Page 12 - Fall 2017 | Rochester Athletics | University of Rochester

Spotlight
ANDREA

GOLDEN

Associate Director of Varsity Programs

What are the biggest challenges in music and in theater; that is, you are
of your job? performing in real time with each contest.
And, creativity happens when events
When you are in an administrative role, you are live, be it on the soccer eld or in the
must be all-in. You live for each day, but you concert hall. The team or orchestra makes
must project 6, 9, and even 12 months in the magic happen; the coach or conductor
advance. Each day is dierent and surprises must move things along; and the spectators
happen. For example, once in bidding to and audience add energy and excitement. In
host two postseason men’s and women’s all of these live “performances,” our students
soccer events, we were assured by NCAA learn how to play well and they learn how to
that we would not receive two bids on the improvise—skills that serve them well later
same weekend. Then suddenly a venue in life.
adjustment was made and we ended up
hosting both events on the same day, which
involved six teams. The unexpected can With such a busy job, how do you
happen so it is important to stay exible. relax?
I enjoy running and cycling along with
What’s changed over time here? studying the strategy of sports. With a
master’s degree in sports history, I am
The attention to athletics has denitely fascinated in what denes a “sport.” What
Andrea Golden, associate director of varsity evolved over time. From renovation and qualies it to be a competitive activity,
programs, joined the University of Rochester construction programs—including, most what are the challenges and the rules, and
in 1996 and has been a key player within notably, the Goergen Athletic Center and what happens when you are challenged by
Athletics ever since. Here, she talks about the Prince Athletic Complex—the University nature, a person, or yourself. I am interested
her job, career, and life. has made serious investments and in wilderness sports, such as hiking,
improvements to our facilities. Another big backpacking, canoeing, and kayaking.
change has been with technology. Students
As an associate director of varsity and parents have vastly dierent ways of
programs, what do you do? communicating than they did 20 years ago What do you love about sports?
and very dierent expectations. We have
I work closely with many wonderful people to be on top of this, by knowing about the Sport has this tremendous ability to
to make sure that our athletic programs run latest technology, from using social media energize us and to help us feel alive. This is
as seamlessly as possible, such as the 150 to live-streaming games. We will always do as true for basketball as it is for backcountry
home events that we host every year, all of what is needed to provide a rich, top-notch skiing and marathon running. The power of
which I strive to attend. I am fortunate that I and well-rounded educational experience sports continues to sustain why I am here
work at what I set out to do in college, which for our students and coaches. and do what I do. I thrive on being a part
was to be a teacher and a coach in health of creating an experience for our students
and physical education. Over the years, that fuels them today and triggers great
teaching and coaching has aorded me Why are sports important to oer memories tomorrow.
the opportunity to instruct at Smith, Ithaca, in an academic setting?
Harvard, and now Rochester.
I think of sport as a performing art. Sports
are live and closely mirror what happens

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