Scott Woodward Introduced as New Director of Athletics

Texas A&M University president Michael K. Young introduced Scott Woodward as the new Director of Athletics on Monday during a press conference inside Kyle Field's Hall of Champions.

A transcript of the press conference is posted below.

PRESIDENT YOUNG – OPENING STATEMENT: "It is with great pleasure that I formally announce the appointment of Mr. Scott Woodward as Texas A&M's new Director of Athletics. I firmly believe that athletics is an integral part of the academic enterprise. I know Scott shares that belief with me and as passionately as I do and that athletics is deeply embedded in the overall fabric of this great University. I know that because I had the pleasure of working closely with him while I was at the University of Washington for four years. If you've read anything about Scott it should be abundantly clear that he has had an exceptionally well-rounded background in higher education, having served with distinction in several key positions at several universities—at the University of Washington and at Louisiana State University as well. When he elected to enter the area of athletic administration, he brought that perspective—not only of the community's relationship with the university, but of the academic enterprise and its relationship with the athletic program as well. And you only have to look at what he did in a relatively short period of time at the University of Washington to understand his success in integrating that. We had budgetary challenges at the University of Washington, which in very short order Scott straightened out. He played a remarkable role in upgrading the university's football stadium. And what impressed me even more were the tremendous advancements he made toward improving the academic success of our student-athletes. UW ranked this year fourth in the Pac-12, but in a 10-year average it ranked second in the Pac-12 in terms of graduation rates and student-athlete performance, second only to Stanford University. Not to be overlooked, and of some importance to all of us here, during Scott's tenure they had 7 national championships, and multiple Pac-10 and Pac-12 titles, and Husky football made significant strides as well. Now I'm sure Scott is going to be very quick to say a lot of people had an important role in doing that, but there's no denying that he was at the helm and he was in charge. He'll be a great addition to our Aggie family—elevating our position in the SEC, strengthening Texas A&M University athletics, building on the strong foundation that our very good former athletic director engaged us and did with us. So it's with great pleasure that I am able to introduce Scott Woodward as our new Director of Athletics at Texas A&M University."

SCOTT WOODWARD – OPENING STATEMENT: "First of all, 'Howdy'. I'm glad to be here. Thank you so much President Young for those kind words. I want to thank you for this incredible opportunity to join the Aggie family. I am truly humbled and honored to serve as a steward of this Department of Athletics, and to put my passion and my heart and soul into this great institution. I do want to thank the incredible men and women at the University of Washington, a place which I've called home the last 11 years, as they have set a high bar of excellence. I will miss my colleagues, coaches, student-athletes, and I wish UW nothing but best. I also want to thank my wife, Nanette, and my sons, Josh and Michael, who couldn't be here today, for their unwavering support throughout my career. I know they all look forward to being Aggies.

"When President Young reached out to me to gauge my interest in this job, I thought hard about where I was in my career and what I wanted on my next step in my journey. What Texas A&M offers is opportunity. The opportunity to achieve greatness across the board. To win conference and national championships in everything we do. To recruit young men and women who will not only excel on the fields and in the classroom, but who will be tomorrow's leaders. The opportunity to play a national role in the future of intercollegiate athletics and to help shape the playing field for years to come. The opportunity to be part of something special. What I know from working at two different institutions is what makes a university great is just not the US News and World Report ranking, or the multi-million dollar facilities, or the stature and research record of our professors, or even the championships won on the fields. What makes a university great are its people. The 12^th Man. The real 12^th Man, not the one ripped off in Seattle (laughter). Those who are here now and those who came before, those who hold a degree and those who simply want to be part of something big. That's what it's about. And that is what's going to inspire everything we do at Texas A&M University. I am moved by the Aggie faithful, not just in College Station but around the world, who love everything about this place. I'm drawn to the people's traditions I have yet to experience, like the 12^th Man, Midnight Yell, and the Corps of Cadets. We will win here, but we will do so with class, integrity and honor. We will represent Texas A&M the right way. Again thank you President Young, and to all of you for coming out today, and for your continued support of Texas A&M. Gig 'em."

