Staff member
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
As @Patriotsince81 always says, time will tell on whether this is a good hire or not.

We've discussed how it looks on paper and got some really good insight from @Patriot8 and @By George. on who he is with various other opinions throughout the thread.

We all know what Mason needs, and it doesn't matter if its a young up and comer or if its a proven commodity. We need someone who is going to come in, get crap done and elevate our existing infrastructure and experiences for our student athletes. It means everything from making sure they have the best place to workout, to the best place to recover after a game.

Its way too early to know what he will focus on or what he will actually accomplish but while the thread is hot, this is what I'd like to see. Maybe I'll come back in a few years and we'll see whats happened.

-Increase fundraising to the Patriot club. Right now they fund-raise about 2m a year and I believe we have about 700 members. I'd love to see that doubled or tripled.
- Have a specific plan with timelines for upgrading facilities such as
-Field House
-EBA
-Baseball Stadium (it never got finished)
-Soccer stadium
- Ensure that we have a specific named student section with a leader
-Hire a full staff to make sure that Athletics is not stretched thin. Get out there and get the money from big corporations.
- Actually create a sports hall of fame with criteria with plans to show off the best athletes Mason has ever had taken the court/field.
- Whatever can be done to support NIL from a school perspective, endorse it.

Of course, the rumored basketball facility has been in the works but yet to be announced. Hopefully he can make sure it goes through and maybe provide some more input.

A lot of the basics were improved under Brad. The video board, the lighting at EBA. Our social media has really taken off. Thats easy stuff. But we now have a coach that many of us have wanted for years and knew that KE was keeping the seat warm for. Tony is off to a great start, and now its Marvin's job to make sure that Tony has everything he wants and more.
 

bravesfan

Starter
GIVING DAY 2023
-Increase fundraising to the Patriot club. Right now they fund-raise about 2m a year and I believe we have about 700 members. I'd love to see that doubled or tripled.

Some Sophomore called me last night asking me to donate back to the Engineering department, but the Patriot Club has never done that.

At some point, though, I'm going to endow a Christopher James Jollay-Larranaga scholarship for the lulz.
 

mkaufman1

Administrator
Staff member
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
Some Sophomore called me last night asking me to donate back to the Engineering department, but the Patriot Club has never done that.

At some point, though, I'm going to endow a Christopher James Jollay-Larranaga scholarship for the lulz.
I don't think the Patriot Club does cold calls asking for money, but they do call to say thank you
 

TweederGMU

All-Conference
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Some Sophomore called me last night asking me to donate back to the Engineering department, but the Patriot Club has never done that.

At some point, though, I'm going to endow a Christopher James Jollay-Larranaga scholarship for the lulz.
I would hope that would have the essentials.... all you can eat Popeyes chicken of course.
 

mkaufman1

Administrator
Staff member
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
They might get to 705 members if they tried...

In all seriousness, that seems like a crazy low number with the alumni base Mason has.
Have no idea why its so low (obvious reasons aside) , but I suspect it probably reflects our season ticket holder numbers since the majority of our season ticket holders are members as well. Hopefully this number can grow a LOT.
 
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