Sometimes the Nice Finish First

by Damian Secore

Fall 2004

This fall marks the beginning of Nancy Simpson’s 10th full school year as CSUSB director of athletics, her “tin” anniversary if you will. Yet when reflecting upon the evolution of the athletic program since she officially took over in February of 1995, that term “tin” doesn’t seem appropriate, because Simpson has set a gold standard within CSUSB athletics.

Scholarship money is up (a 2001 referendum increased annual monies by $280,000 a year), as are many championship banners in the rafters of Coussoulis Arena. The men’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams have emerged as the university’s marquee programs, and the arena as the crown jewel of the many sport facilities introduced during Simpson’s tenure.

You can’t say Simpson, 49, had foreseen it all upon arriving at CSUSB in 1991 as associate director of athletics and senior women’s administrator. But today’s athletic landscape was certainly one she had envisioned. “We were able to make the move into NCAA Division II as kind of the new kid on the block. We were fledgling. Now we’re established,’’ Simpson said. “My hopes and expectations have always been the same. I’m just at a different juncture now.’’

Simpson arrived at this successful juncture by acting upon the values with which she was raised. Surround yourself with the same kind of people and it will breed success. Colleagues repeatedly mention her redeeming qualities of sincerity and overwhelming kindness, integrity, loyalty and energy before athletic accolades are ever introduced.

CSUSB President Albert Karnig sees still more in Simpson’s legacy. “She’s a good recruiter of coaches. She’s a good supporter of coaches and a good colleague with them. Secondly, she really does emphasize the integrity of the program, and that’s not always been the case here. Thirdly, and this is really, really important, almost all of our kids carry themselves nicely. And finally, they are increasingly winning teams.

The only person that refrains from talking up Simpson is Simpson, who prefers to remain behind the scenes. “If you ever compliment her, she just can’t handle it. She gets embarrassed,” said Laura Watkins, the CSUSB head trainer for the past 20 years who served on the committee that originally hired Simpson.

Family atmosphere

Simpson was raised in Smyrna and Marietta, Ga., before packing up and driving west for UC Riverside, where she was hired to coach women’s basketball and softball, and teach several physical education classes at the ripe age of 23. Those famous notions of southern 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 and they’re, like, ‘That can’t be real.’ She comes into work every day in a good mood, loving her job. And it’s infectious. It makes you want to be at work. She respects everyone. That is rare, especially in this day and age, and especially in Southern California. She’s just good to the bone.”

The athletic department is Simpson’s extended family. She allows her coaches the autonomy to do their jobs without micromanaging. At the same time, a simple trick keeps heads popping into her office. “I’ll have candy on my desk. People love chocolate,’’ Simpson said. “I have an open-door policy. I feel I serve them, 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 very delicate balance for her because she has a personal relationship with those she works with but at the same time she has to be the boss, and everyone knows it.’’

Blazing new trails

There was a time, in the early to mid 1990s, when CSUSB athletes made more news for unflattering incidents away from their play than they did for any competitive success. Simpson’s mission statement in taking over – “I wanted to be sure we have winning grades and a winning image” – helped to rid CSUSB of much of that tainted history. Now, the average CSUSB athlete carries a grade point average of about 3.0 and athletics generate a source of greater pride for the university.

It took a strong woman to become one of the first female administrators in college athletics in Southern California, first at UCR. It’s likely there were stereotypes and barriers facing Simpson, whether she was aware of them or not, some in upper management and others in executive positions. Yet Simpson’s prominence is illustrated by her continued service on the NCAA Division II Championship Committee, as CCAA president (among athletic directors) last year, and she is a consistent advocate of Title IX. She established the women’s water polo program as CSUSB’s seventh NCAA-sanctioned female sport, to go with CSUSB’s four men’s sports. “Our compliance with Title IX, I know that is one of the things she is most proud of,’’ CSUSB men’s basketball coach Jeff Oliver said. “Nancy is very by-the-book.’’ Added CCAA commissioner Robert Hiegert: “Nancy Simpson has been a great role model for the new women administrators working on CCAA campuses.”

Shared loyalty

CSUSB’s athletics program has maintained high levels of success and experienced marked improvement in other areas, due in part to continuity with Simpson’s coaching staff. That’s why it was so difficult for former CSUSB basketball coach Larry Reynolds to tell Simpson, who knew him as a UCR assistant and gave him his first head coaching opportunity in 1997, he was leaving for Long Beach State. “I was an assistant coach for 18 years before and if she hadn’t hired me I’d probably still be an assistant coach,” Reynolds said.

By the time he left CSUSB in 2002, the university’s premier program had established such success it could have easily overlooked Jeff Oliver. He had no previous NCAA head coaching experience. But Simpson has always tried to reward people she is familiar with, not out of favoritism but because she knows the caliber of people she chooses to associate with and trusts them. “One of her best attributes is her fairness,’’ Oliver said. “She allowed me to have a tremendous opportunity … to show I was the man for the job and I’m extremely grateful. She’s extremely loyal. She could have opened up the job and flown it (outside the university).’’

Channeling energy, emotions Simpson shows an amazing ability to spread herself over many duties and projects and still be upbeat at the end of a day. “Nancy’s true spirit was no better displayed than this (past) year,’’ Hiegert said. “In spite of the devastating fires and terrible budget cuts, CSUSB had one of its best years, hosting three championship events – NCAA volleyball, NCAA basketball and CCAA baseball – in addition to CCAA presidential duties. Nancy operated as the same person.’’

Simpson’s sporting background stems from her playing days at Berry College in Georgia. There, she was a four-year letter winner in volleyball and basketball, in which she was MVP of the 1976 national championship team (small college division) before the NCAA recognized women’s sports. Her emotional release is outdoors, be it boating on the Colorado River or golfing, but anyone who has seen Simpson at a CSUSB athletic event knows her competitive juices prevent her from sitting still during big games and climactic moments. Cherniss’ favorite Simpson pose is when Simpson clasps her hands onto her cheeks while sighing. Yet Simpson wouldn’t trade those moments for anything else. Not even for vacation. “I couldn’t wait to get back to work. I wanted to see everyone. I was so excited,’’ Simpson said in describing her return from a family trip to Amelia Island, Fla., in July. It is Simpson’s pleasure to work for CSUSB. But her colleagues will tell you she is worth her weight in gold, not tin.

Damian Secore is a freelance writer living in Highland, Calif. He writes most frequently for The Sun newspaper in San Bernardino, and is a 1996 graduate of CSUSB with his degree in communications.

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