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Press Conference with Chris Clunie – Davidson College Athletic Director

by | Jul 24, 2018 | News, Sports

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Chris Clunie was introduced as Director of Athletics in front of a standing room only crowd in the Harry L. Vance Center’s Red Ventures Athletic Club Monday afternoon. Clunie, a 2006 graduate of Davidson, takes the helm of the Wildcats following a decade long role with the NBA.

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson College President Carol Quillen and Associate Athletic Director Dick Cooke, introduced Chris Clunie as Director of Athletics in front of a standing room only crowd in the Harry L. Vance Center’s Red Ventures Athletic Club Monday afternoon.

Clunie stepped to the podium after being introduced by Quillen, and began his remarks with words of thanks to Davidson for the confidence to hire him, to the NBA for the opportunities and challenges over the past ten years, and to his family for supporting him during the transition. He then took the time to highlight words of thanks for the late Dean of Students, the Rev. Dr. William Holt Terry. Clunie was a recipient of a Terry Scholarship as a student at Davidson. An article on the college’s web site said this about the Terry Scholarship program and the man who it honored:

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson College President Carol Quillen was on hand Monday afternoon to introduce Chris Clunie as Director of Athletics in front of a standing room only crowd in the Harry L. Vance Center’s Red Ventures Athletic Club.

  • The Terry Scholarship is one of Davidson College’s preeminent merit awards; its design acknowledges Terry’s belief that leaders are made, not born. The scholarship’s recipients form a cohort of students chosen for their potential for leadership and growth both on campus and in their careers and lives after Davidson. The scholarship program challenges and strengthens students-more than 80 and counting-through mentorship, networking, and unique opportunities to interact with established and recognized local and national leaders.
  • Terry regarded his scholars as a second family; indeed, much like a family, he hosted monthly dinners for the scholars at his home, occasions complete with a home cooked meal and invited speakers. For alumni scholars, he hosted biennial reunions in Davidson, and he involved them when interviewing scholarship applicants.

Clunie then pivoted to talk about the successes of the Davidson athletic program, and the things he wants to do to take the program to the next level. He identified four focus areas: Consistency, Accountability, Teamwork, and Success. (C-A-T-S).

He said the following about describing accountability to his coaches: “You have to hold your student-athletes accountable, and you have to be vulnerable enough for them to hold you accountable. . .and they also need to hold me accountable, because I’m for sure going to hold them accountable.”

Davidson’s new athletic director, Chris Clunie.

Clunie also took the time to ask all of the coaches, athletic staff, and administrators to raise their hand. He thanked them, and highlighted the importance of the team effort and said “it’s about all of us together.”

A former Wildcats basketball player from the class of ’06, Clunie takes the athletics helm after working for the San Antonio Spurs and, for the past decade, the NBA. He rose through a series of roles with increasing rank and responsibility that took him to more than 30 countries. He credited his Watson Fellowship following graduation for serving as a springboard into his work with the NBA.

He recently served as the NBA’s director for international basketball operations, bringing elite development programs, coaching workshops and other major events to nations across the globe. He also oversaw basketball operations for NBA All-Star Weekend and the NBA Draft Combine.

Clunie replaces Jim Murphy, who stepped down after nearly a quarter-century leading athletics. Clunie started July 1 following a national search.

For more information on Clunie click here.

[This article is an expanded version of a press release issued by Davidson College Sports Information.]

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