Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
December 13, 2002, Washington Post

The Top Terp

The Terps are red hot.

Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen's football team is heading for the Peach Bowl. Gary Williams's defending national champs are back on the basketball court. The men's soccer team is in the Final Four. The women's field hockey team was among the nation's finest. And the women's basketball team is on the upswing with new coach Brenda Frese and a blue-chip recruiting class.

The big sports boss at the University of Maryland is Athletic Director Debbie Yow. She is in charge of the 25 sports, 650 athletes and the $40 million budget that make up the Maryland sports department.

Being an athletic director (AD) is a great job for anyone who loves sports. I spoke with Yow about her background and about landing a dream job in sports.

Where did you grow up?

In a little town called Gibsonville, North Carolina. It has about 3,000 people and five stoplights.

Did you play sports as a young girl?

Opportunities for girls to play sports were limited when I was growing up. I started playing organized sports in seventh grade. I played basketball every year until I graduated from Elon College. I also played softball.

What did you do before you took the job at the University of Maryland?

I was the AD at St. Louis University. Before that, I coached women's basketball at the University of Kentucky and the University of Florida.

What does an athletic director do?

She hires the head coaches in all the sports and makes sure that all the bills are paid. She is also responsible for setting high standards for competitive and academic excellence and has to see that everyone is following the rules set by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

What do you have to be good at to be a good AD?

You have to be a good judge of character when you hire the coaches. And you have to like people because you meet and work with all kinds of people.

Did you do anything as a kid that helped you when you became an AD?

Being an athlete helped me understand athletes. Being a coach helped me understand the pressure coaches are under. And I am very happy that I majored in English in college because it has helped my written and spoken communication skills. I use them a lot in my job.

What is most fun about your job?

Winning the competitions, because winning makes everyone happy. But the most satisfying part of my job is when I see the athletes walk across the stage to receive their diplomas at graduation.

Do you wear lots of Maryland stuff and always root for the Terps?

Of course! Almost everything in my closet is red and black, our team colors.

You seem to really like your job.

My job is a good match for me. I get to compete. I get to be around people. And I get to be a Terp. What could be better than that?

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's Friday sports column and is the author of sports novels for kids. Write to him at KidsPost, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071. Or e-mail (with "The Score" in the subject field): kidspost@washpost.com.

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