Join ORU Athletics every Friday in a weekly series featuring interviews with coaches and staff members.
10 Questions with Mike Carter, Director of Athletics at Oral Roberts University:
- Personally, how are you doing as you and your staff work from home?
I am doing fine. I miss the camaraderie of our athletic staff and coaches and our good natured banter. I am in contact several times a day with our executive athletic staff and some of the coaches. I don't know about my staff, but I am having to get used to working in a room with a window (there are no offices in the Mabee Center with one). There are things going on outside like golf, and that can be a distraction!
- What are the challenges of conducting department business from home?
It is more difficult to instantly share information and ideas and solve issues of the day without being able to meet face to face in the office. However, working from home requires me to more closely analyze information and determine the easiest and best way to communicate and resolve any issues. In most cases, I can use our reporting structure and contact the Sr. Associate AD over that area and have him or her manage the situation instead of me working down the line. With our great staff, this process is working very efficiently. My biggest challenge is not being able to type very well, which slows the process. I wish I had done better in high school typing class!
- What activities are you doing away from work?
Taking walks with my wife Paula. Touching base with friends to make sure they are doing well and have what they need. Listening to some of my favorite music. One evening this week, our whole family from Chicago to Newport Beach to Tulsa played Charades by Zoom. I have a very creative family!
- What uplifting Bible verses or other literature do you recommend for those who are anxious about the world as it is today?
My favorite verse for anxiety is Philippians 4:4-7. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice. Let all men know your gentleness. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
- What plans are in place to assure the student athletes are being taken care of spiritually and academically?
Our coaches and team chaplains are calling and texting the student-athletes on their teams several times a week to share a Word with them, encourage them and pray with them. During these calls, the coaches are monitoring the academic progress of our student athletes and have a coordinated plan with our outstanding academic staff in the ELI Center to provide tutoring support when needed. The academic staff is also monitoring the academic progress of the student-athletes with them and the faculty to quickly address any anticipated problems.
- What is your expectation of the coaches when they are not allowed to recruit or meet with players?
Our coaches have the same responsibilities and activities as usual. We are just having to approach things differently. While face to face meetings are not occurring, the coaches are actively recruiting using the methods permitted by the NCAA such as texts and phone calls within the permissible time periods. The coaches are in constant contact by phone or text with their players discussing all areas of their lives academically, spiritually, socially and mental health wise. Several times a week, the coaches, along with our trainers and strength coaches, are checking their physical condition and strength training which has been specifically designed for them with workouts that can be done at home with limited weights or no weights and monitoring any rehabilitation of injuries and progress on healing.
- What budget challenges are ahead for the athletic department, as the University approaches the end of its fiscal year in April?
From an expense standpoint, I don't anticipate any significant budget challenges for the remainder of fiscal year 2020 ending April 30th. We were prudent in our scholarship spending this year and will come in well under budget, and from an operations standpoint, we will spend less than the budgeted amount because so many spring events were canceled. We still need to hold our spending to a minimum to help the University finish the year in the black. From a revenue standpoint, our athletic fundraising needed to support our budget is running behind because of cancelled fundraising events and the current economy. We need to raise approximately $100,000 by April 30.
- What can fans and supporters do to help the athletic department?
Keep supporting us the way you always have. The Golden Eagle fans are the greatest and have always been there for us buying tickets, making donations, providing sponsorships, attending games and fundraising events, encouraging our teams, cheering us on in the community, and praying for us.
- What is the latest news on spring sports athletes getting another year of eligibility and how could that potentially affect ORU?
While there are a lot of proponents of spring sports athletes getting another year of eligibility, no decision has been made yet by the NCAA. That decision could come in the next few weeks. If it does happen, it will be great news for our student-athletes and spring teams, but could have a negative economic impact on the athletic budget. We will have to wait to see what decision is made and what the details and financial ramifications of the decision, if any, hold for us. I think it is the right thing to do for our spring student athletes who lost their chance to compete, and we will find a way to work it out if it happens.
- What is your forecast for the athletic department moving into the future?
We are in great shape going forward. We have great coaches, administrators and student athletes who wonderfully represent the University and its mission. Academically, we are doing very well with a 3.3 GPA and a 90% graduation rate. Socially, our student-athletes have already served well over 3,000 hours of community services for more than 25 organizations. Spiritually, our student athletes actively participate and serve in weekly Bible studies, lead monthly FCA groups and organize and run multiple athletic chapels each semester. Competitively, we are poised for the future. Men's basketball had an outstanding year, returns 3 starters and a redshirt starter from a year ago, and is bringing in a stellar recruiting class. Men's soccer is coming off a national top 20 ranking and returning most of its players. Women's and men's golf both won tournaments this year and return all of their starters. Baseball returns most of its starters after hitting its stride just before the season was shut down and will be looking to return to dominance in the Summit League. The future is bright. Go Golden Eagles!
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