By Katie Faulkner @kfaulkner20
Recently-selected St. Bonaventure University Athletic Director Tim Kenney is eager to begin working with student athletes who impressed him from the start. He credits these student athletes for convincing him to make the easy decision of choosing St. Bonaventure.
“My (wife) and I came on this campus and we had a wonderful experience. The vibe we felt across the campus, from everyone we met, it really struck home with us,” Kenney said. “What was most impressive, though, was the student-athletes that we met during our visit.”
Kenney’s message to student-athletes seemed clear.
“Basically, I provide you with the support and the resources to be successful in the classroom and in competition,” said Kenney. “That’s our goal.”
Bonaventure has certainly faced recent challenges within NCAA Division I. However, Kenney’s blue-collar attitude and humble approach did not seem deterred.
“We’re going to roll up our sleeves and get things done,” said Kenney.
Even with undeniable challenges, Bonaventure still continues to be a high-level participant in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
“The A-10 is one of the most competitive leagues in the country across the board. It’s our responsibility to ensure that our student-athletes are fully supported while you guys are out there representing St. Bonaventure,” said Kenney.
His dedication to his students, teams and faculty is a direct representation of his strong family values.
A man practically born into the world of athletics, Kenney spent his childhood observing his father, a high school athletic director. He continues this bond with his own family, noting the incredible hardships they are expected to face in light of this job.
“They share their dad with you guys, the student-athletes,” Kenney said about his three children.
With tear-filled eyes, he talked directly to his family, which was seated in the front row. Daughter Sierra, 16, and sons Jack and Drew, 14 and 11 respectively, proudly snapped pictures of their father as he spoke to the crowd of approximately 80 people.
An emotional acknowledgement directed towards his father revealed Kenney’s undisputable family bond once again, a quality the Bonaventure community already emphasizes.
Family and basketball are the two things that hold this tight-knit community together during the gloomy winter months of western New York. Finding someone who understood this concept was essential.
“I’ll let you get back to March Madness now,” Kenney concluded. It seems he is already learning the Bona way.
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