Ron Pavan, newly named athletic director at Cumberland University, was introduced to and honored by a group of the school’s staff, athletic students and supporters during a luncheon at Five Oaks Golf and Country Club on Wednesday.
Entering his 23rd year of coaching and administrative experience, Pavan served as athletic director at NCAA Division II Ohio Valley University for 14 years prior to joining the Cumberland staff this month. While there, he successfully added seven varsity programs to the OVU athletic department; oversaw creation of a booster club; moved OVU athletics from NAIA to NCAA Division II, oversaw development of an indoor baseball/softball complex and was named NJCAA Region 19 Coach of the Year in 1991.
Wendy Nadeau, annual giving coordinator at CU, issued the welcome. Dr. Paul Stumb IV, dean of the Labry School of Business and Technology, handled the opening remarks.
“When we think of Cumberland University, what comes to mind first? The nursing school? Criminal justice?” he asked. “Well, it should be something related to sports. Do you realize Cumberland has over 461 student athletes or that we had the second-place winners in the 2006 NAIA Baseball World Series and had the 2004 baseball world champions. We finished in the top 10 at National Collegiate Cycling Association’s National Championship in 2007, were the Women’s Basketball National Tournament runner-up in 2007 and had the No. 17-ranked men’s tennis team in 2007.”
Stumb ended his remarks that Pavan made him feel guilty because “he could be seen every morning at 5:30 a.m. either running or lifting weights. Of course,” Stumb quipped, “I don’t know if that’s because he’s that ambitious or because his wife and three teenage children haven’t moved here yet and he has those morning hours on his hands with nothing to do.”
Pavan was introduced and recognized all the coaches and athletic students in the crowd. He then stated he and Cumberland were going to be doing things that put them out in the community, such as getting involved in fundraisers for cancer, etc. He maintained he had eight goals he would be aiming to achieve and that would be posted on his wall for the coming year. These included:
Believe in ourselves and our goals.
Help others to believe and achieve.
Win championships.
Make sure all students graduate.
Keep a positive attitude.
Build and improve.
Work hard.
Students first.
“I’m a driven person and I know all the coaches here at Cumberland work hard,” Pavan said. “I want to help make positive changes. I want to be a guy behind the scenes who helps build and support our goals.
“Your backyard isn’t just right here, it’s huge and I wake up every morning asking myself how I can help make these changes. But, I believe great days are ahead for Cumberland.”
In answer to a question raised about the stadium at Cumberland, Pavan admitted they needed to raise funds for a new stadium, but that it was probably three years off as a plan and community support was needed.
Dr. Garvin Maffett, vice president for administration, thanked everyone for coming on behalf of the absent university president, Dr. Harvill Eaton, and board president Dr EdwardThackston. He also recognized Ann Floyd and Sarah Jennings and invited each student there to make it a point to meet them because of the facility donations they and their late husbands and families had made to the sports department of Cumberland.
Joe Gray, vice president for administration, gave the closing remarks. “You’ve got a gem in Ron Pavan,” he said. “Stars don’t make a team. Players and their discipline come first. Pavan knows this and he’s going to be a tremendous asset to our teams at Cumberland.”
