Press Conference Transcript - Bud Haidet

Sept. 15, 2008

UWM Director of Athletics Bud Haidet

"I am here today to announce my retirement as director of athletics at UWM. My retirement is planned for July of 2009. As you can imagine, this is a time of mixed emotions for me. On the one hand, I am excited to be able to turn over a new chapter in my life. To be able to have the opportunity and time for new interests, adventures and more time with family and friends. I've got 13 grandchildren out there that can't wait for `Papa Bud' to retire and see their games and school events. And I can't wait to see them either so that will be a happy moment. On the other hand, I am sad to be leaving the profession I love. Sad to be leaving the university and administration that gave me an opportunity to be an athletic director. And, most of all, I am sad to be leaving my loyal and highly-skilled staff, the student-athletes and Panther fans and friends that Beth and I have gotten to know, all through Panther athletics."

"On the flip side, it's pleasing to know those same staff, fans, friends, will always be a major part of our lives. And I say `us' because my wife, Beth, is the light of my life. So supportive, she has always been there for me in difficult and good times. A major theme of my career has always been to build solid, meaningful relationships. Respect for those opinions and pursue those visions, regardless of the naysayers that say it can't be done. We all know there are folks out there that have said that. But, when I step down next year I will have been at UWM for 20-plus years."

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as director of athletics. I left Miami after serving 25 years to accept the position of director of athletics and intramurals at UWM, with the thought of staying, maybe, five years. So, I enjoyed myself so much in the position that I accepted the challenge to grow the Division II NAIA program to a successful Division I NCAA program and I stayed on. It has been a great run with major growth. As I vividly recall, and some of you who are here may remember this as well, the first year I was the only administrator - I had no associate athletics directors, no assistant AD's - and a coaching staff of approximately six, most of them being part-time. I think the budget then was around $750,000. We now have full-time staff that numbers 52, with a budget approaching $10 million. Women's soccer and baseball were club sports at that time and we have since moved those forward. We had no mascot. So I worked with the Alumni Association to develop a mascot and buy a uniform. I think that first uniform may have just been a Panther head ... that was all we had the money for. I later implemented the change for the new Panther logo that we have today. I am sure that many of you have probably heard me talk about the first men's basketball game that Beth and I both attended. I looked around and I think I counted 65 people. And, I knew then that I had to roll up my sleeves and go to work because there was a lot of work to do."

"When I look back, I think what a great thing we accomplished. To name a few of them ... I think one of the biggest moves we made - we were independent, so we moved from independent status to a conference - actually two different conferences - and then from NAIA Division II to Division I NCAA. And now we are a member of the Horizon League, a nationally-known conference and we're very proud of that. We've hired some great coaches who have had tremendous success. We have won the McCafferty Trophy - the Horizon League's all-sports award four times and the women's all-sports award seven-consecutive years. And I do not think anyone has ever done that in our league before. We've placed first or second consistently in Horizon league academic awards, we've improved and expanded our athletic facilities, which includes a renovation of Engelmann Field, the Klotsche Center, and the addition of the Pavilion - our new athletic offices. We spent 15 years in the temporary North Building. We had very few windows, but some how we recruited on that and we got the job done as a credit to our staff. We moved intramurals and recreation out of athletics and that has enhanced the recreation for all of our UWM students. We put UWM on the map and gave national recognition to it with our athletic success. And the chancellor has said at one time that it helped increase enrollments, so we are proud to be part of that."

"During my tenure, I have tried to focus on six major areas: exemplar programs, development of our student-athletes - academically and athletically, the quality of our staff, the improvement of our facilities, the development of pride and school spirit at UWM with students and alumni and the goal to build athletic tradition at UWM. We have had many students returning to UWM, returning back to our games, back to campus after graduating and we are so proud of that. Tradition is so important at UWM to have students coming back, not just the athletes, but all students coming back to campus and giving back to campus. I think we have reached success in all six areas. Although I step down leaving some of my dreams and visions for future administrators - such as a need for an athletic village to meet facility needs - I leave feeling `Panther Proud!' I leave a successful program that I think has the potential to continue to grow. I salute all of our Panther family - staff, student-athletes past and present, faculty, alumni, sponsors, fans and know you will continue to support UWM athletics. I want to thank all of our media friends. I have built a great working relationship with all of our TV, radio and newspaper people and I really appreciate the support the media has given me through the growth of this program. I would also like to thank Chancellor Santiago, Vice Chancellor Dr. Helen (Mamarchev), Provost Rita Cheng and commissioner Jon LeCrone for supporting me and Panther athletics. I look forward to continue to work with all for this coming year, and to assist the new director as needed."