WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - After a remarkable 34-year career at William & Mary that positively impacted generations of student-athletes, Bobby Dwyer, M.Ed. '94,  Senior Associate Athletics Director, announced he will retire from his position in August.
 
"I feel fortunate to have been a part of the William & Mary Athletics family for all these years," Dwyer said. "The friendships my wife, Patti, and I have made will last a lifetime. I will be forever grateful to our alumni, parents and friends who have generously supported our coaches and student-athletes with their donations."
 
A former assistant basketball coach for Mike Krzyzewski at the U.S. Military Academy and Duke, Dwyer assumed his role as the athletics department's lead fundraiser in October 1985 when he was hired by then-Athletics Director John Randolph. In 1994 Dwyer earned his master's degree in higher education from William & Mary.  Over the years he has risen in the ranks and assumed greater responsibilities, including oversight of the athletics department's external operations. In his role, he led efforts around marketing and promotions, media relations, ticketing and special events.
 
Under Dwyer's leadership, William & Mary Athletics greatly bolstered its fundraising endeavors — significantly enhancing the department's success and overall student-athlete experience.
 
"Bobby is far more than a fundraiser," said William & Mary Director of Athletics Samantha K. Huge. "For many fans and alumni, he has been their enduring connection to the athletics program and the relationships he built and maintained have provided the critical resources for generations of our student-athletes. Bobby has also been a valued mentor, advocate and friend to countless administrators, coaches and community members. The impact of his good work will resonate far into the future throughout our William & Mary family."
 
Among the staggering statistics illustrating Dwyer's accomplishments is raising more than $250 million for the department. He helped to spearhead several multi-million-dollar capital projects, including the Jimmye Laycock Football Center, Smith-McGlothlin Grandstand and broader Zable Stadium renovations, Albert-Daly Field and Martin Family Stadium, Millie West Tennis Courts, the Montgomery Strength Training Center and the Tribe Field Hockey Center.
 
Dwyer was also centrally involved in working with Jim '57 and Jane Kaplan '56 in funding scholarships for the men's basketball team and renaming William & Mary Hall Kaplan Arena.
 
Widely known throughout the community as having an unparalleled work ethic, Dwyer helped oversee the development and execution of annual solicitations and other direct marketing efforts. This resulted in the Tribe Club meeting yearly fundraising goals for athletics scholarships and other expenses facing the department. This annual financial obligation, which doesn't include capital projects, ranged from $788,000 when he first started in 1985 to more than $4 million today.
 
"Bobby is an exceptional colleague, an honorable and dedicated fundraiser, and a truly special and remarkable human being," stated Matthew T. Lambert '99, vice president for university advancement. "His work speaks for itself, in terms of dollars raised and capital projects completed. But among the most special aspects of Bobby's career are the relationships he created. Bobby has been seen as a friend by so many and he has brought countless students and alumni across the generations more fully into the William & Mary family. His personality, integrity and credibility resonated with so many William & Mary donors and his impact on the university will be felt for generations to come." 
 
While the impressive figures represent his success as a fundraiser, Dwyer's impact on the Tribe community goes far beyond statistics. He has former employees overseeing the fundraising at major universities throughout the U.S. Dwyer also started a Tribe Club Student Ambassador program that provided hundreds of students with exposure to intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, Dwyer helped organize the Lord Botetourt Auction, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary and has generated millions of dollars in support of athletics scholarships over the years.
 
"Bobby's greatest achievement was not a singular success," reflected Jim '60, L.H.D. '99 and Bobbie Ukrop '61. "It's his consistency. It's his sincerity. And his unwavering commitment to what he's doing. It's his ability to have meaningful relationships with the student-athletes he was raising this money for through the years. We couldn't have ever had a better person to represent William & Mary than Bobby Dwyer."
 
An active member of the Williamsburg community, Dwyer is a past president of both the Williamsburg Chapter of the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association. He has been an active member of St. Bede Catholic Church for over 30 years, including serving as a lector and on the steering committee of the Catholic Campus Ministry. Dwyer coached seventh and eighth grade basketball teams at Walsingham Academy for more than 15 years and was a member of the development committee for the school that raised the funds needed to construct Chismer Athletics Complex. He and Patti have organized an annual dinner in recognition of former W&M Athletics Director John Randolph and Dr. Mark Ellis, which has raised more than $200,000 for Riverside Cancer Care.  
 
"Bobby Dwyer is a William & Mary institution," said Jim and Jane Kaplan. "In his 34 years here he has raised millions of dollars for the university. He's one of the most successful fundraisers William & Mary has ever had. In addition, he and Patti have fed and mentored hundreds, maybe thousands, of students…..our son Jim among them. The university and community are better places because of them."
 
Prior to his career as a fundraiser, Dwyer was an integral part of helping Krzyzewski build the foundation of one of the NCAA's most prestigious programs at Duke. In 1982, he contributed to the recruitment of the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, including the personal recruitment of the nation's No. 1 overall recruit, Johnny Dawkins.
 
On a personal level, the Krzyzewski family also helped Dwyer land the biggest recruit of his career when they introduced him to his future wife, Patti, during a team event in 1983. 
 
"I will be forever grateful to Mike Krzyzewski who hired me and who played a major role in my getting my job at William & Mary," said Dwyer. "I learned so much from Mike about how to build relationships and how to work hard."
 
Dwyer moved on from Duke to take a head coaching position at the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tenn. He lead the Division III program to consecutive winning seasons between 1983 and 1985, prior to accepting the role at William & Mary.
 
Dwyer's first intercollegiate experience was gained as a student-athlete on the Wake Forest University men's basketball team. He played in 74 games for the Demon Deacons between the 1971 and 1974 seasons. Dwyer captained the squad for the 1973-74 season and a career highlight included playing a major role in helping Wake Forest upset nationally-ranked University of North Carolina in the 1973 ACC Tournament.
 
Immediately following his graduation with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Dwyer served as an assistant to his father, Bob Dwyer, with the basketball and baseball teams at St. Anselm Abby High School in Washington, D.C. The elder Dwyer is a charter member of the Washington D.C. Basketball Hall of Fame.    
 
Although Dwyer is stepping away from his full-time duties with the Tribe Club, he intends to remain a loyal supporter to the program he helped lead over the past four decades.

The Dwyers plan to remain in Williamsburg, Va., where they raised their two sons, Patrick and Peter. They will enjoy spending time with their son's extended families, which includes daughters-in-law, Melissa and Erin, and four grandchildren, Luke, Rose, Molly and Connor.

"I am looking forward to staying involved with William & Mary Athletics by attending games, supporting Tribe Club activities and helping our student-athletes reach their goals," said Dwyer. "I am also sincerely looking forward to spending more time with my family."
 
To honor their exceptional work, passion and devotion to William & Mary Athletics, a scholarship endowment for basketball has been established in the Dwyers' name by Jim & Jane Kaplan and Jim & Bobbie Ukrop. The Bobby and Patti Dwyer Basketball Endowment will ensure that their extraordinary legacy at William & Mary continues forever in the lives of student-athletes. To donate to this endowment, please click HERE or contact Julie Leach at jsleach@wm.edu or (757) 221-6325.