Greetings to all and Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you well and looking forward to 2021 fulfilling its potential in so many regards. It goes without saying that 2020 was a challenging year, and the early days of 2021 revealed enduring challenges that we must face together. Still, I've witnessed countless examples of our community rallying around one another, including our incredible student-athletes, coaches and staff. I'm confident this spirit will carry us to new heights in 2021 and beyond.
In my house, Christmas saw our kids get a full-size basketball hoop. After the requisite hours of assembly, we were ready to put it to use. Even before this interim role, the Martin family spent plenty of time at W&M Athletics events and had the privilege to be around some incredible William & Mary student-athletes. Still, it was pretty cool when our son wanted to "be"
Nyla Pollard '21 in our first game of driveway one-on-one. I was assigned to be
Gabby Rogers '21 for my post presence and rebounding prowess in the eyes of a seven-year-old. A few days later, he asked if he could be Trae Young and I Nathan Knight '20 so he could throw me an alley-oop like
Nate's fantastic finish for the Atlanta Hawks. (We had to lower the hoop for that one.)
Excellence in the Classroom and Beyond
- William & Mary student-athletes earned an overall 3.55 GPA during the fall semester, a remarkable accomplishment given all the challenges faced. While the credit goes first and foremost to the student-athletes themselves, that level of performance speaks to our faculty providing a quality learning experience for all the university's students, even amid pandemic.
- Two teams, women's gymnastics and men's tennis, earned above a 3.75 GPA this fall and two others, volleyball and lacrosse, were within a few hundredths of a point of that mark. Among the stellar performances by so many teams, those were particularly remarkable achievements.
Returning to Competition
- Though it appears conditions will not allow fans in Kaplan Arena this season, it's worth recognizing that William & Mary has among the most passionate fans anywhere. Last season, excluding Power Five institutions, we ranked in the top 20% for men's basketball attendance. We're grateful for the support and look forward to being back together cheering for our teams.
- Last week, I reminded every student-athlete they have the option whether or not they wish to compete this spring. What I've consistently heard in conversations with them and our coaches is that athletics is a place of solace and support that's very much needed right now. To provide the opportunity to compete, William & Mary will pursue our fundamental operating principle this spring: to train and compete as safely and fiscally responsibly as possible. We'll do this within state, local and university public health protocols as well as NCAA and conference guidance. That includes following required sport-specific testing procedures; our opponents must attest to doing the same. Beyond athletic activities, we remain bound to one another to abide by William & Mary's Heathy Together Community Commitment at all times and follow sound behaviors including masking, spacing and frequent handwashing. I hope you, too, will join the Tribe in committing to these behaviors for the health of your local community as we continue to navigate this pandemic.
- As we're experiencing in basketball, spring seasons will be anything but normal. Flexibility is the order of the day as schedules shift. Even as this reality stretches our student-athletes and coaches, there's also real joy in simply being able to compete.
Supporting the Tribe
W&M Athletics is able to compete in the highest division of NCAA athletics only because of the caliber of William & Mary people. Our alumni and friends' generosity provides the current generation of student-athletes with the opportunity to pursue their education and Division I athletics at William & Mary. We are grateful for your support.
- As of January 8, we have raised nearly $2.6 million in expendable funds toward our $4 million FY21 goal – 62% of the way there, just over halfway through the fiscal year.
- We are within sight of reaching our March 1 goal of $2.8 million necessary to avoid more painful budget actions this spring. Though W&M Athletics has reduced personnel and operating expenses substantially in FY21, we have not reduced scholarship support for any student-athlete – and we will not.
- Swimming and men's tennis have now reached their current year goal, leading the way. While donors are welcome to help these programs build for FY22 and beyond, gifts to other programs still working toward this year's goal or to the Athletics Impact Fund will most benefit W&M Athletics in FY21.
- Each program has a giving page to guide you towards our fundraising priorities: scholarships for student-athletes, excellence funds for operating support, and the Athletics Impact Fund to meet the department's most pressing needs.
As the pace quickens this spring, I anticipate increasing the frequency of these updates from my current monthly effort. The goal is to keep you up to date on our work to address the significant challenges we face in regard to equity, financial stability and excellence. In the meantime, and as always, go Tribe!
All the best,
Jeremy
Jeremy P. Martin, Ph.D. '12 MBA '17
Interim Director of Athletics
