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University of Massachusets Athletics
Ian McCaw on the Job as the Director of Athletics
Ian McCaw on the Job as the Director of Athletics
McCaw replaces Bob Marcum, who retired on June 14, after nearly a decade of leading UMass athletics. Bill Strickland, associate athletic director for external affairs, had been serving in an interim capacity.
"UMass Amherst is delighted to welcome Ian McCaw as athletic director," said Lombardi. "His exceptional record of success and the high regard in which he is held by so many in the profession of intercollegiate athletics speak to the many qualities that recommended him to us.
"UMass Amherst has an exceptional record in intercollegiate athletics, and like many first-rank programs, it faces the challenge of building the support structure to guarantee the continuation and expansion of that success. We believe Ian McCaw has the experience and skills needed at this moment to meet that challenge.
"Intercollegiate sports depends on the energy, commitment, and talent of its student-athletes, coaches, and staff, and they, in turn, depend on their institution, its students, alumni, and friends for the support needed to succeed. We all share this commitment and the obligation that goes with it, and we anticipate great things from UMass Amherst athletics under the leadership of Ian McCaw."
McCaw becomes only the fifth permanent athletic director at UMass since 1911. The four previous athletic directors were Curry Starr Hicks (1911-1948), Warren P. McGuirk (1948-1971), Frank McInerney (1972-1992) and Marcum (1993-2002).
"The Amherst campus has recruited a first-class athletic director in Ian McCaw," said UMass President William M. Bulger. "Ian has many outstanding qualities that benefit student-athletes: a focus on academic achievement, a passion for competing and winning at the highest level, and a belief in community service. Chancellor Lombardi has made an excellent choice."
McCaw, 39, comes to UMass from Northeastern University, where he has served as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation since 1997. During his five years at Northeastern, the athletics department benefitted from McCaw's reorganization and the recruitment of several new key members to the Huskies' staff. A five-year strategic plan for Northeastern Athletics inclusive of department goals and objectives was developed and implemented. Issues relating to enhanced program competitiveness, equity, diversity, compliance, sportsmanship, external support, the student-athlete experience, facility improvements and long-term financial stability were at the core.
"I am appreciative of the extraordinary opportunity to serve as athletic director [at UMass]," said McCaw. "As an alumnus, this opportunity certainly has special significance to me. I assure you, I will handle my duties with great pride and passion. I couldn't be more excited about it personally and professionally."
Northeastern student-athletes graduated at a 65 percent clip during McCaw's final year at the Boston institution, some 14 points higher than the institutional average. In addition, Northeastern student-athletes achieved a mean GPA of 2.94 in the 2001-02 academic year. Husky student-athletes also gave back to the community, as each team was required to participate in at least one community service project annually.
The success of the Northeastern athletic program on McCaw's watch extended beyond the classroom, as the program captured a school-record six America East conference titles in 2001-02, and had five programs finish among the nation's top 20. In all, nine different programs captured at least one conference title during McCaw's tenure, five earned at least one NCAA bid, and the school produced its first-ever national player of the year honoree in 2002 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Brooke Whitney.
Northeastern's first-ever integrated athletics annual giving campaign, the Husky Athletics Fund, was initiated under McCaw's leadership, and attracted nearly 1,000 donors in its initial year. A formal external affairs plan, which included corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, licensing, merchandising and the creation of a Case Award-winning athletics logo was also developed. Since 1997, the Northeastern athletic program saw total revenues in the areas of corporate sponsorship, ticket sales and merchandising increase more than 100 percent.
"Fundraising is something I enjoy very much," McCaw said. "I think it's an extension of my personality. I think it's a big part of my job.
"We're going to turn over every rock from a resource acquisition standpoint, development, corporate sponsorship, ticket sales, marketing, licensing, merchandising, everything. We need to do a lot within the Boston market. We are the flagship university of the Common-wealth, and we need to do a better job marketing ourselves as Massachusetts' team."
A $4 million renovation of Northeastern's Cabot Center, which included a refurbishment of the main gymnasium, an expanded speed, strength and conditioning center, a new sports medicine center, expanded and renovated locker rooms, was also completed under McCaw's direction. He also oversaw a feasibility study on development of a $15 million on-campus, outdoor multi-purpose athletics and recreation facility, and a $3.3 million enhancement of Matthews Arena.
