By Nate Sanchez
Staff Writer
William Lansden, Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Relations at the University of Alabama-Birmingham was the second finalist for CSUB’s Athletics Director position to come to campus. Lansden’s plan to further the mission of the Athletics Department at CSUB was two-pronged: Improve the welfare of student-athletes and generate revenue. For Lansden, improving the welfare of student-athletes means to assess and improve the current classroom environment as well as graduation rates. Lansden stressed the fact that student-athletes are students first.
“I have three expectations for our student-athletes,” Lansden said. “Graduate, get a job, and win championships; in that order. Every day at UAB I see the impact of a free education from athletics.” Lansden also mentioned the need to enhance services, including increasing medical staff and making more equipment available to them.
The next part of Lansden’s plan to further the mission of CSUB athletics is to generate revenue. This includes increasing awareness and solidifying a presence in the community. Much like Harris, community outreach is integral to Lansden’s plan.
“We are the front porch of the university,” Lansden said. “An athletic director can increase the awareness of our university as a brand. To do that, you have to be out in the community.” Lansden said if he were appointed the position, administrators, coaches and their teams must be in the community by being involved with a local charity.
“At UAB, we put on clinics for kids in the community,” Lansden said. “You can bet those kids come to get close to the teams, then go home and tell their friends and family, ‘I want to go to UAB.’ That’s what we want.”
Lansden said that should he be appointed the position, he would use the first 100 days as a time to learn and gather information about the current situation of the Athletic Department.
“I think itwould be arrogant for me to jump in and run the show from day one,” Lansden said. “I would take that time to meet with key individuals in the staff, student-athletes, coaches and community leaders to address our immediate needs to form a plan of action.”
Lansden has a Masters Degree of Science in Sport Administration from Georgia State University.
