Feb. 2, 2010 issue
I met Bob England (Eastern Michigan University's
Rec/IM director) in 1987 at a national conference in New Orleans. I was
working in the student recreation/intramural program at Texas A&M
at the time. He had a position available here. When he first told me about
the position, I said "No," because I was very happy at Texas A & M.
Then, I thought about it. Someone wanted to give me an opportunity. So,
I interviewed here and was hired as assistant director of intramurals
in 1987.
In 1994, I started getting calls once a week from Lou Marciani, who was
the executive director of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in Indianapolis.
He gave me my first job in the field and was trying to lure me there.
I loved what I was doing here but, again, here was someone who gave me
a chance.
I eventually came back. Bob England gave me a call in 2006 and said his
assistant director was thinking of going to Western Michigan. I applied
for the job and was fortunate enough to get it. I returned in January
2007.
There had been some changes. We now have a great outdoor softball complex,
which is second to none. It has an underground sprinkler
system, restrooms, storage space, and a concession stand.
With the old Rec/IM fields, we had a Port-A-John and we used
to handle equipment working out of a van. Now, we have
a storage facility on site.
I am the coordinator of intramural sports. I do everything from scheduling
activities, officials' training, getting teams signed up
for at least 25 intramural activities, courtside inventory
and managing the outdoor intramural sports complex.
The thing I enjoy more than anything is the day-to-day interaction with
students. I give each student at the managers' meeting
my business card. I tell them my door is always open and they can call
me any time. I love student development. The intramural student supervisors
manage the activities in the evening. They gain great management skills.
Several students who started working intramurals liked what they saw
and switched their majors to sports management degrees. Of the students
who have worked for me, seven or eight are intramural directors at other
schools now.
I love the students, working with my co-workers and colleagues, and everything
about my job. Eastern Michigan University is a great place
to work and make lifelong friends. If I could change anything, I would
skip the winter months. I don't care too much for the cold weather. — Contributed
by Ron Podell
