WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
VIANO FINDS FUN-RAISING AT DREXEL
 It’s been a long road to self-discovery for Gavin Viano ’01. However, the former Cougar student-athlete, coach and administrator has finally found his niche. After stints at his alma mater, Fordham University and St. John’s University, the Walpole, Mass., native has been appointed Drexel University’s Director of Athletic Development.
“I didn’t have a very good plan after graduating from Clark,” recalls Viano. “I wound up coaching football and substituting at South High Community School on a full-time basis. To be honest, I wouldn’t say I prepared myself well for the real world.”
Luckily, Viano, a “gym-rat” and ex-basketball announcer, made an early impression on the University’s Athletic Director Linda Moulton, who referred him for a year-long internship with the United States Scholar-Athlete Games held at the University of Rhode Island. There, he honed his “gift of gab” under fellow Clarkie and Hall of Famer Wally Halas ’73, former Commissioner of the World Scholar-Athlete games.
“Gavin was a great student,” Moulton says. “He wasn’t afraid to talk to people. He was energetic and had a lot of enthusiasm.”
Halas agrees, adding, “Gavin was the kind of kid that was going to be a success. He wasn’t afraid of doing the low-level work early. He understood in order to get to the top, you have to know what the bottom looks like.”
After dipping his feet in the real-world water, Viano headed west to California where a chance encounter with a crew team sent him on a course back to collegiate athletics.
“I was on a bike ride and came upon a place where crew teams were racing,” says Viano, the son of a college rowing coach. “It made me remember how much I really missed being involved with swimming and collegiate athletics.”
Within a few days, Viano was on a plane back to Massachusetts—a decision that would launch his career. An established rapport with Clark University and the athletic department landed the former four-year swimmer an assistant coaching job and a position as the assistant director of the Clark Fund.
However, his coaching experience took place during lean years for the swimming and diving teams. “My sophomore year was the best team I was on at Clark,” he says. “They had solid teams my senior season and the year after—even sending a swimmer to nationals. For whatever reason, when I came back to coach, Paul E. Phillips and I were at square one.”
In addition to the daunting task in the pool, Viano’s responsibilities running the Clark Fund phone room helped set the stage for his next move. After more than two years in Worcester, he was ready for a new challenge. “I spent the better part of seven years involved with Clark in some way—as a student, coach and administrator,” Viano says. “It was time to see another place, another city.”
Halas, who had just been named the Assistant Vice President for Development at St. John’s, reconnected with Viano and offered him a job in athletic development.
“One of the most important aspects of being an alumnus is to help students who’ve been out of school a year or two,” Halas says. “Gavin cut his teeth a bit on the world of fundraising and what higher education is all about at Clark and did a tremendous job. He was ready.”
For the next few years, Viano sharpened his skills in New York, first as the coordinator of St. John’s Red White Club and later as the athletic development officer at Fordham. When his girlfriend relocated from the Empire State to Philadelphia, Viano was faced with a difficult decision. “We met in New York and wanted to stay there, but an opportunity arose that she couldn’t pass up,” he says. “I said if I found a job, I’d go.”
No sooner did he utter those words, the Drexel position opened. “I never thought I would get it,” Viano laughs. “But this business is small. If you do a good job, people will know about it. Luckily, coworkers and supervisors from my previous positions told Drexel I was the kind of guy they’d want to hire.”
Now as the Dragons’ Director of Athletic Development, Viano has the best of both worlds—fundraising for sports. “It allows you the opportunity to help make the program better,” he says. “There are a lot of people who root for these teams religiously and if they can make a difference, they’ll try.”
A true student of his work, Viano stays connected to Clark through gifts and athletic support. The former captain attends the annual swimming and diving alumni meet and keeps in contact with head coach Paul E. Phillips. “We have a great relationship,” Viano says of Coach Phillips. “He’s not a dreamer, he’s a doer. That’s what the swim program needed.”
Now that the Cougars are back on track, Viano can only hope his pool records linger a while longer. “The only record I still hold is a top-five time in the 100 individual-medley,” he says. “I got beat out by a bunch of guys whom I recruited, so I don’t feel so bad about that. But I’m holding on tight to my last top-five.”
When asked if he had any plans to return to the pool, he says, “I definitely miss coaching, but I’m happy now.”
Back to the top
BASKETBALL TEAMS HOST BABSON COLLEGE IN NEWMAC OPENER
After solid winter break performances, the Clark University basketball teams return home for their respective conference openers on Wednesday.
Fresh off a 2-1 mark and a championship game appearance at the Cactus Jam Hoop Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., the men’s squad (5-6) will face a Babson College team that has dropped three straight games. Although the Beavers are currently 3-8, that is no indication of their talent. They narrowly lost to fourth ranked and defending national champs Amherst College, 60-55, last Saturday.
Both teams feature balanced attacks. Sophomore Mark Alexander (18.4 ppg), junior Peter Normandin (15.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and senior Pat Landers (14.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) make-up the Cougars’ “Big 3,”while sophomore transfer Jack Minister is the team’s super-sub with 9.9 points per game.
Babson has four players in double figures: senior guard Kyle McDonald (15.8 ppg), junior guard Zach Etten (10.6 ppg), senior forward Greg Bush (10.2 ppg), and senior guard Brian MacDonald (10.0 ppg). McDonald and Etten are the team’s top rebounders both with a 4.5 average.
The Cougars were swept by Babson last season, falling 74-65 at home and 73-63 in Babson Park, Mass.
The Clark women find itself at 4-6 entering the NEWMAC slate. Playing an early schedule that included three nationally ranked teams, including last weekend’s championship loss against the University of Southern Maine (84-45) at the USM Invitational, the Cougars hope that experience will help them deliver on Wednesday.
Clark is led by the tandem of junior Sarah Roderigue (15.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and sophomore Jillian Camilleri (14.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg), while Babson (3-7), ranked third in the league in scoring offense, counters with the duo of Caitlin Fenn (12.0 ppg) and Linsey Poulson (10.6 ppg, 9.9 rpg).
The Cougars hope to repeat last year’s efforts, where they beat the Beavers, 65-53, at Babson.
Back to the top
CLARK LACROSSE SUPPORTS OUR TROOPS
The accolades keep rolling in for the Clark University lacrosse team. The Cougars were not only recognized by the NCAA News for their partnership with Americans Supporting Americans (ASA) last January, but is also being touted by Inside Lacrosse TV. The national publication captured the team preparing their latest shipment to soldiers in Iraq last November. The story is told through the eyes of captain Dan Rosenak ‘08, Andrew Sheen ‘08 and coach Evan Davis. View the video of this inspirational story.
Back to the top
EXTRA! EXTRA! SPORTS INFO HOTLINE
Check out the new-and-improved way to get the latest Clark Athletic scores.
Call the Sports Information Hotline! Quick and easy access to the most up-to-date Cougar information at 508-793-7164.
Back to the top
The highlights for this newsletter are provided by
Dalya Qualls, Sports Information Director, 508-793-7164
Email: dqualls@clarku.edu
|
|
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
