Colorado University Athletics
Woelk: Buffs' Culture of Success Firmly Embedded, Producing Results
May 18, 2017 | General, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Last weekend's performances by the Colorado women's and men's track teams — both of whom recorded their best-ever finishes in the Pac-12 — served as an excellent wrap-up to what has been one of the more successful overall years ever for the Colorado Athletic Department.
No doubt there have been outstanding years for the Buffs in the past, highlighted by national championships, conference titles and NCAA Tournament berths. But from top to bottom, beginning to end, the 2016-17 year produced a healthy string of successes that fit nicely into CU's mission statement: "To compete for and win championships."'
The fact that the year coincided with the Buffs' first full year utilizing complete use of the Champions Center, Indoor Practice Facility and renovated Dal Ward Center is no coincidence. CU's world-class facilities have proven to be a boon to literally every program in the department, giving Colorado's student-athletes every tool necessary to achieve in the classroom and on the playing surface.
Probably the most-visible performance by a CU team in the last year — at least from a national perspective — was the 10-4, Pac-12 South championship season produced by Mike MacIntyre's football team. The Buffs were picked to finish last in the division, but instead rolled to an 8-1 conference mark, the program's first bowl berth in almost a decade and an end-of-year top-20 ranking (No. 15 coaches poll; 17th Associated Press).
But in terms of overall achievement, one of the biggest success stories of the year for CU Athletics might have been the performance of its women's teams in nearly every sport:
- Colorado's women's cross country team won its second straight Pac-12 Conference championship, helping CU sweep the men's and women's titles for the second straight year. The Buffs women then went on to claim the NCAA Mountain Region title before finishing third in the NCAA Championships, recording four individual All-American performances in the process.
- Danny Sanchez's soccer team bounced back from a tough 2015 season in a spectacular manner. After finishing last in the conference the year prior and being picked to finish 10th in the Pac-12 in 2016, the Buffs posted a 15-6-1 record, tying for the most wins in program history. Colorado finished in a tie for second in the conference standings and then defeated Oklahoma State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to third-ranked South Carolina in the second round. Colorado finished No. 23 in the nation in the final coaches poll.
- In volleyball, the Buffs produced five wins over top-20 teams as well as a victory over rival Colorado State. CU reached as reached as high as No. 16 in the national rankings, and although the Buffs slipped down the stretch in the Pac-12, it was still a nice step forward for first-year head coach Jesse Mahoney.
- While separate men's and women's champions aren't crowned in skiing, CU's female skiers played a huge role in helping the Buffs to the program's 28th RMISA championship and a runner-up finish in the NCAA Championships. CU's women outscored their counterparts from every other school and won two individual national titles in the process, as Petra Hyncicova swept the nordic races.
- CU's women's basketball team also produced a major turnaround. First-year coach JR Payne's Buffs knocked off No. 15 Kentucky early in the season, then climbed as high as No. 15 in the national polls in nonconference play. The Buffs then held their own in the rugged Pac-12, including a win at nationally ranked Cal, and finished with a 17-16 overall record (12-6 at home). They were rewarded with a WNIT berth and advanced to the tourney's Sweet 16, knocking of UNLV and South Dakota State before falling at Iowa.
- On the indoor track, the CU women enjoyed an extremely successful season. The Buffs finished third in the 18-team MPSF indoor championships, then claimed a top-10 NCAA finish (seventh place), as Dani Jones became the first CU athlete ever — man or woman — to win a pair of NCAA indoor titles in the same season when she anchored the winning distance medley relay team and then claimed the 3,000-meter title.
- Spring produced the blossoming of Ann Elliott's lacrosse program. In just the program's fourth year of existence, the Buffs finished second in the MPSF regular season and conference tournament while knocking off four top-20 teams in the process — including the program's first-ever win over Stanford. The Buffs finished with a 16-4 record and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Anne Kelly's golf team was once again a steady performer, finishing second in the Pac-12 tournament and earning an NCAA regionals berth.
