Conversation with Steve Bilsky

SP: What has it been like on a personal level returning to Philadelphiaand the University of Pennsylvania?SP: What has it been like on a personal level returning to Philadelphiaand the University of Pennsylvania?Bilsky: I am continually amazed and humbled by the warm reception that I and my family received since we returned. I am not exaggerating when I say that every day, whether at work or at the supermarket or at Blockbuster's, or in my travels, someone brings up those great days of Penn in the early '70's and specifically that great Penn basketball team of that era. While it's gratifying to myself and my wife, it's eye-opening for my young children who think their father is a hero.SP: What has it been like on a personal level returning to Philadelphiaand the University of Pennsylvania?Bilsky: I am continually amazed and humbled by the warm reception that I and my family received since we returned. I am not exaggerating when I say that every day, whether at work or at the supermarket or at Blockbuster's, or in my travels, someone brings up those great days of Penn in the early '70's and specifically that great Penn basketball team of that era. While it's gratifying to myself and my wife, it's eye-opening for my young children who think their father is a hero.SP: How about on a professional level; what's that been like?SP: What has it been like on a personal level returning to Philadelphiaand the University of Pennsylvania?Bilsky: I am continually amazed and humbled by the warm reception that I and my family received since we returned. I am not exaggerating when I say that every day, whether at work or at the supermarket or at Blockbuster's, or in my travels, someone brings up those great days of Penn in the early '70's and specifically that great Penn basketball team of that era. While it's gratifying to myself and my wife, it's eye-opening for my young children who think their father is a hero.SP: How about on a professional level; what's that been like?Bilsky: There's no question being an Athletic Director at a major university is a massive responsibility and the time demands and pressures are great. I am treating the first year and probably the second as well, as transition years where I'm attempting to identify our goals and a means of achieving them.SP: What has it been like on a personal level returning to Philadelphiaand the University of Pennsylvania?Bilsky: I am continually amazed and humbled by the warm reception that I and my family received since we returned. I am not exaggerating when I say that every day, whether at work or at the supermarket or at Blockbuster's, or in my travels, someone brings up those great days of Penn in the early '70's and specifically that great Penn basketball team of that era. While it's gratifying to myself and my wife, it's eye-opening for my young children who think their father is a hero.SP: How about on a professional level; what's that been like?Bilsky: There's no question being an Athletic Director at a major university is a massive responsibility and the time demands and pressures are great. I am treating the first year and probably the second as well, as transition years where I'm attempting to identify our goals and a means of achieving them.SP: What are those goals?SP: What has it been like on a personal level returning to Philadelphiaand the University of Pennsylvania?Bilsky: I am continually amazed and humbled by the warm reception that I and my family received since we returned. I am not exaggerating when I say that every day, whether at work or at the supermarket or at Blockbuster's, or in my travels, someone brings up those great days of Penn in the early '70's and specifically that great Penn basketball team of that era. While it's gratifying to myself and my wife, it's eye-opening for my young children who think their father is a hero.SP: How about on a professional level; what's that been like?Bilsky: There's no question being an Athletic Director at a major university is a massive responsibility and the time demands and pressures are great. I am treating the first year and probably the second as well, as transition years where I'm attempting to identify our goals and a means of achieving them.SP: What are those goals?Bilsky: It's not difficult making goals; the hardest part is striking a balance between ambition and realism. For example, in intercollegiate athletics, if you establish your goal to be "competitive" and falls short, what you've really achieved is mediocrity. However if your goal is to be champion and you fall short, you still have accomplished quite a lot. Finally, it doesn't really matter much what goals I set if I can't communicate them clearly and have all constituencies-our staff, the university administration, faculty, students, and alumni–embrace them positively. This requires consisitency in my message and assetive lobbying for support. With these criteria in mind, I have established the following goals: One a stable, fiscal environment. Two, an upgrade of our facilities for athletics and recreation. Three, developing strategies that will continue allow Penn to recruit and matriculate the finest student-athletes in the country. Four, increased offerings to students, undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff in the recreational and recruiting area. Five, equalituy for men and women. The bottom line to all of this is that an excellent program reflects well on the entite University and makes people feel good. SP: Could you talk briefly about each one? Bilsky: We sponsor 30 intercollegiate sports for over a 1000 student athletes. We're responsible for providing recreational opportunities for the entire University community. We overseea tremendous physical plant. We can't do all this without significant financial resources, which I can assure you will be spent wisely. Our facilities are some of the most renowned in the country. Franklin Field and the Palestra are landmarks and showcase the University to the outside world. However, all of our existing buildings are aged and we simply cannot presently address the demands for the recreational programs that exist. The Ivies recruit the finest scholar athletes in the world, and I'm very proud of those at Penn. However,w e are approaching the day when the pool of admissible candidates who can afford Penn, and by definition turn down athletic scholarships at other institution, might dwindle to the point that the Ivies will be associated with mediocrity in athletics. This troubles me. We are committed to gender equity and I am hopeful that sometime this summer we will be able to resolve the gender equity complaint that was filed in 1994. I never lose sight of the fact that athletics and recreations supports one of the few activities that integrate all University organizations and schools while maintaining a high degree of external visibility with our alumni, the media, and the community. SP: Is there one moment that stands out as an absolute highlight? Bilsky: There have been many great moments. We have had a great record breaking year. But I guess one highlight that standsout is the football teams' last minute win at Cornell. We probably should have lost that game. What are the odds of making a 4th and 20 in the last minute of a game on the visitor's turf? But that accomplishment demonstrated all the positive attributes athletics can instill: grit, determination, hope, focus, exhilaration, and pride. It teaches all of us that even when things look bleak, don't give up–give everything you have until the end. It's a good lesson in life.