Grand Canyon University Athletics
Lopes stand for VP who stands for them
4/26/2021 5:13:00 PM | General, Paul Coro
GCU Athletics members hail Boggs' promotion at press conference
As Jamie Boggs took the podium in front of a huge GCU Arena screen proclaiming her "Vice President of Athletics" for Grand Canyon, Dr. David Pootrakul did what he has done as her proud father for all of her life – took photos from the front row – while her doting children, 7-year-old Lilia and 10-year-old Aiden, and supportive husband, Matthew, watched with full hearts.
The admiration did not end there on Monday.
The stage, floor and arena seats included GCU administrators, coaches, staffers and student-athletes who feel they are in a better place because of what Boggs' selfless leadership has done since arriving at GCU in January 2015.
More than a promotion, Monday's gathering was a celebration of what has been achieved in Phoenix by one of its native daughters. There is a common impression of Boggs'
dedication to the GCU mission and betterment of student-athletes, whether it be President Brian Mueller's endorsement or that of a Lopes student-athlete who found Boggs to be approachable and influential when she needed that from a strong female role model.
"You are someone that I truly look up to and admire as a woman of faith," said Kaira Moss, an All-WAC volleyball player who received a master's degree in October. "You care for the student-athletes and allow everyone to feel heard. I can truly say that GCU Athletics will be in good hands and will be led in the right direction."
Andy Stankiewicz has worked closely with Boggs for her entire GCU tenure, which followed administrative roles at Duke and Georgia State. He quickly leaned how Boggs' drive and intelligence benefited GCU Athletics.
"She is passionate about her position here and the mission statement of the university, what this university is about, what it has always been about and what it will continue to be about," Stankiewicz said. "We are fortunate as a coaching staff and our student-athletes are fortunate to have somebody like Jamie Boggs in charge of our athletic department."
Boggs has carried on what has worked at GCU, melding the University model into the Athletics way. The Lopes weaved new basketball coaches into the fabric of GCU last year and hit unprecedented success in both programs this year.
The Lopes men's team reached the NCAA tournament for the first time while the women's team made its WAC Tournament championship game debut, but both feats were reached with sustainable models that set up recruiting and the future.
GCU women's basketball head coach Molly Miller said she found an inspiring, innovative "thought leader" in a president and an athletic director.
"It's really, really special to work for someone that cares and invests that much," Miller said. "I've seen that firsthand in my first year with Jamie. She's also inspirational to me personally as a mom. She's an amazing mom. She's a driven career woman. I just thank you, Jamie, for that role model that you are to me."
In his first year as men's basketball head coach, Bryce Drew learned he could trust Boggs. Her initial words about the GCU community proved true. Her advice played into the right decisions. Her priorities put GCU and faith first.
"From Day 1, I felt a partnership that she wants our program to be successful," Drew said. "She's going to fight for us for our program to be successful, but she's never going to compromise the mission of our school and what our president wants our school to stand for."
Everyone stood for Boggs on Monday, instead of her always standing up for them.
The GCU community rose in praise for her moment, for which Boggs shifted focus. She wanted to highlight the University after Mueller praised her for leading WAC athletic directors to a game-changing expansion and GCU Athletics to improvement in competition, classes and community involvement.
"We want to win conference championships consistently and we want to be consistently competitive for national championships," Boggs said. "Student-athlete well-being and student-athlete welfare are always a priority for us and we will continue to put that in the forefront of everything that we do. We are very fortunate to be at a place like GCU, where student satisfaction across the board is very high because of our community feel, a very robust campus life and our student-centered approach."
The admiration did not end there on Monday.
The stage, floor and arena seats included GCU administrators, coaches, staffers and student-athletes who feel they are in a better place because of what Boggs' selfless leadership has done since arriving at GCU in January 2015.
More than a promotion, Monday's gathering was a celebration of what has been achieved in Phoenix by one of its native daughters. There is a common impression of Boggs'
dedication to the GCU mission and betterment of student-athletes, whether it be President Brian Mueller's endorsement or that of a Lopes student-athlete who found Boggs to be approachable and influential when she needed that from a strong female role model."You are someone that I truly look up to and admire as a woman of faith," said Kaira Moss, an All-WAC volleyball player who received a master's degree in October. "You care for the student-athletes and allow everyone to feel heard. I can truly say that GCU Athletics will be in good hands and will be led in the right direction."
Andy Stankiewicz has worked closely with Boggs for her entire GCU tenure, which followed administrative roles at Duke and Georgia State. He quickly leaned how Boggs' drive and intelligence benefited GCU Athletics.
"She is passionate about her position here and the mission statement of the university, what this university is about, what it has always been about and what it will continue to be about," Stankiewicz said. "We are fortunate as a coaching staff and our student-athletes are fortunate to have somebody like Jamie Boggs in charge of our athletic department."
Boggs has carried on what has worked at GCU, melding the University model into the Athletics way. The Lopes weaved new basketball coaches into the fabric of GCU last year and hit unprecedented success in both programs this year.
The Lopes men's team reached the NCAA tournament for the first time while the women's team made its WAC Tournament championship game debut, but both feats were reached with sustainable models that set up recruiting and the future.
GCU women's basketball head coach Molly Miller said she found an inspiring, innovative "thought leader" in a president and an athletic director.
"It's really, really special to work for someone that cares and invests that much," Miller said. "I've seen that firsthand in my first year with Jamie. She's also inspirational to me personally as a mom. She's an amazing mom. She's a driven career woman. I just thank you, Jamie, for that role model that you are to me."
In his first year as men's basketball head coach, Bryce Drew learned he could trust Boggs. Her initial words about the GCU community proved true. Her advice played into the right decisions. Her priorities put GCU and faith first.
"From Day 1, I felt a partnership that she wants our program to be successful," Drew said. "She's going to fight for us for our program to be successful, but she's never going to compromise the mission of our school and what our president wants our school to stand for."
Everyone stood for Boggs on Monday, instead of her always standing up for them.
The GCU community rose in praise for her moment, for which Boggs shifted focus. She wanted to highlight the University after Mueller praised her for leading WAC athletic directors to a game-changing expansion and GCU Athletics to improvement in competition, classes and community involvement.
"We want to win conference championships consistently and we want to be consistently competitive for national championships," Boggs said. "Student-athlete well-being and student-athlete welfare are always a priority for us and we will continue to put that in the forefront of everything that we do. We are very fortunate to be at a place like GCU, where student satisfaction across the board is very high because of our community feel, a very robust campus life and our student-centered approach."
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