Before he said one word, Derrick Gragg was ingratiated
into the Eastern Michigan University fold.
He took a short walk down the podium
and shook hands vigorously with Swoop, EMU's
eagle mascot, and exchanged greetings with some of EMU's
cheerleaders.
Gragg, 36, deputy athletic director at the University
of Arkansas, was named as the new athletic director for
Eastern Michigan University at a Feb. 21 press conference
in the Convocation Center atrium.
 |
A NEW BEGINNING: Derrick Gragg addresses
a
question during a Feb. 21 press conference where
he
was introduced as Eastern Michigan University's
new
athletic director. Gragg, who will take the
reins April
1, said the EMU Athletics Department needs to
concentrate
on winning Mid-American Conference
championships
and stress accountabilityin
in all
facets of the program. |
"This is a great day for EMU. I absolutely thank (EMU)
President Fallon," Gragg said before a large crowd that
gathered for the announcement. "His
vision for the University is what is bringing me here.
Not a lot of presidents will step out and make athletics
a high concern."
Fallon said Gragg brings an impressive record in athletic
administration to EMU.
"In Derrick Gragg, I simply know, I know we have the
right person to do all the right
things to move us forward," Fallon said. "This
is what others had to say about him: He's ethical and experienced
and visionary and committed to student athletics. These
are key characteristics in a search for an athletic director.
He's walked the walk and talked the talk."
Despite some recent down years for EMU's big revenue sports,
Gragg said this is not a situation of an athletic department
starting from scratch. He pointed to the success of the
women's basketball team, the long, storied history of the
men's swimming and diving program and the women's volleyball
team winning the MAC West title this past fall.
"You're right there in football. You had three losses
by four points (last year). We have good coaches and good
student-athletes," he
said. "I feel the foundation is already here."
The Gragg File
Career: Takes over as EMU's athletic director
April 1. Currently deputy athletic director at
the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.
Quotable: "The university is the most important
thing. That's the team," Gragg said. "No one athlete,
coach or administrator is bigger than the university." Education: Doctorate in education from the University
of Arkansas-Fayetteville, master's degree in sports
administration from Wayne State University and a bachelor's
degree in human development from Vanderbilt University.
Family: Married to wife, Sanya.
They have three children; a daughter, Desha, 11,
and two sons, Avery, 7, and Phillip-Raymond, 3. |
Gragg
stressed he will support his coaches, give them what they
need to succeed and be accountable.
When asked, having already worked in the past at the University
of Michigan, what the position of EMU was in the local
sports marketplace, Gragg said, "We need to concentrate
on winning MAC championships. We can't dwell on another
institution. It takes care of itself. When you win MAC
championships, it leads to NCAA championships."
Gragg, who has a doctorate, stressed strong academics
is just as important, recognizing his mother, who was present,
as instilling education in him at an early age.
"There was no athletics in our household without academics,"
he said.
Gragg, joined the University of Arkansas' athletic department
in 2000 as associate athletic director. In 2003, he was
promoted to senior associate athletic director and then
deputy director. During his tenure there, he was responsible
for a number of areas including: athletic administration
management, sport program oversight, marketing, recruitment,
budget, student-athlete support, compliance, facilities
and game management, and fundraising and research.
Fundraising, which University officials have stressed
would be a key responsibility for the new athletic director
during the search process, is an area in which Gragg elaborated.
Gragg said he recently worked as a development liasion
on a $5-$10 million campaign for the department of African
American Studies, where he is an adjunct faculty member.
He also has played a role, at least for the past six years,
in the University of Arkansas' ability to build $200 million
in new athletic facilities in the last 10-15 years.
Gragg said his workplace philosophy centers around accountability,
attitude, excellence, integrity, intensity, integration,
orientation, and university.
"The university is the most important thing. That's the
team," Gragg said. "No one athlete, coach or administrator
is bigger than the university."
Prior to joining the University of Arkansas, Gragg was
an assistant athletic director at the University of Michigan,
director of compliance and operations at the University
of Missouri, and director of student life and academic counselor
for athletics at Vanderbilt University.
Gragg received his doctorate in education from the University
of Arkansas-Fayetteville, his master's degree in sports
administration from Wayne State University and his bachelor's
degree in human development from Vanderbilt University.
He and his wife, Sanya, have a daughter, Desha, 11, and
two sons, Avery, 7, and Phillip-Raymond, 3.
"Derrick has served as a senior level athletic
administrator at four Division I institutions and received
accolades for his work at each," Fallon said. "He has the
administrative skills and the vision for what a program
at this level should be that make him a perfect fit for
Eastern Michigan University."
Gragg is expected to start his duties April 1, according
to EMU Sports Information Director Jim Streeter. Gragg
was chosen from a pool of five candidates, which was narrowed
to two by a search committee, with President Fallon making
the final choice, Streeter said.
Before Gragg was introduced, Fallon lauded Bob England,
who has served as interim athletic director since April
2005 after former athletic director David Diles left to
take the athletic director position at Case Western Reserve.
"I thank him for his outstanding service and the way
he stepped up and juggled his responsibilities as interim
athletic director and director of the Rec/IM," Fallon said "I
want to thank him for his selfless service to EMU. Bob
bleeds green."
After the press conference, a reception for Gragg took
place in the Stadium Club.
