Establishing an Endowed Athletic Directorship at Northeastern University

A proposal for William J. Conley, Jr., DMSB’90

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For nearly a century, Northeastern’s Department of Athletics and Recreation has helped launch the university to national prominence through 14 varsity sports, while enriching campus life for all students through our extensive club, intramural, and campus recreation programs. With an endowed directorship of athletics, Northeastern can continue to rise in prominence and develop a more robust sports presence than ever.

We ask that you endow the position of Athletic Director, and install the inaugural directorship with the beloved alumnus and coach best known as “Mr. Northeastern”: Jim Madigan.

Northeastern athletics are currently experiencing tremendous momentum, and Athletic Director Madigan has exciting plans to strengthen our standing and improve our performances. Most important, an endowed directorship will give him the tools to bolster our student-athletes, their experiences, and their results.

A HIGH-IMPACT DIRECTORSHIP

Improvement of athletic training and competition facilities.

Many facilities naturally age, and equipment becomes ever more technologically advanced, but an endowed Athletic Director has the political capital to secure attention and funding to keep amenities modern.

Potential rise to a higher athletics conference.

We are in a position to bring Northeastern sports to a higher level entirely, moving from the Colonial Athletic Association to a more prominent conference in some Division I sports. Having an endowed athletic director is essential to being able to vie for this elevated role.

Growth in the current varsity sports at Northeastern.

An endowed directorship of athletics will attract high-achieving coaches, while retaining coaches and staff who see Northeastern as a career-defining destination. In turn, they will bring top-caliber athletes from around the nation and globe.

'THEY TRUST EACH OTHER AND BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER'

Only 4.4 seconds remained in Northeastern’s contest with UMass, and the Huskies trailed by two points with no timeouts remaining. As Jess Genco, the women’s basketball team’s leading scorer, received an inbounds pass and rushed up the court, she realized she wouldn’t have time to get off a good, clean shot. So Genco fired a deft pass to Shannon Todd, who was wide open, and knocked down the game-winning three-pointer.  

HUSKIES OPEN THEIR ICE HOCKEY SEASONS WITH HIGH HOPES

The new ice hockey season has arrived as an early sign of the coming winter, and both Northeastern teams have high hopes for the months ahead.

‘I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THIS COULD BE ME’

After a pandemic-related postponement, Madison Mailey will rowed in the Olympic Games for Canada—three years after she starred for Northeastern.

AERIN FRANKEL IS NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN NCAA WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY

Northeastern senior goaltender Aerin Frankel was honored Saturday with the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the top player in NCAA Division 1 women’s ice hockey. 

WITH DRAMATIC WIN, HUSKIES WALK OFF INTO NCAA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

The top-seeded Huskies earned their first title in the Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Championship with a trio of dramatic victories during a high-pressure weekend in Wilmington, N.C. The triumph propels Northeastern (36-10) into the NCAA tournament for the second time in four years.

A BEANPOT SWEEP IS JUST THE BEGINNING FOR NORTHEASTERN HOCKEY

The trophy from the 68th men’s Beanpot sat in a corner of the hockey locker room at Matthews Arena. It was surprisingly heavy to lift, and the name of its 2020 champion had yet to be inscribed. The Huskies’ victories—in both the men’s and women’s tournaments—were still altogether fresh and, by the terms of their coincidences, unfathomable.

Jim’s Story

DECADES OF DEDICATION

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1981–1985
  • Madigan is a four-year letterwinner on the men’s ice hockey team at Northeastern, serving as a key contributor to two Huskies’ Beanpot championships in 1984 and 1985.
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1986–1993
  • As an assistant coach for the Huskies, Madigan recruits and coaches four All-Americans and 15 All-Hockey East selections.
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1993–2011
  • After a short stint at UVM, Madigan assumes various roles at Northeastern, including assistant director of physical plant services, director of athletic development, and associate dean and director of development in the College of Business Administration
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1993–2011
  • Additionally, Madigan serves as a scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2006 to 2011, helping that franchise build a team that captures the Stanley Cup in 2009.
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2006–2011
  • As Northeastern men’s ice hockey coach, Madigan helps lead Northeastern to three consecutive Beanpot championships, two Hockey East titles, three NCAA appearances, and the first Hobey Baker Award and Mike Richter Award winners in program history. He also sees 20 of his players drafted by NHL teams.
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2008–2017
  • Peter Roby becomes the ninth athletic director of the university, building a successful athletics program that comprises high values in both athletics and academics. Roby and Madigan work closely to ensure the department’s commitment to excellence

Northeastern hockey legend Fernie Flaman

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2017
  • Madigan plays a key role in establishing the first endowed head coaching fund in university history, the Fernie Flaman Endowed Men’s Hockey Coach.
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2018-2021
  • Jeff Konya fills the role of Athletic Director, and is named 2020–21 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year.
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2021
  • Northeastern names alumnus and six-time Beanpot champion Jim Madigan the university’s 11th Director of Athletics and Recreation.

“As we began initiating the process to search for a new athletic director, it became apparent to many of us that the best candidate, Jim Madigan, was already here at Northeastern—demonstrating his deep commitment to our student-athletes over an impressive 30-year career.”

Ken Henderson,

chancellor and senior vice president for learning

Jim Madigan has been an incredible mentor to me. After 10 years of rebuilding the men’s hockey team together, I’m truly looking forward to this next stage of our partnership.”

Jerry Keefe,

Northeastern men's hockey coach

“I’m humbled and honored to be our next athletic director. I look at this role as a culmination of all my experiences here on the Northeastern campus.”

Jim Madigan,

Northeastern Athletic Director

A PROGRAM ELEVATED IN PERPETUITY

The endowed Athletic Director position will be the first of its kind at Northeastern. It will provide funding in perpetuity to benefit our student-athletes and propel vital sports initiatives, while boosting the profile of the university’s athletic programs.

Importantly, this position will elevate Jim Madigan to a level where he can infuse the department with unparalleled momentum. And it will give him an essential stream of revenue that ensures he has the flexibility to respond to unforeseen opportunities and challenges, benefiting generations of student-athletes, coaches, and staff to come.