Illustrate a little bit more the determining factors, obviously you had a good situation going, but the familiarity with President Young and how much of a drawing point that was…

WOODWARD: "As President Young mentioned in his kind remarks to me, being part of something special in a big global way. This institution, being at the highest level—what we call the AAU, it's kind of the 'Good Housekeeping' of research universities. We're part of the greatest thing. And obviously the SEC, it goes without saying, is the greatest conference in athletics. That's rare air. It's a heck of an opportunity to come to a place where people are so passionate and care so much, not only about everything that we do but everything student-athletes do after their careers. It's so great to see. I remember as young man and throughout my career walking through airports or being in different places and seeing that ring. It means something to people. Nanette and I's neighbor, a wonderful couple named Warren and Connie Ogden. And they were all about Texas A&M all the time. They told us about these traditions. That's part of what it is. It's just great being back in this part of the world. That had a lot to do with it.

When were you first contacted about this position?

WOODWARD: "Well, President Young and I had a great relationship at Washington. When he came to Texas A&M he and I would frequently talk to each other about advice on different matters, whether it be university related, or politics, or athletics related. And we would joke around that 'Hey, maybe our paths would cross again'. We didn't get to seriously talking until about a week or two ago."

It's been reported that you're passionate about football. What do you expect in terms of daily involvement with the football program and your expectations for the football program?

WOODWARD: "Obviously at a university, all of our sports matter. They're our children. We care about all of our student-athletes and all of our coaches in what we do. But my management style is I really have to pay attention to our two revenue sports, men's basketball and football. I'll be very involved in a positive and constructive way, a collaborative way. I'm not a meddler, I'm not a micro-manager. I let the coaches be their chief operating officers and run it the way they see fit. We just want to come in and help them and benefit them in the best way possible and how we can best help our student-athletes."

Do you have a previous relationship with Kevin Sumlin, and also big-picture what do you see as your first task at Texas A&M?

WOODWARD: "I know Coach Sumlin. He came and visited our program while I was at Washington and he was at Houston. I know him casually, I wouldn't say intimately, and have high regard for him. I look forward to sitting down and talking with him.

"First task here is really listen, and learn. And really find out what we need to do and how we need to improve, to do the things that we want to do. I always like to steal what I'm sure our medical school would kick me in the shins for, the Hippocratic Oath. That's first do no harm. That's what I want to do. Make sure that I don't do any harm in the things that are right here. There is a lot, a lot right here. And that we continue to do it and continue to do it in the right way. But I also want to add value from an administrative standpoint. Hey, how can we help you as a program? How can we help you as a student-athlete do and accomplish the things that you want to do?

President Young, if you could take us through your knowledge of Scott…what made him the obvious choice to you? And did you have complete autonomy in this decision or how involved was the Chancellor in this decision?

YOUNG: "Scott and I worked real closely together at the University of Washington. He was part of my senior cabinet as he will be here as well. And in that context I learned a number of things. One is the absolute integrity and reliability of this man, to know that I knew what was going on that I needed to know, in terms of athletics. Like Scott, I'm not a micro-manager. I would be perfectly happy to give all these important assignments to Scott and the coaches and go home and watch TV. And I had the confidence in Scott that I always knew what I needed to know. And that when we confronted issues that we would have a chance to be broadly consultative but I also came to deeply appreciate his wisdom and his common sense. That is a rare commodity in life. The ability to look at problems, put them in the larger university context and then address them in a way that is responsible and likely to advance multiple agendas that the university necessarily has. That was something that had always impressed me with Scott. I think he brought that with particular force to the athletic program. That was just enormously valuable. I think that's some of the reason we've remained in communication. There are things that I continue to talk to Scott about occasionally. As he says we've solved most of America's political problems together. We have a series of things that we've done over the phone. But it's that wisdom, that perspective that has been enormously powerful. I think also the extent to which he generates throughout the staff that same kind of loyalty. People are going to be transparent and open with him in working with him. He engenders enormous trust because his word truly is his bond. That will mix with a management style that's very compatible with mine and what I like to see in athletics.

