Siena University Athletics

1.) Win… conference championships:  Winning conference championships is a goal for all of us.  That means finishing among the top four, be it a team sport or an individual sport where every team is invited to the championship.  All of us need to do our part to put our teams in a position to win a championship!  Given who we are and what we have, it is not unrealistic to compete for a championship every year. 

2.) Recruit… the right student athletes (people):   Enrolling talented student athletes is A MUST.  All of us—coaches, student athletes, staff—play a role in the recruitment process.  Coaches must actively recruit prospects who are athletically talented enough to meet the objective above, committed to graduating from Siena in four years and are good citizens.  Watching prospects at tournaments, games, showcases, etc. is required of all coaches whether part time or full time.   Student athletes play a critical role in the recruitment process. Recruits respect and look up to current athletes – act and dress accordingly when hosting a prospect.  When hosting a prospect, student athletes are expected to do so in a responsible manner and in accordance to university and NCAA rules. 

3.) Disciplined…program:  Coaches are expected to run a disciplined program. Student athletes are expected to respect their coaches, teammates, opponents, game staff and officials.  Being a coach and being a student athlete at Siena is a privilege. No one is entitled to a special standing in the Siena athletic department or at the university in general.  Everyone associated with Siena athletics will respect the community, act in a responsible manner and adhere to all rules, regulations and policies of Siena. If rules, laws, etc. are violated; coaches, student athletes, staff and administrators should expect to be disciplined. 

4.) Committed… expect the best:  Everyone has a unique value and is expected to bring that value to the team to their fullest extent.  Coaches will demand commitment to athletics and academics from their team members and expect each student athlete to give their best efforts that will lead to graduating and winning. Staff and administrators shall expect the same in their areas and will be committed to providing a dynamic environment for our student athletes and coaches. Being in athletics is a year-round commitment not a seasonal one. 

5.) Humility:  Coaches, student athletes, staff and administrators will be humble and thankful.  All of us need to respect people in authority, faculty, the people in their living community, alumni, fans, fellow students, each other, and those that work long hours to provide them with a quality environment in which our student athletes  live, learn and compete. Part of being humble is showing support for fellow athletes and other students on campus by supporting them in what they do.  Give support and you will get it back.  Common courtesy is important - SAY THANK YOU! 
 
6.) Graduate:  Coaches will instill into their student athletes the expectation that they will complete their degree requirements. There will be no promises of athletic aid beyond the length of a student’s designated program. Staff and administrators will stress academics in all that we do. Complete your degree or program requirements within the standard duration of the program.

7.) Accountable:  All of us in the department – coaches, staff, administrators and student athletes – will be held accountable for our actions. Supervisors will be accountable for the personnel that report to them. 

8.) Appreciate (No whining):  Coaches will not complain to students, university administrators, alumni, and others about what they do not have.   All of us will do our job with what is given to us and expect results.  We have enough to compete for championships in all of our sports.  If we need more, let’s work together to define the need and what we can do together to realize it.  All of us—coaches and staff—need to focus on being successful as opposed to what we ‘need’ to be successful.  Focus on winning and not whining. 

9.) Communicate:  We will talk face-to-face. Email, voice mail, text message, and other forms of digital communications, have a place, but face-to-face communication in a timely and professional manner is best. Pick up the phone.  Knock on the door.  If there are problems, we should meet and work together to solve them, which means talking to each other and looking for solutions as a team first.

10.) Integrity:  All of us will do all of the above the right way and within the rules of all the communities in which we live.  Adherence to NCAA rules is expected.   If the pending actions of coaches and/or students are questionable, then guidance from the department’s compliance personnel is required. That expectation exists for staff and administrators as well.   Ask questions before taking action. 

#MarchOn!