Just win.
Those were essentially the two simple yet astute words from former UW Athletic Director Pat Richter to his successor Barry Alvarez before handing over the reins on April 1 and to date, Alvarez is living up to the mandate of his predecessor.
Despite losses the last two weeks, the UW football team has had a successful season thus far and Alvarez appears extremely capable and motivated to handle the double duty so rarely attempted by other college coaches.
In just his seventh month as both the university's athletic director and head coach of the football program, Alvarez has done all the necessary things to start his tenure off on the right foot, and much of that has to do with the success of his \favorite child""-the football team.
As he has said from the first day on the job, his focus has been and will continue to be on the sport he has helped revitalize at UW-Madison when he became head coach in 1990.
""I will put my emphasis on football, I cannot let football slide,"" Alvarez said last spring to Madison media representatives.
While many critics consider the move to athletic director as one to further bolster and support his football team, some close to the Athletic Department reiterate Alvarez's dedication to improving and getting the other sports more recognition.
UW-Madison history professor David McDonald worked for the Wisconsin Athletic Department under Richter after the 2000 Shoe Box scandal and got to know Alvarez.
""He recognizes that it is time to bring the Athletic Department in off the island and make it a more intimate part of the university,"" McDonald said.
""He's a smart enough guy politically to recognize the default perception will be that he's there to favor football and I think he'll work against that. So far, the most reassuring thing is that strategic plan. It reflects an understanding on the part of Alvarez and his senior deputies that the Athletic Department exists in a larger institution and social context.""
The strategic plan McDonald refers to is the first annual mission statement Alvarez developed in April to address the school's dedication to excellence, integrity and opportunity. He pointed out the importance of the plan as guidance for not only himself but also the entire Athletic Department.
""It is my intention that as we move forward, this strategic plan will lead us through a challenging future,"" Alvarez said. ""We will update it annually and use it as a tool to manage a potentially unpredictable future.""
This initial effort of Alvarez further illuminates the characteristics that make him an ideal fit for the two jobs.
""He knows what he believes in, stands by it and most of all is not dogmatic about it,"" McDonald said.
Another thing Alvarez believes in is delegating work to the rest of the people on his staff, primarily Associate Athletic Director Jamie Pollard.
""I think that Alvarez is in a different situation here,"" McDonald said. ""The best thing he has going ... is something he's acknowledged himself, which is he's a very good delegator. ... He's got a very able cadre of administrators on the larger department side and I think he's in a much better position to be able to balance both roles than a lot of his colleagues around the country.""
