With Excitement, Jarmond Era Begins At BC

For Boston College's fans and supporters, a simple weekend of sports games became a whirlwind of excitement. On the field, the Jay McGillis Spring Game stood as a twinned spotlight against the ALS Awareness Game at Fenway Park, flanked by softball, lacrosse, golf and more. The games had a new, palpable excitement to them.

The announcement of a new athletics director changed virtually everything. An energetic rising star with a sterling reputation, Martin Jarmond electrified Chestnut Hill, oozing excitement through its pores. On Monday, the initial layers and build up only continued as Eagles fans everywhere got their first look at the fabled department's next leader.

Standing at a podium in the Yawkey Center at Alumni Stadium, the former UNC-Wilmington Seahawk, Michigan State Spartan and Ohio State Buckeye carefully laid out his first plans for the future. Exhibiting the same charisma that excited both BC and Ohio State fans, it was a watershed moment for the newest Boston College Eagle, who will formally assume his position in June.

"Our goal is two-fold," Jarmond said during his press conference. "(We intend) to help develop the academic, athletic, spiritual and social dimensions of our student-athletes, and to win. We have a wonderful opportunity and calling to lead, inspire and inform our young men and women each and every day. It is our shared responsibility as teachers, mentors and coaches to give our student-athletes the best change to be successful when they leave The Heights."

At Boston College, athletics are never just success on the field. The Eagles strive for success in the classroom and in the community, executing the school's central Jesuit mission. As a result, there's a unique set of challenges and opportunities in Chestnut Hill, one where student-athletes excel in the classroom while maintaining hyper-competitive atmospheres within their sports.

"(The committee's) charge was to identify candidates who were successful, proven leaders in intercollegiate athletics with experience at the highest level and who could motivate and inspire," Father William Leahy, S.J., president of Boston College, said. "Also whose vision and approach would link athletics, academics, excellence and integrity, and who could contribute to BC's mission as a top tier university committed to its distinctive educational and religious heritage, one shaped by Jesuit Catholic beliefs and values."

"I saw opportunity with BC athletics," Jarmond said. "It's a high academic institution and that was very attractive for me. You know, it doesn't get any better academically anywhere in the country than Boston College.

"Second, you're in the ACC," he continued. "I want to compete against the best and the ACC is the top, if not the one of the top conferences. I grew up in North Carolina. I grew up following the ACC. I know about the ACC. So that was attractive."

What separates Jarmond is his vision. Before even assuming the BC office, he is already passionately laying out his plans for the future. What happens in those plans is still unknown and likely won't be for some time. What does happen, however, will adhere to central axioms laid out on Monday afternoon.

"First (is) passion," Jarmond said. "Passion is contagious. It spreads, and it is the fuel that builds momentum. Second is alignment. As an athletics department, university, and a BC community at large, we all must understand our shared goals and the roles each of us play that is required to win. And finally, competitive excellence. Winning requires vision, preparation, focus and commitment. Our vision for consistent, competitive excellence in all that we do. We need to be the most prepared team. We need to be focused on the process. The details do matter and we need a relentless commitment to what it takes to win."

That outline is already endearing Jarmond to his constituents. In a "pro sports city" like Boston, accepting and carving out a niche, instead of competing against the plethora of championship-caliber professional teams, is more opportunity than challenge. It requires understanding the fan experience and its uniqueness to the Boston College sports landscape. It requires blending since the experience isn't exclusive to one group or demographic.

"You have to envision the customer from their home to when they get to Conte or Alumni," Jarmond said. "You have to look at the whole process and understand the challenges they're going to go through. So every component of the game day experience starts when our customers, our fans are at home. That's something I will evaluate. I'm very hands on when it comes to the customer experience.

"Once they're here, we have to look at our audience, and we're unique because we have a lot of different constituents. We have to find that right balance and mix to entertain and attract all those different groups, and it can be done, but you have to be really intentional with that experience of how you approach it," he continued.

Ultimately, this is the starting point of his tenure. The road ahead will be long and winding with highs and lows. Jarmond's impact on BC isn't an overnight change or implementation. But it's a solid starting point, one defined by excitement and energy.

"I think Martin Jarmond meets (the) criteria in impressive ways," Fr. Leahy said. "He knows firsthand the pressures and joys of intercollegiate sports as a former basketball player at UNC-Wilmington and as an administrator in increasingly responsible positions at Michigan State and Ohio State. He appreciates the opportunities and challenges of leading our athletics program. He also works hard, engages easily with people, clearly cares about others, and has great energy and enthusiasm."

"We want all of our 31 programs to be competitive at high levels," Jarmond said. "That doesn't change. Obviously, with those revenue sports, there's more spotlight on them, and you do need them from a revenue standpoint to really do well. So that's something we focus on, but, again, I want our whole athletics program to be competitive and understand what we're trying to accomplish."

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