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Do IT this week: Layering
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:08 p.m. EDT, Aug 24, 2009
On the eve of a new school year and sports season, Kent State already is facing a major hole in its lineup.
Laing Kennedy, who has served as KSU's director of athletics since 1994, announced Monday that he is retiring, effective June 30, 2010.
''This is my guy. This is a bittersweet moment for Kent State,'' said Dr. Lester A. Lefton, university president at a press conference Monday at the M.A.C. Center. ''If you look at where Kent State athletics is today, it's really quite extraordinary what he and his coaches have put together. Laing is going to be a tough guy to replace.''
Kennedy, 69, said the idea to retire came to him early in the summer when he watched his three grandchildren play sports in the Baltimore area.
''When you visit your family, you think this wouldn't be a bad thing to do every day.'' he said.
In Kennedy's tenure, KSU teams have won 85 Mid-American Conference championships and 83 student-athletes have gained All-American honors.
In addition, Kent State has been the top MAC school in the Director's Cup standings for nine of the past 10 years and 12 times in the award's 16-year history. The Director's Cup measures a school's academic and athletic performance.
''It has been an extraordinary set of years,'' Lefton said about the Kennedy era. ''You don't build a winning tradition overnight. In the last 15 years, he has worked with his coaching staffs to ensure we have a student-focused, ethical program.''
Kennedy said he and his wife, Saundra, will remain in the area, and be active in various activities.
''I am looking forward to this last year with excitement and anticipation,'' Kennedy said. ''It's been a wonderful, wonderful life for Saundra and I in this community and we look forward to continuing that.''
Kennedy, a native of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, was an All-American goalie for the Cornell University hockey team. He later served 11 years as athletic director at his alma mater.
In 1994, he and his wife made the decision to leave central New York for a new life in Northeast Ohio — and has never regretted the bold move.
''I love my job. I love what I do each and every day,'' Kennedy said. ''I get up early and can't wait to get to work because this is a very stimulating, energetic operation that we have here.''
Kennedy said that he decided to announce his retirement 10 months in advance to make it easier to find his successor.
''I thought this might be a good time and I wanted to give Dr. Lefton enough lead time so there could be a transition because my heart and soul is right here at Kent State,'' Kennedy said. ''I want the transition to move smoothly so we won't miss a beat as we continue to develop and grow.''
Lefton said that a national search will begin to replace Kennedy in the future, but not immediately. He also said he believes the new athletic director will benefit from the work of the retiring one.
''We are building from strength to strength rather than having to fix all kinds of problems.'' Lefton said.
''The next person who comes in will be building from strength.''
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
On the eve of a new school year and sports season, Kent State already is facing a major hole in its lineup.
Laing Kennedy, who has served as KSU's director of athletics since 1994, announced Monday that he is retiring, effective June 30, 2010.
''This is my guy. This is a bittersweet moment for Kent State,'' said Dr. Lester A. Lefton, university president at a press conference Monday at the M.A.C. Center. ''If you look at where Kent State athletics is today, it's really quite extraordinary what he and his coaches have put together. Laing is going to be a tough guy to replace.''
Kennedy, 69, said the idea to retire came to him early in the summer when he watched his three grandchildren play sports in the Baltimore area.
''When you visit your family, you think this wouldn't be a bad thing to do every day.'' he said.
In Kennedy's tenure, KSU teams have won 85 Mid-American Conference championships and 83 student-athletes have gained All-American honors.
In addition, Kent State has been the top MAC school in the Director's Cup standings for nine of the past 10 years and 12 times in the award's 16-year history. The Director's Cup measures a school's academic and athletic performance.
''It has been an extraordinary set of years,'' Lefton said about the Kennedy era. ''You don't build a winning tradition overnight. In the last 15 years, he has worked with his coaching staffs to ensure we have a student-focused, ethical program.''
Kennedy said he and his wife, Saundra, will remain in the area, and be active in various activities.
''I am looking forward to this last year with excitement and anticipation,'' Kennedy said. ''It's been a wonderful, wonderful life for Saundra and I in this community and we look forward to continuing that.''
Kennedy, a native of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, was an All-American goalie for the Cornell University hockey team. He later served 11 years as athletic director at his alma mater.
In 1994, he and his wife made the decision to leave central New York for a new life in Northeast Ohio — and has never regretted the bold move.
''I love my job. I love what I do each and every day,'' Kennedy said. ''I get up early and can't wait to get to work because this is a very stimulating, energetic operation that we have here.''
Kennedy said that he decided to announce his retirement 10 months in advance to make it easier to find his successor.
''I thought this might be a good time and I wanted to give Dr. Lefton enough lead time so there could be a transition because my heart and soul is right here at Kent State,'' Kennedy said. ''I want the transition to move smoothly so we won't miss a beat as we continue to develop and grow.''
Lefton said that a national search will begin to replace Kennedy in the future, but not immediately. He also said he believes the new athletic director will benefit from the work of the retiring one.
''We are building from strength to strength rather than having to fix all kinds of problems.'' Lefton said.
''The next person who comes in will be building from strength.''
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 09:45 PM, 08/24/2009
yawn
Kandi, SL
Posted 10:19 PM, 08/24/2009
When it comes to MAC athletics, Kent State rules the roost. 'nuff said!
Highland Square, OH
Posted 10:32 PM, 08/24/2009
YAWN indeed slovesnko.
Posted 07:22 AM, 08/25/2009
Best A.D. in the MAC and one of the best in the country. KSU athletics #1 babeee!
Posted 07:35 AM, 08/25/2009
LK's results from last year alone show his value:
10 MAC championships, six MAC coaches of the year, a victory in the Reese Trophy, a runner-up in the Jacoby Trophy standings, a first-place finish among MAC schools in the Director’s Cup and a No. 2 finish in Texas A&M’s Excellence in Management Cup as the nation’s second most efficient athletic department.
Best AD in the MAC? Not even a question.
Posted 08:23 AM, 08/25/2009
Exactly Susan, Until Akron fans quit bringing bb guns to a gun fight please be quiet. The proof is in the puddin` as they say. This man will be very difficult to replace. Kenndy`s hire 15 years ago will be a watershed moment in Kent State athletics. Rock on KSU!
Posted 09:29 AM, 08/25/2009
Let's look at the facts. Today and yesterday there were two major news stories concerning local Division I universities. On several occasions, the links were right on top of one another...
In the case of Laing Kennedy's story, every single Ohio.com article has been littered with disrespect and garbage spewed from Akron fans. Not one criticism has had any fact or actual point. Each criticism is just as disrespectful as the one before it.
In the case of Akron's new AD, not a single story has been commented on by disrespectful Kent fans. Had any Kent fans commented, you wouldn't even know they were Kent fans because they were respectful comments making valid points that actually pertain to the story.
Now you tell me, which university's students look better? Which university's students are acting in a more respectful manner?
Sadly, these kind of examples can be listed in dozens.
I think I speak for many other Kent fans and alumni when I say we'll take the higher road not by pointing fingers and yelling names, but by actually acting on it.
Posted 01:43 PM, 08/25/2009
Thank you Cloverfield, very well said!
Macedonia, Oh
Posted 04:31 PM, 08/25/2009
Cloverfield - You'd better stop. You're giving yourself a nose bleed over nothing. And BTW, your contrasting Akron and Kent makes no sense whatsoever...as if there is something intrisically evil about UA fans and intrinsically good about kent fans. So, just let it go Mr. Rabid dog.
Posted 09:30 AM, 08/26/2009
Thank you again Jason, for wasting all of our time by adding nothing to this conversation.
