When Rick Hart took the reins of the athletic department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga two years ago, he did so with a clear understanding of the things that matter – in life, in working with others, and in the pursuit of excellence. Since then, Hart has demonstrated that the achievement of goals is a process which requires commitment and drive.
“I think we’ve made a great deal of progress, yet we know that we still have much to do,” he comments. “Our goals are obviously broad and do encompass our vision of comprehensive excellence in everything we do. So, our focus is to make sure we get better every day.”
Three priorities which Hart identified in May 2006 include focus on the student athlete; operating with honesty, integrity, and the appropriate priorities; and engaging the community and aggressively seeking opportunities to expand and enhance the resources provided to student athletes, coaches, and staff. In assessing progress, Hart has emerged as a leader, holding himself, as well as others, accountable and serving as his own most discerning critic.
Developing and implementing a strategic plan has been instrumental thus far in gaining feedback from those with historical perspective and being responsive to concerns. UTC’s athletic program is, according to Rick, fiscally sound. Resources are being managed wisely in accordance with the strategic plan and during a time which is challenging economically and requires cuts in the base budget without compromising competitiveness.
“First, we had to make sure that we had a plan and that it was the right plan,” explains Hart. “It has met with the approval of the chancellor [Dr. Roger Brown] and is in alignment with the mission, values, and objectives of the institution. With that in place, we then installed the plan and communicated its vision. That is a process, and it starts with our own people, making sure the staff and coaches are aware of their roles. That is how you change a culture.”
While UTC athletic teams have remained competitive, winning more than a dozen Southern Conference championships in the last two years, other priorities are being addressed. Academic achievement is critical to success in all endeavors, and the NCAA Annual Progress Rate (APR) has improved, particularly in the football and wrestling programs, which have struggled in prior years. The APR is a measure of performance in the classroom, progress toward a degree, and retention of students in degree programs. For the last two years, data indicate that UTC’s programs are exceeding the NCAA standards on a year-over-year basis.
Hart remarks, “There are a couple of academic instruments that track progress and allow us to compare ourselves to our peers and to ourselves historically. After all, if we don’t provide our student athletes with degrees and position them for productive and meaningful lives after UTC, then we have failed in a number of areas. We are confident that what we are doing is going to improve retention and graduation rates.”
One of the primary components in the comprehensive UTC athletic program is the personal commitment and energy which Hart brings to the effort. As graduate of the University of North Carolina, he had previously worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee and the athletic departments at UNC, East Carolina University, and the University of Oklahoma before coming to Chattanooga. His father, Dave Hart, Jr., served for several years as the athletic director at Florida State University, while his grandfather, Dave Hart, Sr., was commissioner of the Southern Conference from 1987 to 1991.
Although the industry itself has changed dramatically from generation to generation, core values transcend the decades. Facing adversity, Hart says, is the true test of character. Persevering when it is convenient is simply not persevering at all.
“My father and grandfather do tell me that things have changed,” Rick reasons. “I recognize that, too, because I have been around it. What I have learned is that you can achieve success at the highest level and earn the respect of yourself and others and that the two are not mutually exclusive. You can do things the right way for the right reasons and still achieve everything you want to achieve. You can’t just say you are going a certain way. It is all about our actions.”
Spending time with his wife, Allison, and two children, Trevor, 9, and Caroline, 6, is Rick Hart’s greatest joy, while he does take time here and there to read – as his golf clubs gather dust in a corner. The positive blend of family life and work life has been complementary. In fact, it serves as an example of that non-exclusive philosophy. Hart is passionate and dedicated to both so much that he relishes the times when his own children are in the company of UTC student athletes.
“I grew up in a family of athletic administrators,” he smiles, “and one of the things I remember about that is that it didn’t seem unique at the time. I didn’t appreciate what was happening, and I had no preconceived notion of what a student athlete looked like or what sport they played. I now view them as one of the perks of my job and see that job as molding and shaping them. I believe in what I do so much that I try to have my kids around our coaches and student athletes as often as possible.”
An outstanding communicator, Hart seeks to involve the community more fully, engaging those who are passionate about UTC, and, in turn, seeing them pass the enthusiasm along to others. As for those involved closely with UTC athletics today, the commitment has reached all levels of the program.
“We have sixty-two guardians and advocates, which is what we call our full-time people,” Rick explains. “They are advocates for themselves, for the student-athletes, for the university, and for the community. We are involved in a process, and at first I’m sure there was more skepticism than there is now. Tomorrow, hopefully, there will be less than there is today. We want to inspire trust, provide direction, and get results. The more we are able to do that, the more people will see that what we are doing is important. It is a way of life, and I have always said that about the profession. It isn’t just a job you can come home and turn off.”
In the days ahead, Hart sees UTC athletics focused on achieving excellence in three key areas. The first is academics, with graduation rates increasing significantly and the APR for all of UTC’s seventeen athletic teams consistently exceeding NCAA benchmarks. The second is positioning each of UTC’s athletic teams to compete for conference, regional, and national championships through the effective and efficient management of resources. Third, and most important, is the preparation of student athletes for life after college, exposing them to mentors, developing leadership and marketable skills, while guiding, supporting, and encouraging them.
Along the way, one truly exciting vision for Hart is community pride. He sees the day when downtown businesses are festooned with flags and blue and gold signs in their windows. He hears the buzz and contagious excitement about upcoming UTC sports events and feels the acknowledgement of the effort put forth by the student athletes. He owns that vision and is willing to invest in it. He’ll even pass out the pompoms.