Marilyn
McNeil
Final candidate offers solution
to integration
By
Mario Burciaga
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
The last candidate vying for Cal State Long Beach’s athletic director
position appeared before the Committee on Athletics Wednesday, emphasizing
the importance of academics and a strong athlete-coach relationship.
“I’m a career athletics person,” said Marilyn McNeil current
athletic director at Monmouth University, New Jersey. “I knew from seventh
grade what I wanted to be.”
McNeil introduced herself by saying she started coaching at a very young age
and has continued that path ever since.
She said she holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the
University of Calgary, Canada, a master’s degree from McGill University,
Montreal, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Washington
State University.
McNeil said she would answer questions using only her experience as athletic
director at Monmouth University.
She said the most important thing she does at Monmouth University is maintain
a great relationship with the coach and the student athlete.
“I’m here to make sure that there is a great student-coach relationship
and environment.”
McNeil emphasized the importance of an athlete-coach relationship. Her response
to communication led to the discussion of perhaps the biggest issue—the
integration of academics and athletics.”
McNeil said her main focus is tutoring and summer school. She said she realizes
the large number of athletes who need to take remedial classes and the support
that should be offered. She suggested academic support by initiating a system
like the one in place at Monmouth University where students receive one-on-one
tutoring, laptop lending allowing student athletes to do homework on the road,
and a computerized attendance program which notifies coaches if student athletes
miss class.
“One of the biggest ways to be successful is to go to class,” McNeil
said. “Academics are critical for recruitment and something has to be done
for student athletes.”
McNeil was named Canadian College Coach of the Year in 1979 where she coached
basketball, volleyball, track and field, and curling at the University of Calgary,
Vanier College. She has been the athletic director at Monmouth University for
the last 12 years but had an eight-year stint at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo,
as head coach for women’s basketball and as a physical education teacher,
then as associate director of athletics.
When asked about CSULB reinstating a football program in the athletic department,
McNeil said every school is different and football may not be right for The
Beach but she just doesn’t know enough to make a decision.
The former athletic director, Bill Shumard, left CSULB last summer leaving
Cindy Masner as interim athletic director. Since Shumard’s departure,
the administration has been seeking a new athletic director, with President
F. King Alexander making the final decision.
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