04 Fall2.indd - CSUSB Magazine - California State University, San ...

N o L i m i t sPACKTHE DEN — For Nancy Simpson, contact with Coyote coaches and players is not all business. On occasion, she celebrates with teams at her home in Victorville.Sometimes the Nice Finish Firstby Damian SecoreThis fall marks the beginning of Nancy Simpson’s 10th fullschool year as CSUSB director of athletics, her “tin” anniversaryif you will. Yet when reflecting upon the evolution of the athleticprogram since she officially took over in February of 1995, thatterm “tin” doesn’t seem appropriate, because Simpson has set agold standard within CSUSB athletics.Scholarship money is up (a 2001 referendum increased annualmonies by $280,000 a year), as are many championship banners inthe rafters of Coussoulis Arena. The men’s basketball and women’svolleyball teams have emerged as the university’s marqueeprograms, and the arena as the crown jewel of the many sportfacilities introduced during Simpson’s tenure.You can’t say Simpson, 49, had foreseen it all upon arriving atCSUSB in 1991 as associate director of athletics and senior women’sadministrator. But today’s athletic landscape was certainly oneshe had envisioned. “We were able to make the move into NCAADivision II as kind of the new kid on the block. We were fledgling.Now we’re established,’’ Simpson said. “My hopes and expectationshave always been the same. I’m just at a different juncturenow.’’Simpson arrived at this successful juncture by acting upon thevalues with which she was raised. Surround yourself with the samekind of people and it will breed success. Colleagues repeatedlymention her redeeming qualities of sincerity and overwhelmingkindness, integrity, loyalty and energy before athletic accolades areever introduced.CSUSB President Albert Karnig sees still more in Simpson’s legacy.“She’s a good recruiter of coaches. She’s a good supporter ofcoaches and a good colleague with them. Secondly, she really doesemphasize the integrity of the program, and that’s not always beenthe case here. Thirdly, and this is really, really important, almost allof our kids carry themselves nicely. And finally, they are increasinglywinning teams.The only person that refrains from talking up Simpson isSimpson, who prefers to remain behind the scenes. “If you evercompliment her, she just can’t handle it. She gets embarrassed,”said Laura Watkins, the CSUSB head trainer for the past 20 yearswho served on the committee that originally hired Simpson.Family atmosphereSimpson was raised in Smyrna and Marietta, Ga., before packingup and driving west for UC Riverside, where she was hired tocoach women’s basketball and softball, and teach several physicaleducation classes at the ripe age of 23. Those famous notions ofsouthern charm and hospitality never left her.“Probably the No. 1 quality she has is she is just so nice,’’CSUSB volleyball coach Kim Cherniss said. “People meet her andthey’re, like, ‘That can’t be real.’ She comes into work every dayin a good mood, loving her job. And it’s infectious. It makes youwant to be at work. She respects everyone. That is rare, especiallyin this day and age, and especially in Southern California. She’s justgood to the bone.”The athletic department is Simpson’s extended family. Sheallows her coaches the autonomy to do their jobs without micromanaging.At the same time, a simple trick keeps heads poppinginto her office. “I’ll have candy on my desk. People love chocolate,’’Simpson said. “I have an open-door policy. I feel I servethem, too.”Added Cherniss: “She can be really goofy and she’s very girly,too. She has that Southern belle quality, it’s really cool. It’s a verydelicate balance for her because she has a personal relationshipwith those she works with but at the same time she has to be theboss, and everyone knows it.’’Fall/Winter 2004TRACKS319CSUSB