Ohio student-athletes have the luxury of checking back into their residence halls before the rest of the student body because of preseason training. By the time the incoming class gets acquainted with campus, the Bobcats will be well on the road to Mid-American Conference play.
But before cleats start hitting the turf in Peden Stadium or the squeaking of sneakers returns to The Convo on a regular basis, someone has to make sure the playing surface is ready for action.
For Ohio Athletics personnel, the season never really ends.
In some respects, preparing student-athletes for battle is more taxing than watching them compete.
When you see these four faces around campus, smile and get out of their way, because they’re probably on a mission.
Dan Hauser, Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations
Hauser went on the record after the Bobcats’ Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory in December, saying that Ohio was in a good financial position to make an NCAA Tournament run because it had not used too much of the department’s Postseason Opportunity Fund.
That being said, he was one of the first — if not the first — to predict a tournament run for the Bobcats. But that’s Hauser’s job.
Whether it’s on the court, gridiron or in the front office, he’s one of the first to make sure that Ohio is ahead of the game.
Jim Harris, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development
Schaus has said there were donation checks coming across his desk nearly every day in the spring. Most of them might well have been endorsed with Harris’ signature.
Harris has made donor-relations trips to the West Coast, south and Midwest.
In the mix for the upcoming year are renovations to the men’s basketball and football locker rooms and breaking ground on an $11 million multipurpose facility.
It’s easy to say that Harris has a good handle on donor outreach, as supporters are funding each of the projects in its entirety.
Jim Schaus, Director of Athletics
Ever since his time as an undergraduate, Schaus has had an Athens connection. Well, kind of. Every day, when he goes to work in his Convocation Center office, Schaus might be reminded of his time at Purdue, because the Boilermakers’ Mackey Arena is a near replica of Ohio’s facility.
Whatever he’s doing is working, as he is responsible for turning Ohio’s $2.3 million Athletics deficit budget into a more sustainable model since 2007.
Tricia Turley Brandenburg, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance
Whether for a quick tip on offseason recruiting regulations, social media guidelines or NCAA rule updates, Turley Brandenburg is on every coach’s speed dial.
She serves as a liaison for Ohio’s approximately 425 student-athletes and their coaches.
The Bobcats had seven self-reported minor NCAA infractions in 2011-12, down from 16 the season before.
Brandenburg has helped the Bobcats stay out of the NCAA’s doghouse in her four years in Athens. Ohio is one of only several schools not to be nabbed with a major violation in its history.
jr992810@ohiou.edu
