Thanks, Tom. An Open Letter to Tom Jurich

Dear Mr. Jurich,

Hellen Keller once said, “the only thing worse than being blind is having sight, but no vision.”

When I hear that quote, men of your character and drive come to mind. Over the course of my lifetime, I have seen your vision, and been a huge believer in your plan.

My first (and some of my fondest) memories as a Louisville Cardinals fan were going to coaches shows at King Fish on the river. John L. Smith was head coach at the time. From the age of five until twelve, my grandmother would pick me up and bring me to every Louisville sporting event possible- but especially the coaches shows.  John L. was one of the most generous and fun loving figureheads our university has ever seen. I would hang out with coach and Paul Rogers prior to, and after, nearly every show. I was never treated as an afterthought, even though I was just a little boy. Neither were any other children, fans, boosters, or otherwise.

This is a testament to your leadership, Mr. Jurich, that I would feel this way, even as a young child. That never changed over the course of your twenty plus years, even in random encounters. You were the man that orchestrated some of the best moments of my childhood, and there was no way of you knowing this. You always looked me in the eye, and addressed me like I was important. That always stuck with me.

Early in your tenure came the building of Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium. When you arrived, there were very serious concerns that the school would have to eliminate the football program altogether. But you built a stadium. And  immaculate one at that. You made people believe in your plan.

When you took over, the athletic department was one dimensional. A commuter school with a basketball program on the decline at the end of the Denny Crum era. The campus stopped at Floyd Street. The odds for success weren’t great, but you saw otherwise. You had a vision, and you stuck to it.

In 2001 came Rick Pitino. A grand slam hire. Regardless of where things stand now, Coach Pitino brought fond memories for me. One of my favorite memories with my grandmother was the 2001 Tennessee game when the Cards came back from 8 down in the final moments of the game. She had somehow drug me into the student section at Freedom Hall, and I was standing on my seat throughout the entirety of the game. In the waning moments, I was dejected and wanted to leave before the game was over. Grandma would have no such talk. “We aren’t going anywhere, have faith!” she told me. And the rest is history. One of the greatest moments in Louisville basketball history ensued.

You had a similar faith. A vision that even the most optimistic person would have doubted. In the two decades that you were on campus, Louisville went from mid-sized city commuter school to a nationally recognized brand.

The basketball team went to 3 final fours and won a national championship. They moved into the nicest arena, accompanied by the finest practice facilities in the world on any level. The men’s basketball program was respected, but now it is revered. It is the most profitable college basketball program in NCAA history.

The football team went from irrelevant to national contender. Although coaches often left for what they thought were greener pastures, the program consistently remained a top 25 type team, year in and year out. The program went from playing in a concrete death trap, to playing in a football palace, that will open up the season with a second expansion in less than a decade. The program went from abysmal in the late 90’s to winning two BCS bowls, rising to as high as #3 in the country on multiple occasions, and boasting a Heisman Trophy winner.

You made all of the right hires elsewhere.

Jeff Walz is likely the second best Women’s basketball coach in the country. The women’s team went from sorry to sensational. They have competed in three final fours and two championship games since Walz’s arrival, as well as drawing top 3 crowds yearly.

Ken Lolla led the Cards to the College Cup final, prompting the soccer team to expand facilities due to crowd demand. You delivered once again, with hands down the best collegiate soccer stadium in the country.

Dan McDonnell has led the Cardinal Nine to four college world series appearances in 10 years. The baseball stadium was build, and then there was a need for expansion again a few years later.

Arthur Albiero has coached Olympic Champions in world class facilities.

Men’s Track and Field saw another national champion this year.

I am losing track of the number of cheer and dance national championships.

All of these coaches are not only great at what they do, they are incredible people and leaders in the community. They could choose to go elsewhere, but they stay. Maybe not because of you directly, but definitely because of what you have built here.

Floyd Street went from nothing to a student athlete’s dream. The environment at the school went from indifferent, to a championship mentality in every single program.

The University of Louisville is top to bottom one of the best athletic programs in the country. And it would never have had that vision without your direction. You turned the campus, and to an extend the city, upside down.

In 2005, my grandmother passed away.  But not before she witnessed the Final Four for herself. One of the last sporting events she ever saw involved her beloved Cardinals making a long-awaited return to the Final Four. She didn’t spend it how most grandparents would either. She drove to St. Louis and dragged my family through bars right outside the arena, just so she could be close to the game. I remember very vividly a call that she made the night after Louisville’s improbable comeback in overtime against West Virginia in the Elite Eight. “Did you stop believing?,” she asked. I responded, of course not. I could tell she was holding back joyful tears over the phone. “Never stop believing. We can always do it. Just like against Tennessee.”

We never stopped believing, and neither did you, Mr. Jurich. You had a vision for the direction of this university, and you took it to heights most would never have fathomed. All because of a faith in your vision.

Thank you for bringing that vision to life. And thank you for all of the incredible memories.