Recognized as a national leader in intercollegiate athletics, McCaw is the chairman of the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey committee. He also serves on the America East, Atlantic 10 Football, Hockey East and National Consortium for Academics and Sports executive committees. In addition, McCaw has served on the America East on championships, gender equity, men's basketball, sporting conduct and baseball committees.
"I am very excited about Ian McCaw's appointment," said Steve Lappas, UMass head men's basketball coach and a member of the search committee. "I have heard nothing but great things about him in the basketball community, and I am really looking forward to working together with him."
McCaw went to Northeastern from Tulane University, where he served as senior associate athletics director for development and associate athletics director for external affairs from 1992-97. He was directly involved in development, sponsorship, media relations, promotions, licensing and merchandising. In 1996, he was named Tulane's co-interim director of athletics and was responsible for administering Tulane's 16-sport Division I-A program.
During his tenure as interim co-athletic director at Tulane, McCaw spearheaded the Sellout '96 campaign, where 55,000 tickets were sold for the Green Wave's football game against Rice, the school's largest ticket sales effort in more than a decade. He was also responsible for negotiating a four-year, $4 million corporate sponsorship agreement with Columbia/HCA, the nation's largest non-product related intercollegiate athletics sponsorship.
As senior associate athletics director for development and executive director of the Green Wave Club, McCaw directed fundraising activity which included prospect identification, research, cultivation and solicitation. The Green Wave Club saw growth of more than 20 percenter in new gifts and pledges in 1995-96. He was also responsible for administering the department's priority seating plan, donor benefits and planned giving. Tulane has nearly 4,000 donors who contribute approximately $3 million annually to Green Wave Athletics.
McCaw also has a keen eye for head coaching talent, as he coordinated the search for Tulane's head football coach which ended with the appointment of Tommy Bowden, who led the Green Wave to an undefeated season and a season-ending Top 10 national ranking.
He began his career at Tulane as associate athletics director for external affairs, a position he held from 1992 until his promotion to senior associate athletics director for development in 1995. In addition to overseeing all of Tulane's external affairs units, McCaw expanded radio broadcast properties to include more than 120 radio broadcasts and 50 coaches shows in the sports of football, men's and women's basketball and baseball. He also developed the school's first-ever television networks for men's and women's basketball.
At Tulane, McCaw also developed the Buddy System, the department's first multimedia marketing campaign which earned local and national acclaim. Included in that plan was an aggressive corporate sponsorship effort that annually produced more than $300,000. Tulane was also recognized by the Collegiate Licensing Company as one of its Top 20 fastest growing licensees. Licensing royalties improved in rank from 122 in 1992- 93 to 46th in 1994-95.
Prior to his years at Tulane, McCaw worked with virtually every aspect of athletic administration at the University of Maine from 1986 to 1992. He began as an assistant director of sports information (1986-88) and progressed to the roles of sports information director (1988-90), assistant athletic director for external affairs (1990-91) and associate athletic director for external affairs (1991-92).
As part of his duties in external affairs at Maine, McCaw was responsible for soliciting and servicing all corporate sponsorships for the athletic department. The value of corporate sponsorships and courtesy vehicles was in excess of $500,000 annually, which represented the highest level of athletics sponsorship support of any Division I-AA institution in New England.
During his tenure with the Black Bears, McCaw also administered all athletic department broadcast properties. His efforts allowed Maine to develop a three-year television and radio agreement that generated approximately $250,000. The Black Bear television network produced 12 broadcasts on a statewide basis, while the radio network aired 125 contests annually.
In addition, he also coordinated licensees for Black Bear Skyboxes at Alfond Arena. The 10 skyboxes were licensed to individuals and corporations and generated $1.25 million over 10 years in revenue. McCaw also directed the fundraising efforts and construction of Maine's state-of-the-art, $500,000 synthetic all weather track and field complex which was completed in 1992.
"We had a very strong pool of candidates for this position, and I am delighted that Ian McCaw has accepted appointment as our next Athletic Director," said Susan Pearson, co-chair of the search committee which selected McCaw. "Ian's experience at the University of Maine, at Tulane, and at Northeastern, and the high regard in which he is held throughout the intercollegiate athletic community suggest that this will be a wonderful appointment for the campus, for the athletic department, and for our student-athletes."
