In this episode Fran Reidy discusses his 28-year career at Saint Leo, which includes starting as a part-time soccer coach. He shares the tremendous growth in the program over his tenure and lessons learned along the way.
Reidy became a full time member of the Saint Leo athletics department in 1993. Along the way, he has served as Sports Information Director, Compliance Officer, Assistant Athletic Director, and Associate Athletic Director until reaching his current role as Director of Athletics in 1999.
Inducted into the Saint Leo Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008, Reidy also oversaw the addition of 11 of the school’s 19 intercollegiate sports. During his tenure, the President’s Club was formed to recognize student-athletes’ academic achievement and graduation rates have increased. Student-athletes’ GPA in 2008-09 was over 3.00 for the first time in department history and, in the last semester, 15 teams were above the 3.00 mark with a overall GPA of 3.19 for all Saint Leo student-athletes. Athletes are more involved in University leadership and service since he became director.
In 2014-15, Reidy was recognized by his peers as one of four Under Armour Division II Athletics Director of the Year honorees. This was the second time Reidy was honored, as he was named the Under Armour Division II Southeast Region Athletics Director of the Year in 2011-12.
Besides handling day-to-day aspects of the department, and its 40-plus staff members, Reidy was the president of the Division II Athletic Directors Association in 2015-16 and previously served as Chair of the NCAA Division II Championships Committee in 2014-15. He is also on the board of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.
Reidy, a Massachusetts native, graduated from Fitchburg State College (MA) in 1982 with a double major of Special Education and Elementary Education. While in college, he lettered all four years in soccer, was team captain and an All-Conference selection. He earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo in 2002.
[Courtesy: Saint Leo Athletics]
Podcast: Play in new window | Download