Chris Kingston Introduced At BGSU

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People. Resources. Opportunities.

According to the newest head of the Falcon family, those are the three components that make up the formula for success.

From the start, today's press conference to introduce Chris Kingston, Bowling Green State University's 13th Director of Athletics, clearly demonstrated Kingston's vision for the future of BGSU Athletics.

Kingston's three-pronged plan to make the Falcons a force for years to come in the Mid-American Conference makes use of everything he has at his disposal.

Kingston began by talking about people. "I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the people of the Falcon family. It starts with the leadership of President Mazey. She is a high-energy, strategic, big thinker who is not interested in mediocrity," he said. "My desire for this job went through the roof when I learned how her values align with mine and the vision we share for BG."

He noted the outreach he has already received from boosters, including Bill Frack, whom he talked to for 45 minutes on the day after he accepted the position. Kingston also highlighted the combined academic and athletic achievements of the Falcon student-athletes.

Bowling Green's drive to optimize resources across campus has left a strong impression on Kingston, who said, "The work that has occurred in athletics in the facilities here is most impressive, and my hat is off to Greg Christopher for keeping athletics relevant through upgraded facilities here at BG." He added, "The work that's planned across campus in both renovation and new construction demonstrates the commitment that exists."

Kingston called the commitment "progressive" and believes that it will lead potential Falcons to put BGSU at the top of their lists when they decide where to attend college. According to Kingston, that's exactly where BGSU belongs – at the top of those lists.

He elaborated further by creating a goal to reach an operating budget that equals the average for all Mid-American Conference schools. He believes that BGSU will overachieve if it reaches this goal, given the school's student-athletes, facilities and high-quality staff and coaches. This goal can be achieved through new and existing partnerships, and his experience shows that there is a formula that works.

To explain the final prong of his strategy for success, Kingston began by stating a belief that things often viewed as challenges are what he views as opportunities. He said, "I see real opportunity as our athletic facilities are literally the billboard for this great university, where 54,000 cars travel by on I-75 every day."

He added, "We have a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on our new affiliation with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The WCHA is a strong hockey conference with a record of producing national championships, and Falcon hockey strengthens that profile as we bring our 1984 national championship resume and current unlimited potential to the table."

Kingston also believes that BGSU's long-standing membership in the Mid-American Conference is an opportunity. Specifically, the stability of the league through the rapid conference realignment that has occurred over the last few years is a competitive advantage for BGSU and gives the school an opportunity to achieve.

He believes that there are opportunities in what BGSU teams are doing right now, in terms of MAC championships, post-season play and the potential that other teams have demonstrated. He wants to match resources to expectations.

Ultimately, Kingston wants to parlay these opportunities into such on-field success that BGSU finds itself in the top 100 of the Director's Cup standings. That would place Bowling Green in the top third of Division I.

In the question-and-answer session that followed Kingston's prepared remarks, he was asked what attracted him to Bowling Green. Kingston said that some people were interested in any job that came along, and that there are bad jobs out there, where schools don't have money or resources and have no chance to get them. He did not want that and does not believe that BGSU is that type of place. He also said that he wanted to find a place for his family, and that place is Bowling Green.

Kingston was also asked about what his first action will be when he officially begins work in July. He said that he wanted to meet with everyone, from staff to coaches, and find out what they need to do their job better and achieve. He said, "I don't know what I don't know" and that the most important thing he can do first is learn and listen.

To close the press conference, Kingston was faced with choosing the better rivalry – BGSU versus Toledo or Army versus Navy. He said that he doesn't like Navy and doesn't like the school up north and called it a great, marquee rivalry. It doesn't matter what sport it is. Kingston said, "We're going to beat them. That's our goal."

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Chris Kingston Introduced At BGSU

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