McCaw earned his master's degree in sport management from UMass in 1987, after receiving a bachelor's degree in sports administration at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, in 1985. A native of Burlington, Ontario, McCaw and his wife, Heather, have four children: Christy (seven), Paul (five), Callie (three) and Corinne (one).
 |  Ian McCaw began work as the Director of Athletics at the University of Massachusetts on August 1. |
by Charles Bare & Nick Joos
The Maroon & White
McCaw replaces Bob Marcum, who retired on June 14, after nearly a decade of leading UMass athletics. Bill Strickland, associate athletic director for external affairs, had been serving in an interim capacity.
"UMass Amherst is delighted to welcome Ian McCaw as athletic director," said Lombardi. "His exceptional record of success and the high regard in which he is held by so many in the profession of intercollegiate athletics speak to the many qualities that recommended him to us.
"UMass Amherst has an exceptional record in intercollegiate athletics, and like many first-rank programs, it faces the challenge of building the support structure to guarantee the continuation and expansion of that success. We believe Ian McCaw has the experience and skills needed at this moment to meet that challenge.
"Intercollegiate sports depends on the energy, commitment, and talent of its student-athletes, coaches, and staff, and they, in turn, depend on their institution, its students, alumni, and friends for the support needed to succeed. We all share this commitment and the obligation that goes with it, and we anticipate great things from UMass Amherst athletics under the leadership of Ian McCaw."
McCaw becomes only the fifth permanent athletic director at UMass since 1911. The four previous athletic directors were Curry Starr Hicks (1911-1948), Warren P. McGuirk (1948-1971), Frank McInerney (1972-1992) and Marcum (1993-2002).
"The Amherst campus has recruited a first-class athletic director in Ian McCaw," said UMass President William M. Bulger. "Ian has many outstanding qualities that benefit student-athletes: a focus on academic achievement, a passion for competing and winning at the highest level, and a belief in community service. Chancellor Lombardi has made an excellent choice."
McCaw, 39, comes to UMass from Northeastern University, where he has served as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation since 1997. During his five years at Northeastern, the athletics department benefitted from McCaw's reorganization and the recruitment of several new key members to the Huskies' staff. A five-year strategic plan for Northeastern Athletics inclusive of department goals and objectives was developed and implemented. Issues relating to enhanced program competitiveness, equity, diversity, compliance, sportsmanship, external support, the student-athlete experience, facility improvements and long-term financial stability were at the core.
"I am appreciative of the extraordinary opportunity to serve as athletic director [at UMass]," said McCaw. "As an alumnus, this opportunity certainly has special significance to me. I assure you, I will handle my duties with great pride and passion. I couldn't be more excited about it personally and professionally."
Northeastern student-athletes graduated at a 65 percent clip during McCaw's final year at the Boston institution, some 14 points higher than the institutional average. In addition, Northeastern student-athletes achieved a mean GPA of 2.94 in the 2001-02 academic year. Husky student-athletes also gave back to the community, as each team was required to participate in at least one community service project annually.
The success of the Northeastern athletic program on McCaw's watch extended beyond the classroom, as the program captured a school-record six America East conference titles in 2001-02, and had five programs finish among the nation's top 20. In all, nine different programs captured at least one conference title during McCaw's tenure, five earned at least one NCAA bid, and the school produced its first-ever national player of the year honoree in 2002 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Brooke Whitney.
Northeastern's first-ever integrated athletics annual giving campaign, the Husky Athletics Fund, was initiated under McCaw's leadership, and attracted nearly 1,000 donors in its initial year. A formal external affairs plan, which included corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, licensing, merchandising and the creation of a Case Award-winning athletics logo was also developed. Since 1997, the Northeastern athletic program saw total revenues in the areas of corporate sponsorship, ticket sales and merchandising increase more than 100 percent.
"Fundraising is something I enjoy very much," McCaw said. "I think it's an extension of my personality. I think it's a big part of my job.
"We're going to turn over every rock from a resource acquisition standpoint, development, corporate sponsorship, ticket sales, marketing, licensing, merchandising, everything. We need to do a lot within the Boston market. We are the flagship university of the Common-wealth, and we need to do a better job marketing ourselves as Massachusetts' team."
A $4 million renovation of Northeastern's Cabot Center, which included a refurbishment of the main gymnasium, an expanded speed, strength and conditioning center, a new sports medicine center, expanded and renovated locker rooms, was also completed under McCaw's direction. He also oversaw a feasibility study on development of a $15 million on-campus, outdoor multi-purpose athletics and recreation facility, and a $3.3 million enhancement of Matthews Arena.