"Was this completely my decision? It was indeed. I appreciate the media reports that have suggested others were involved in this decision. And certainly I am broadly consultative in everything I do. But this was my decision. I particularly appreciate, the Chancellor has said in private and in public that I run this University, and I appreciate that very much. We have a close working relationship. I don't know the history all that well, but I suspect it's as close a working relationship and as productive a working relationship as any President and Chancellor have had in this system, maybe forever. But this is a decision that really is solely the University's decision and has been that from the beginning."

What kind of conversations were had with Eric Hyman before he left?

YOUNG: "Eric did a lot of really good things here at the university. I really want to make sure I emphasize and highlight that. We moved into what is what I think by any standard the most demanding and challenging conference, the most visible conference, in the nation, and moved in with great elegance and success in a whole variety of different sports. But also in a way that ensured that our student-athletes as students lead the conference as well. I think he deserves enormous credit for that. I want to make sure that's clear and on the record. He and I had a series of conversations over the past couple of weeks, particularly over the last week or so, about directions in which I wanted to take the athletic program and things I'd like to see us do to build on that great base that he'd built."

What resonated with you that would lure you away from your situation?

WOODWARD: "Like I mentioned, this is my part of the world. I'm from here. My ancestors…my wife got on ancestry.com and my father's side of the family are rednecks who are chasing lumber mills from eastern Texas to western Louisiana. They were back and forth. So this is home. This is what it feels like for me. It was an easy sell. And what I mentioned in my comments earlier…being part of a great institution that's a member of the AAU from the academic standpoint, and being in the SEC, it almost becomes a no brainer. And on top of that, just the traditions, the passion, what people who are affiliated with and associated with this place feel about it, it was really something special. It was just that. And it was at this time in my life when I thought it was time for Nanette and I to make a great professional move."

You mentioned your ties and your roots, and being an alum of LSU will that affect you on Thanksgiving for a football game that will be played here? And were you really wanting to get to an SEC school?

WOODWARD: "On the latter…not necessarily. Because it has to be the right fit, the right leadership, and all these things really have to align for me personally. And you can ask (track and field coach) Pat (Henry), he and I will have the same conversation. Not only do you not have mixed emotions, you want to beat them worse. I've been gone 11 years. These folks, your coaches and your student-athletes, become your children. You know when you watch your children compete and fight and do what they do, you pull for them harder than you do anything in life. That will be a very easy task for me."

Also with you being an LSU guy, any memories of the old A&M/LSU rivalry?

WOODWARD: "The most important thing for me was traveling here in the late '80s, if my recollection was correct, was just how in awe I was of the Yell Leaders and the Corps of Cadets. I could barely watch the game because I was watching the fan interaction and the students and just the place and the tradition. It was something special. It just sticks with you. It was really fun to watch. Those memories are what stick in your head and you just don't forget."

You spoke earlier about sitting down with the coaches, can you talk more about what your evaluation process will be with all the coaches you're inheriting?

WOODWARD: "I have not spoken to any of the coaches yet. But I will, and it's not going to be an evaluation. They're our coaches. It's going to be, 'Hey, how can we help you? How can we add value as administrators to give you the best opportunity to compete for championships? And what can we do to enhance our student-athlete experience here?' I know we're through the roof on how we treat our student-athletes here. It's not a problem that I have to fix. But there are always ways to get better and there are always ways to improve. Gosh, not only do we need to do it but we need to stay vigilant about it. Because this SEC West is a juggernaut. We just have to continue to give and improve in every way we possibly can."

Do you anticipate any more leadership changes within the athletic department?

WOODWARD: "No, I haven't even started yet and I haven't even met anyone. I look forward to doing so. When I get here, I'll begin that process of talking to everyone, coaches, student-athletes and obviously our entire staff."

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Scott Woodward Introduced as New Director of Athletics

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