USF Athletics

Bull Speed Ahead Podcast: Episode 30 - COVID-19 Crisis Update 9

May 15, 2020

TAMPA, MAY 15, 2020 – USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly covers important USF Athletics topics surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and much more. Via his podcast, Kelly will keep fans updated every Friday on the latest information regarding athletics.

This week's episode features Kelly's highly informative interview with Executive Deputy Director of Athletics/ Chief Operating Officer Barry Clements.

Notable Topics Covered in Clements Interview

• LONGTIME BULL HAS SERVED IN MANY ROLES: Clements made an impact on virtually every area and aspect of the USF Athletics since 1983, having nine different title changes. Clements oversaw the sports medicine area from 1983-2017 and built a comprehensive Sports Medicine Department and program that is one of the best in the country. He also is responsible for building the Strength and Conditioning Department. While in sports medicine, Clements served as the lead administrator in strength and conditioning and remains certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Since May 2016, Clements has served as the deputy of the program's 19 sports teams, coaches and support staff leading nearly 500 student-athletes.
• CAPITAL PROJECTS: Clements talks about some of the capital projects he's currently working on, including the USF Football Center. The 160,000-square foot, state-of-the-art facility will provide a dramatic, new front porch for USF Athletics and the $40 million structure will build on the excellence of USF football and the Bulls' other highly-successful athletic programs. At the same time, USF is working on the James Tennis Center project that's "real close" to being finished from a planning standpoint before fundraising efforts ramp up. Other areas of focus for Clements and the Bulls are exciting improvements to the practice area at the USF Golf Center along with building a new on-campus control room that will be vital in USF's increased streaming/broadcast efforts in association with the American Athletic Conference's 12-year media right extension agreement with ESPN. The control room is expected to be completed and operational by this fall.
• MORE ON ESPN BROADCASTS: Clements runs through all the staffing requirements that will span across numerous departments for production and streaming of USF's athletic events under the ESPN+ platform starting this fall. Thanks to the 12-year media rights extension agreement, The American will have a stronger presence on ESPN's primary TV networks – ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. The AAC also will be a valuable part of ESPN+, ESPN's industry-leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service. In the first two years, 1,250 events (500 in 2020-21 and 750 in 2021-22) are planned to be distributed on ESPN+. Learn more HERE.
• EVOLUTION OF THE ATHLETIC DISTRICT: Clements talks about the "blessing" of being involved with so many departments at USF that allow the ever-improving athletic district to function. Clements takes listeners through the process of how USF Athletics revitalized its athletic district, starting with the construction of the Bulls' $15 million headquarter facility in 2004 now known as the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center. USF Track & Field Stadium was remodeled in 2008 and by June 1010, the program began making progress on a $33.5 million project that produced USF Baseball and Softball Stadiums, Corbett Soccer Stadium, the Frank Morsani Football Practice Complex, and the Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center along with upgrades to the tennis facility and the construction of recreation fields. Another massive upgrade was in place by spring 2012, when construction was completed on $35.6 million renovation of the Yuengling Center (formerly Sun Dome), where USF's men's and basketball team play. The  5,040 square-foot USF Golf Center also has been operating since 2012.
• STRIVING FOR MORE EXCELLENCE: Clements comments on the program's continuous mission of providing a game-changing environment for student-athletes to flourish through facility additions and improvements. Bulls have really benefited from the Fishman Family Student-Athlete Enrichment Center, a $750,000 state-of-the-art facility housed in the Selmon Athletics Center since 2017.

About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men's and women's teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls' athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 54th season in 2019-20. Nearly 450 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 19 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, and own 120 conference titles overall. Eleven USF programs reached national postseason competition in the 2018-19 season and six were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the fourth straight year in 2018-19 and have posted a program record 10 straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has had 309 student-athletes earn their degree since 2016-17.
 
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