Recognized as a national leader in intercollegiate athletics, McCaw is the chairman of the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey committee. He also serves on the America East, Atlantic 10 Football, Hockey East and National Consortium for Academics and Sports executive committees. In addition, McCaw has served on the America East on championships, gender equity, men's basketball, sporting conduct and baseball committees.
"I am very excited about Ian McCaw's appointment," said Steve Lappas, UMass head men's basketball coach and a member of the search committee. "I have heard nothing but great things about him in the basketball community, and I am really looking forward to working together with him."
McCaw went to Northeastern from Tulane University, where he served as senior associate athletics director for development and associate athletics director for external affairs from 1992-97. He was directly involved in development, sponsorship, media relations, promotions, licensing and merchandising. In 1996, he was named Tulane's co-interim director of athletics and was responsible for administering Tulane's 16-sport Division I-A program.
During his tenure as interim co-athletic director at Tulane, McCaw spearheaded the Sellout '96 campaign, where 55,000 tickets were sold for the Green Wave's football game against Rice, the school's largest ticket sales effort in more than a decade. He was also responsible for negotiating a four-year, $4 million corporate sponsorship agreement with Columbia/HCA, the nation's largest non-product related intercollegiate athletics sponsorship.
As senior associate athletics director for development and executive director of the Green Wave Club, McCaw directed fundraising activity which included prospect identification, research, cultivation and solicitation. The Green Wave Club saw growth of more than 20 percenter in new gifts and pledges in 1995-96. He was also responsible for administering the department's priority seating plan, donor benefits and planned giving. Tulane has nearly 4,000 donors who contribute approximately $3 million annually to Green Wave Athletics.
McCaw also has a keen eye for head coaching talent, as he coordinated the search for Tulane's head football coach which ended with the appointment of Tommy Bowden, who led the Green Wave to an undefeated season and a season-ending Top 10 national ranking.
He began his career at Tulane as associate athletics director for external affairs, a position he held from 1992 until his promotion to senior associate athletics director for development in 1995. In addition to overseeing all of Tulane's external affairs units, McCaw expanded radio broadcast properties to include more than 120 radio broadcasts and 50 coaches shows in the sports of football, men's and women's basketball and baseball. He also developed the school's first-ever television networks for men's and women's basketball.
At Tulane, McCaw also developed the Buddy System, the department's first multimedia marketing campaign which earned local and national acclaim. Included in that plan was an aggressive corporate sponsorship effort that annually produced more than $300,000. Tulane was also recognized by the Collegiate Licensing Company as one of its Top 20 fastest growing licensees. Licensing royalties improved in rank from 122 in 1992- 93 to 46th in 1994-95.
Prior to his years at Tulane, McCaw worked with virtually every aspect of athletic administration at the University of Maine from 1986 to 1992. He began as an assistant director of sports information (1986-88) and progressed to the roles of sports information director (1988-90), assistant athletic director for external affairs (1990-91) and associate athletic director for external affairs (1991-92).
As part of his duties in external affairs at Maine, McCaw was responsible for soliciting and servicing all corporate sponsorships for the athletic department. The value of corporate sponsorships and courtesy vehicles was in excess of $500,000 annually, which represented the highest level of athletics sponsorship support of any Division I-AA institution in New England.
During his tenure with the Black Bears, McCaw also administered all athletic department broadcast properties. His efforts allowed Maine to develop a three-year television and radio agreement that generated approximately $250,000. The Black Bear television network produced 12 broadcasts on a statewide basis, while the radio network aired 125 contests annually.
In addition, he also coordinated licensees for Black Bear Skyboxes at Alfond Arena. The 10 skyboxes were licensed to individuals and corporations and generated $1.25 million over 10 years in revenue. McCaw also directed the fundraising efforts and construction of Maine's state-of-the-art, $500,000 synthetic all weather track and field complex which was completed in 1992.
"We had a very strong pool of candidates for this position, and I am delighted that Ian McCaw has accepted appointment as our next Athletic Director," said Susan Pearson, co-chair of the search committee which selected McCaw. "Ian's experience at the University of Maine, at Tulane, and at Northeastern, and the high regard in which he is held throughout the intercollegiate athletic community suggest that this will be a wonderful appointment for the campus, for the athletic department, and for our student-athletes."
McCaw earned his master's degree in sport management from UMass in 1987, after receiving a bachelor's degree in sports administration at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, in 1985. A native of Burlington, Ontario, McCaw and his wife, Heather, have four children: Christy (seven), Paul (five), Callie (three) and Corinne (one).