- At the Pac-12 outdoor track championships, the CU women turned heads in a big way with a third-place finish — their best ever in the Pac-12 — to go with four individual titles.
The Buffs — women and men — also matched that success in the classroom. A near-record 23 Buffs had perfect 4.0 grade-point averages last year, and 186 student-athletes (out of 360) attained a 3.0 GPA or better. Overall, the fall grade point average for all student-athletes was 2.953, the second-best on record since CU began compiling the information 20 years ago and the fifth straight semester with at least a 2.9 average (out of six on record).
So why the success on so many fronts?
Truth is, there is no one reason. Rather, it is simply what Athletic Director Rick George consistently refers to as a "winning culture." George not only encourages success in every area, he does his best to provide the tools necessary to attain that success — whether it be in terms of facilities, academic support, nutrition, counseling or coaching. All are part of the formula and all are top-flight — and without any one of them, the foundation would not be as strong.
Still, there is no doubt CU's new facilities have played — and will continue to play — a major role in Colorado's climb to the elite level.
As mentioned previously, the just-concluded academic year is the first full year that all of those facilities were available. That includes not only the Champions Center locker room and weight room, but the dramatically renovated Dal Ward Center and the new Indoor Practice Facility.
The Dal Ward Center now not only houses CU's academic support systems, but it also includes Olympic sports locker rooms and weight rooms. It was a facility that was drastically needed and is greatly appreciated by the athletes. (By the way, from the department of "money where your mouth is," the women's lockers in the Dal Ward Center bear the name of Rick and Nancy George, the result of a generous donation on their part.)
How big a difference have the facilities made? From the perspective of someone who is around the student-athletes on a regular basis, it would be hard to overstate their importance.
No doubt the new facilities have improved performance. The IPF provides a more-than-ample practice area that is available to every team no matter the weather. CU's track teams have clearly benefited greatly from its presence, as has the football team. But is also utilized by many of the other teams as an offseason strength and conditioning area as well as a space that is always available for volunteer offseason workouts.
Simply, bad weather is no longer a factor when it comes to preparation for any CU team. Neither is locker room space, weight room time or training room facilities. Colorado has made sure that all of those necessities are world class.
But just as important as the practice, strength/conditioning and training room benefits are the mental aspects.
CU's athletes now know they have the full and unfettered support of their administration. They know CU's mission statement — "To provide a world-class student-athlete experience" — isn't just words on paper. It is not mere lip service.
It is truly a dedicated effort that begins at the top and permeates throughout the department, a culture that has been developed and continues to be fortified through actions.
The athletes know it. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices. They know they have the support of not only their coaches, but also of their administration. They know that not only are their performance needs being addressed, so are their academic needs, their nutritional requirements and their mental well-being.
It is truly a holistic approach that is producing outstanding results at every level by developing a culture that builds off one of the oldest axioms in sports: success breeds success. As one coach recently told me, "Our kids want to succeed because they know everyone here supports them. They see what they have and they are inspired to be their very best. Honestly — they know someone has their back. There are a lot of places where that just isn't the case."
Of course, the process of developing that culture is one that is never complete. It is an ongoing, evolving process that requires constant adjustment.
And, to be honest, neither are the facility improvements complete. CU is still pushing to hit the finish line for its "Drive For $105 Million" — and even when that is reached, there will always be upgrades necessary to keep CU from falling behind.
But as someone who has watched the development of CU Athletics now for 40 years, the last two years have been eye opening.
Certainly Colorado has enjoyed successful eras in the past. It is a department rich in tradition and brimming with success stories throughout its history.
But in terms of overall health, in terms of success at every level — women's sports, men's sports, academics, student-athlete health and mental well-being — this truly has the chance to be an era that will go down as a golden age in the long and storied history of CU Athletics.
The foundation has been built and the culture has been firmly embedded.
If you are a fan of the University of Colorado — in any regard — it is a culture worth supporting.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
