What is success in collegiate athletics? 

As the landscape of collegiate sports undergoes drastic shifts, the definition of success in a billion-dollar business built on amateurism isn’t as cut and dry as it once was. From the use of players’ names, images and likenesses to conference alignment and membership, programs at all levels are pivoting to remain competitive. 

“There’s a lot of governance issues that are affecting what can and can’t be done by institutions,” said Rick Cole Jr., Hofstra vice president and director of athletics. “It’s going to shift the funding model of college athletics. The [debate over] media rights that is going on across the country is a significant shift that is impacting conference membership. Everybody continues to say, ‘Well, that’ll be the last shift.’ It’s not the last shift. I think some of the changes are so reactionary. We’ve made all these rules shifts, but there hasn’t been a whole lot of strategy or talk about systems that can be sustainable.”

Some of the largest and most prestigious athletic programs in the country, such as the University of Texas, the University of Oklahoma, USC and UCLA, announced over the summer that they will be leaving their respective conferences in pursuit of success somewhere else, whatever that may be. The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), which Hofstra has been a member of since 2001, hasn’t been immune to this either; last year, James Madison University (JMU) departed for the Sun Belt Conference after being a member of the CAA since 1979. 

While it does lose JMU, the CAA is welcoming four new programs this coming year. The additions of Hampton University, Monmouth University, North Carolina A&T and Hofstra’s Long Island rival Stony Brook University will expand the conference to 13 schools. While Cole is closely monitoring the current climate, he doesn’t foresee a change in conference membership for Hofstra coming anytime soon.

“We are an active and happy member of the CAA,” Cole said. “I think that as long as I’m the AD [athletic director], we will be a happy and active member of wherever we are. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t potential shifts 10 years down the road, because we don’t know what the landscape is going to be.”

In the meantime, instead of trying to redefine success on the fly, Cole prefers to build towards it one day at a time.

“Everybody always puts an emphasis on the scoreboard at the end,” Cole said. “There’s a long process that goes from the time you’re recruiting to the time the student-athletes get here. I mean, this is a 365-day venture, so the results are due to the process. I think the more we can continue to expand our process and put an emphasis on the services our student-athletes need and coaches need, that will help us get the scoreboard results that we want.” 

The results on the scoreboard for Hofstra in 2021-22 translated to conference championships in men’s and women’s soccer, as well as in baseball. The Pride also made conference tournament appearances in several other sports, including softball, women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s basketball.

As proud as he is of last year’s achievements, Cole is eager for what lies ahead for the Pride. 

“I’m just excited to have the student-athletes come back,” Cole said. “There’s an energy around our building that reminds us why we’re here. It’s just exciting to get going again, coming off the heels of last year. We really have a great group of young men and women that represent us.”

Entering his fourth year at Hofstra this fall, Cole praises the culture within the athletic department, as he believes it will be the primary factor behind what results come in 2022-23.

“We’re a process-oriented, student-centered organization that really cares about winning by all measures,” Cole said. “But really, we’re an organization that’s about people. I think Hofstra’s success has always been because of its people. The coaches, the staff, the players we recruit and retain and the alumni that continue to remain involved. I think that’s been our greatest asset.” 

The people that make up the Hofstra athletics program are ones that Cole believes showcase championship behavior: an attitude that is constant and present throughout their everyday lives and doesn’t just appear under the bright lights. It’s not only talking about championship behavior that Cole stresses. He believes that such behavior can be spread and incentivized by celebrating it when showcased, no matter how minimal it may seem. 

“I took a picture of our men’s soccer captain last year after a game pushing the water cart,” Cole said. “The last person off the field. I took that photo because you need to capture people doing things the right way. A lot of times in organizations, we only talk about things and capture things when it’s not going well or when behaviors are not there. I capture things like that because those are championship behaviors.”

Although the sign that hangs above Cole’s desk reads “building champions,” he understands that the process he preaches is not easily fulfilled. The blueprints of a championship require patience and understanding. 

“We’re not always going to be perfect,” Cole said. “We’re going to try to be the best version of our individual and collective selves. We are about trying to be the very best we can be and having the courage to do so. But you’ve got to be committed to those things. It can’t be a part-time investment. Again, none of us are perfect, and we’re going to make mistakes. It’s how we respond to those that define what kind of culture we have because that becomes a self-sustaining culture which creates a championship environment.” 

As the world of collegiate athletics continues to shift, it remains uncertain what kind of success Hofstra will achieve this year and into the future. 

Are there more conference championships ahead? Neither you nor I can answer that question, and neither can Cole himself. All he can do is take pride in the process. 

“A lot of the stuff I think that really defines success are the things that you don’t necessarily see in the box scores,” Cole said. “Let’s talk about the behaviors that get us there. We’d rather lose than do it wrong. Let’s be about doing things the right way and being committed to that. Over the long haul, good things are going to happen. It’s not always going to be our day, but the harder you work, the more you put yourself in a position to be successful.”

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics