My Interview with Athletic Director for CSULB Vic Cegles

I had the opportunity to sit down with Vic Cegles, Athletic Director of CSULB, and pick his brain on many of the topics covered in this very blog.

I am aware that you have a great deal of experience in athletics, over 20 years and that prior to CSULB you were at Temple University, what made you decide to coem to CSULB?

He expressed that at CSULB he saw what he considered "all of the ingredients to win." He also viewed CSULB as a place that could win championships considering the history here. (ex: the volleyball and baseball teams). He expressed that Long Beach is a great place to live and that the weather is great here. Lastly he said that he believes that CSULB has "unbelievable student-athletes and outstanding coaches."

Following up on your statement about Student-Athletes, President Alexander expressed in an interview that one of the things that he liked about you is that you focused on the athletes as student-athletes. Could you discuss the importance of the STUDENT-athelte.

Vic Cegles discussed that he himself was a student athlete awhile back when he was in college and high school and knows how rewarding it is to truly be both. He also said that his roots are in student development so he looks at athletes as whole individuals and likes to develop them as such.

I know that you mentioned that here at CSULB we have some outstanding coaches. How does it feel as an athletic director to have a CSULB coach (Mike Weathers) participate in coaching the USA baseball team this summer?

"Mike's terrific and one of the best coaches" was the first thing to come out of Mr. Cegles mouth. He went on to express how proud he was and that Mike really has "done a great job." Mr. Cegles discussed the baseball program here at CSULB and how Mike Weathers has done great at building it and making it a national program. He said that when the USA program decides to choose coaches they select based on ability to lead and coach young people and they were truly able to recognize that talent in Mike Weathers.

While we are on the subject of coaches, I know that you have probably been asked this question a lot but, what was the reason that Men's Basketball coach Larry Reynolds contract was not renewed?

"I didn't believe the foundation was built in the five years he was here." Mr. Cegles went on to express that though we did have a very talented team coach Reynolds really did not build the foundation needed for a strong team. He even related it to a house saying that you can't build a house and put a roof on it and expect it to stand strong without a sturdy foundation.

Following up on the previous question, What were the deciding factors that caused you or the department to decide on Dan Monson as the new Men's Basketball coach?

Mr. Cegles put it very simply saying that Dan Monson has over 10 years experience as a head coach and that he has the ability to evaluate talent and be able to effectively run a basketball program. He even discussed his success at both Gonzaga and Minnesota.

How do you feel about student attendance and support at athletic events?

" I feel that we really need to grow as a school, CSULB needs to become a plays where students want to stay here and interact." Mr. Cegles began to discuss some of the changes that are being made to improve student attendance. He discussed President Alexander's move to increase student housing on campus and the rec center. However, he truly believes that the key factor is in the success of the teams. He expressed that "We haven't provided the right product for them." I believe that the success of the Men's Basketball team this season is a great example of this. "If we have strong athletic programs and succesful teams then the rest will follow."

I hear that you are a football fan, is it dissapointing for you that CSULB does not have a football team?

Mr. Cegles expressed to me that he is a huge football fan and even showed me some of his pictures, one of the football field from Arizona State University and another picture from Notre Dame, but stated bluntly that " it is such a drain financially to have a football team if you are not good." However, he still does have regrets that there are no football programs at all available at CSULB. He expressed that there are a lot of great athletes locally that are unable to compete at the big football schools and are still unable to compete because we don't offer a football program on a smaller level such as intramurals. He finished his answer by saying that yeah a lot of times he does miss having a football team but he can always watch it and feed his craving for football.

Being fairly new to your position as Athletic Director of CSULB are you happy with the state of the athletics department and are there plans that you have for the future of the department?

He explained that only being here a year he is still "observing and evaluating the athletic programs here at CSULB." After he has evaluated the programs and the athletic department as a whole he will begin to work hard and at finding the resources to improve and make the program better.

Vic Cegles had this last comment to say to all students "Support your Athletic Department! Go to the Games!"

To learn more about Vic Cegles you can check him out on the 49er website at this address http://www.longbeachstate.com/local/CEGLES/index.htmlhttp://www.longbeachstate.com/local/CEGLES/index.html