Dec. 30, 2002
Kevin White, who has led the University of Notre Dame athletics
programs to unprecedented accomplishments in the classroom and on the
field over the past three years, has received a two-year contract
extension as the University's director of athletics.
Appointed in March 2000, White originally agreed to a five-year
contract that previously was extended by five years and now extends
to 2012.
"Notre Dame has a long and notable athletic history, but these past
several years have set new standards for success, and Kevin deserves
considerable credit for that," said Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C.,
the University's president. "His passion for Notre Dame, combined
with his intellect and insight, have inspired our coaches and
student-athletes to new heights. I am delighted to acknowledge
Kevin's leadership with the extension of his contract."
White, who also teaches a master's level sports business course in
the University's Mendoza College of Business, is the first Notre Dame
athletic director to report directly to the University's president.
Among the highlights of White's nearly three years at the helm of
Irish athletics:
Notre Dame was the only school this fall to qualify all six of its
teams - men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's
soccer, and women's volleyball - for NCAA tournament competition (or,
in the case of football, a bowl game).
The University received a 2002 USA Today/NCAA Academic Achievement
Award for graduating 90 percent of its freshmen student-athletes who
enrolled in 1995.
The Irish finished 11th and 13th, respectively in the 2000-01 and
2001-02 Sears Cup all-sports ratings, matching their best
back-to-back rankings in that competition. They are fourth in the
current fall rankings.
Of the University's 26 men's and women's varsity programs, 20
earned NCAA tournament berths in 2001-02.
A record 40 Irish athletes earned All-America honors in 2001-02.
Eight student-athletes were selected Academic All-Americans in
2001-02 - including four who also were athletic All-Americans.
Notre Dame claimed the 2001 national championship in women's
basketball, third-place finishes in fencing in '01 and '02, national
semifinal appearances in women's soccer in '00 and men's lacrosse in
'01, and a College World Series berth in baseball in '02.
Four different Notre Dame teams - women's soccer, women's
basketball, men's fencing and baseball - were ranked No. 1 during
their 2000-01 seasons, and men's lacrosse ranked second.
The men's and women's programs won the BIG EAST Conference
Commissioner's Trophy in 2001 and '02. Last year's all-sports title
was highlighted by a record eight league championships.
The successes of Irish athletic teams are due in part to several
initiatives launched by White, including a plan to add 64
grants-in-aid in order to give all 26 varsity sports the full NCAA
complement of scholarships; signing most of Notre Dame's head coaches
to multiyear contracts; improving the student development services to
student-athletes; and commissioning a facilities master plan to
upgrade the athletic physical plant.
A career educator and one of the most respected athletic
administrators in the nation, White came to Notre Dame after
previously serving as athletic director at Arizona State University,
Tulane University, the University of Maine and Loras College.
White has served on numerous NCAA committees, including the NCAA
Council, formerly the association's highest governing body, as well
as the executive committee of the Division I-A Athletic Directors
Association and the Bowl Championship Series. While at Arizona State
he was a member of the Pacific-10 Conference's television and bowl
committees.
A native of Amityville, N.Y., White earned his doctorate from
Southern Illinois University and in 1985 completed postdoctoral work
at Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management. He
earned his master's degree in athletics administration from Central
Michigan University and his bachelor's degree in business
administration in 1972 from St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind.,
where he also competed as a sprinter in track and field. He was
awarded St. Joseph's Alumni Achievement Award in 1997. In May 2001,
Kevin and his wife Jane were awarded honorary degrees from St.
Joseph's.
