Liberty University Lady Flames Women's Basketball 2012-13 Season Guide
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2012-13 Liberty University lady flames basketball athletics administration Athletics Administration athletics administration Jeff Barber was named the Director of Athletics at Liberty University on Jan. 23, 2006, becoming the 10th Director of Athletics in the history of the university. Liberty has charged Barber with the leadership of the athletics department and the building of a strong financial basis for the department which will guide Liberty Athletics into the ranks of the nation's elite NCAA Division I programs. In Barber's six years at Liberty, he has been instrumental in guiding Liberty on a path to the next level of collegiate athletics. His efforts were recognized in June 2012, when he was named the FCS Under Armour AD of the Year for the Southeast Region. Along those lines, it was announced at the May 2012 Commencement ceremony that Liberty has successfully completed an FBS Feasibility study and is seeking NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference affiliation for its 20-team athletics program. Barber has spearheaded facility improvement projects in every athletics venue, highlighted by Williams Stadium, the Vines Center, Worthington Stadium, the Hershey-Esbenshade Tennis Courts, the Cook Tennis Center, Osborne Stadium, the Luurtsema Center, the Liberty Field Hockey and Lacrosse Fields, and the Campus East Field House. Moreover, several more projects are expected to be completed during the 2012-13 athletic year, highlighted by a new, 2,500-seat baseball stadium. Additionally, a new basketball practice facility is being constructed behind the Vines Center, with 1.5 courts for both the men's and women's programs, and the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex is undergoing a complete overhaul. In 2010, Barber oversaw a major expansion of Williams Stadium, increasing the complex's seating capacity from 12,000 to 19,200 seats. The project also included construction of a brand new five-story tower, equipped with a fully-functional press box, an 11,000-square foot Flames Club pavilion and 18 luxury suites. Mickey Guridy Senior Associate Athletics Director – Internal Operations Bob Good Associate Athletics Director for Development and Flames Club Director Meredith Eaker Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator bert locklin Associate Athletics Director for Compliance Barber has also guided the Flames to success on the athletics field of competition, highlighted by an unprecedented five consecutive Big South Sasser Cup championships, bringing Liberty's total to 10. The Flames' success has garnered national attention on several levels, earning Barber a four-year appointment to the NCAA's Leadership Council, beginning with the 2012-13 academic year. Barber serves as the Big South Conference chair for the league's television development and baseball committees. He sits on the Big South committees for football, budgets, and track/cross country, while he also took part in the Big South Conference 25th Anniversary celebration committee. Barber is a member of NACDA and NAAD and served on the Board of Directors for the Child Evangelism Fellowship for Central Virginia (past member), and also on the Board of Directors for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Barber brought a wealth of experience in the areas of athletic fundraising and administration to Liberty University, including 25 previous years in the athletic industry. Barber came to Liberty after spending 11 years at South Carolina, including his last three years as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development/ Gamecock Club Executive Director. Barber served on the senior management team at South Carolina for nine years, helping raise more than $14 million annually. Barber supervised the solicitation and receipt of over $85 million during his tenure at South Carolina, setting records each year in annual gifts to the Gamecock Club, which was at 16,500 members when he finished. Prior to his days at South Carolina, Barber served five years at Furman in Greenville, S.C., starting as Executive Director of the Paladin Club in 1991, before being promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs in 1994. Barber graduated cum laude from East Carolina in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. In 1997, he continued his education with a degree from the Sports Management Institute, graduating as class spokesman. Barber, a native of Greenville, N.C., is married to the former Donna Dacus and the couple has three children – Katie (17), Lindsay (15), and Jay (14). Kristie Beitz Associate Athletics Director Academic Affairs for Athletics mike minyard Associate Athletics Director for Sales and Promotions Kevin Keys Director of Athletics Marketing Todd Wetmore Associate Athletics Director for Communications Dr. William Gribbin NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative anna whitehurst Assistant Athletics Director for Ticket Operations 2012-13 lady flames basketball GUIDE Jeff Barber Director of Athletics 61