[ Golden Gater Online - August 28, 1997 ]
On June 10, just a few weeks after the baseball season ended, SF State's head coach, Mike Simpson, packed up his belongings from his second-story office and left. He stepped down from his coaching job to become SF State's interim athletic director. He and his belongings were moved to an office on the first floor.
SF State searched for a new athletic director after the sudden departure of former athletic director Betsy Alden, who accepted a job at Ithaca College in New York.
"It's been a whirlwind ever since," said Simpson, who is excited about his new job.
"It takes a real person to understand the real choices and make great decisions," said Matt Lydum, who is SF State's men's track and field coach." (Simpson) has the character, intelligence and professionalism to make those decisions."
"He's got a massive display of professionalism," Lydum added. "I have the highest respect for him and think of him as my mentor."
Simpson's professionalism and friendliness has stayed with him off the field and into the office.
"He's as friendly to the staff as he is to the janitors," said Sarah Stier, who is an athletic department office assistant. "He likes everyone to smile and he's concerned when we don't."
Simpson has some tough choices to make in the next year but he's come up with three goals.
"This is our last year in the Northern California Athletic Conference" Simpson said. "Next year we will be starting the California Collegiate Athletic Association, which will offer athletically-related aide (AKA scholarships). I want to build the mechanisms and resources for a smooth transition so that they are in place when the change occurs."
Simpson said the other two goals are to ensure that the gender-equity requirements are met and to begin a development effort that will attract resources (human and fiscal) to aide and advance the program.
Simpson, who is SF State's all-time winning coach (457-417-6 overall, 300-260-3 at SF State), has appointed members to fill the coaching team during his absence.
Steve Franceschi will be the acting head coach and Cord "Buck" Taylor will be the assistant head coach for the 1997-98 season. Last year, Franceschi and Taylor were assistant baseball coaches at SF State.
Simpson is not only a performer on the field, he's also an academic scholar. He earned his doctorate, masters and bachelors degrees with the University of California, Santa Barbara. He was also awarded a Fullbright Exchange Fellowship.
While at SF State he's been a chair for the Academic Senate Athletic Advisory Board, a member of the NCAA Division II West Regional Selection Committee, and he holds an editorial board position on the American Baseball Coaches Association for Coaching Digest.
One thing is for sure, during his 12 seasons at SF State he's understood how the system works. According to his peers, he understands the students as well as the administration.
"It's going to be a good year working for (Simpson)," said Bruce Brown, SF State's swimming coach. "Everything's out in the open, there's no surprises, and he's one of us [a coach]."
[ Golden Gater - August 28, 1997 ]