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Jim Sterk interivew
Posted on: August 1, 2017 at 09:42:19 CT
FIJItiger MU
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(best answer yet I've heard from MU on MU vs ku)
http://www.hannibal.net/sports/20170731/sterk-opens-up-about-first-year-expectations-and-rivalries
what’s the biggest challenge your department is currently facing?
“There’s been — and it’s historic, they say it goes back to Norm Stewart days — preconceived notions about Mizzou. ... For us to change that perspective and for people to experience it so they feel comfortable sending their sons and daughters to Mizzou is very important, and I think we’re well on our way. ... That was why I was excited about the candidacy of (men’s basketball coach) Cuonzo Martin that was born in St. Louis and can come and really talk about it and be a part of it. And (Assistant Athletics Director for Community Relations) Howard Richards, a former player that we hired six months ago. We’re really putting together a council in St. Louis that can help so we get the message out and hear back from that. I think that challenge was big. When I told (former) interim chancellor Hank Foley, he was surprised that people were actually telling their kids they couldn’t come to Mizzou. I like a good challenge, so I’m up for the task and I really believe in what we’re doing and what the university is about, so I’m excited about that. Turning something like that into a positive is what we’re doing.”
You brought up coach Martin. With the men’s basketball team featuring lots of new talent, what are your expectations for the 2017-2018 season?
“I’m very excited about it. I never try to put a number of wins or things like that, but obviously the goal is compete for a championship and make it to postseason play with each of our sports ... With a bunch of new guys and a great base of (returning) players who I think took their lumps as freshmen and sophomores, the combination of the two could be pretty powerful and it’ll be exciting to see where it ends up.”
The signing of Michael Porter, Jr. has been the talk of the state. Landing a top recruit such as him, what’s the impact you think he could have on rejuvenating the program short-term and long-term?
“The first person that really tried to open my eyes about that was Robin Pingeton, our women’s basketball coach, who’s his aunt. She said, ‘Jim, have you seen him on YouTube?’ I watched him and then I got really excited about the possibility. What I didn’t realize too was, ‘Yeah, you can get a Michael Porter,’ but then the impact that it has on other players. Blake Harris, from North Carolina, who was a top-30 or so player that had committed to Washington is now going to come here. Those kind of players, (incoming four-star signee) Jeremiah Tilmon, others like that, they want to play with somebody like that. So that is even bigger than what I had imagined. That’s really been a positive.”
Is the men’s basketball game between Missouri and Illinois something you hope to continue?
“I heard before I got here that it was one of the better ones. I haven’t seen it at its full potential, but I think this year could hit its potential again. (It can be) a sellout. It’s a good braggin’ rights game.”
Missouri no longer has annual matchups against former Big 12 rival Kansas in football, basketball and other sports. Do you want that rivalry to continue?
“I think it’s moved beyond that. In the SEC, we now have new rivals in Arkansas, Texas A&M and South Carolina. I asked our coaches, ‘Who’s your top three?’ I think only one or two coaches had Kansas even listed in their top three as a rival. I think that’s perceived as something different than what our coaches feel. ... We’re open to playing, and I think there’s reasons why they don’t want to, and I respect that. Like I said, I think we’ve moved beyond it as far as scheduling. We’ve got our hands full and we’ve got plenty of rivals in the Southeastern Conference. ... We’re talking schedules 2023 and beyond, so it doesn’t seem like there’s going to be anything (between Missouri and Kansas) in the near future.”
Final question for you: From the looks of it, you had a good setup in your previous job at San Diego State. What sold you on coming to Missouri, and looking forward, what is it that’s keeping you here?
“I was enjoying life in San Diego. I felt like I was on vacation everyday. I’d look outside my house and there were palm trees and a pool and all that stuff. You can’t beat that weather. I had been there 6 ½, seven years and we had done a lot of things and accomplished a lot, and it felt like, ‘OK, maybe if there’s the right opportunity, I’ll take a look.’ Initially, a friend of mine called and said, ‘Hey, (Missouri) is one I think would fit you very well.’ I had to study it. I pulled it up, and the first picture I see was cows on the quad. I’m thinking, ‘I think those are holsteins.’ I grew up on a dairy farm, and maybe that fits me. I started digging more and more and then I met (former interim) chancellor Foley and he really sold me on the place as well. Then I had a son of a friend who was working in the athletics department and loved the place. Everyone I talked to, it was, ‘This is the place. It’s not what you perceive it as nationally what’s going on at Mizzou.’ I felt like, ‘OK, I think I can come, and I love a challenge.’ I don’t know what it is in my DNA, but I love that and the opportunity to help a program and help a university grow and reach new heights. I think we can do that. So that gets me up in the morning, and then the opportunity to lead a program in the SEC, where you’re able to, because of the resources, provide a great student-athlete experience so they can play at the highest level, graduate at an AAU institution, and we have programming to help them develop as a person — our Mizzou Made program. To help 550 student-athletes do that is a fun job.”
http://www.hannibal.net/sports/20170731/sterk-opens-up-about-first-year-expectations-and-rivalries
what’s the biggest challenge your department is currently facing?
“There’s been — and it’s historic, they say it goes back to Norm Stewart days — preconceived notions about Mizzou. ... For us to change that perspective and for people to experience it so they feel comfortable sending their sons and daughters to Mizzou is very important, and I think we’re well on our way. ... That was why I was excited about the candidacy of (men’s basketball coach) Cuonzo Martin that was born in St. Louis and can come and really talk about it and be a part of it. And (Assistant Athletics Director for Community Relations) Howard Richards, a former player that we hired six months ago. We’re really putting together a council in St. Louis that can help so we get the message out and hear back from that. I think that challenge was big. When I told (former) interim chancellor Hank Foley, he was surprised that people were actually telling their kids they couldn’t come to Mizzou. I like a good challenge, so I’m up for the task and I really believe in what we’re doing and what the university is about, so I’m excited about that. Turning something like that into a positive is what we’re doing.”
You brought up coach Martin. With the men’s basketball team featuring lots of new talent, what are your expectations for the 2017-2018 season?
“I’m very excited about it. I never try to put a number of wins or things like that, but obviously the goal is compete for a championship and make it to postseason play with each of our sports ... With a bunch of new guys and a great base of (returning) players who I think took their lumps as freshmen and sophomores, the combination of the two could be pretty powerful and it’ll be exciting to see where it ends up.”
The signing of Michael Porter, Jr. has been the talk of the state. Landing a top recruit such as him, what’s the impact you think he could have on rejuvenating the program short-term and long-term?
“The first person that really tried to open my eyes about that was Robin Pingeton, our women’s basketball coach, who’s his aunt. She said, ‘Jim, have you seen him on YouTube?’ I watched him and then I got really excited about the possibility. What I didn’t realize too was, ‘Yeah, you can get a Michael Porter,’ but then the impact that it has on other players. Blake Harris, from North Carolina, who was a top-30 or so player that had committed to Washington is now going to come here. Those kind of players, (incoming four-star signee) Jeremiah Tilmon, others like that, they want to play with somebody like that. So that is even bigger than what I had imagined. That’s really been a positive.”
Is the men’s basketball game between Missouri and Illinois something you hope to continue?
“I heard before I got here that it was one of the better ones. I haven’t seen it at its full potential, but I think this year could hit its potential again. (It can be) a sellout. It’s a good braggin’ rights game.”
Missouri no longer has annual matchups against former Big 12 rival Kansas in football, basketball and other sports. Do you want that rivalry to continue?
“I think it’s moved beyond that. In the SEC, we now have new rivals in Arkansas, Texas A&M and South Carolina. I asked our coaches, ‘Who’s your top three?’ I think only one or two coaches had Kansas even listed in their top three as a rival. I think that’s perceived as something different than what our coaches feel. ... We’re open to playing, and I think there’s reasons why they don’t want to, and I respect that. Like I said, I think we’ve moved beyond it as far as scheduling. We’ve got our hands full and we’ve got plenty of rivals in the Southeastern Conference. ... We’re talking schedules 2023 and beyond, so it doesn’t seem like there’s going to be anything (between Missouri and Kansas) in the near future.”
Final question for you: From the looks of it, you had a good setup in your previous job at San Diego State. What sold you on coming to Missouri, and looking forward, what is it that’s keeping you here?
“I was enjoying life in San Diego. I felt like I was on vacation everyday. I’d look outside my house and there were palm trees and a pool and all that stuff. You can’t beat that weather. I had been there 6 ½, seven years and we had done a lot of things and accomplished a lot, and it felt like, ‘OK, maybe if there’s the right opportunity, I’ll take a look.’ Initially, a friend of mine called and said, ‘Hey, (Missouri) is one I think would fit you very well.’ I had to study it. I pulled it up, and the first picture I see was cows on the quad. I’m thinking, ‘I think those are holsteins.’ I grew up on a dairy farm, and maybe that fits me. I started digging more and more and then I met (former interim) chancellor Foley and he really sold me on the place as well. Then I had a son of a friend who was working in the athletics department and loved the place. Everyone I talked to, it was, ‘This is the place. It’s not what you perceive it as nationally what’s going on at Mizzou.’ I felt like, ‘OK, I think I can come, and I love a challenge.’ I don’t know what it is in my DNA, but I love that and the opportunity to help a program and help a university grow and reach new heights. I think we can do that. So that gets me up in the morning, and then the opportunity to lead a program in the SEC, where you’re able to, because of the resources, provide a great student-athlete experience so they can play at the highest level, graduate at an AAU institution, and we have programming to help them develop as a person — our Mizzou Made program. To help 550 student-athletes do that is a fun job.”
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Jim Sterk interivew - FIJItiger MU - 8/1 09:42:19