Bull Speed Ahead: USF President Steven Currall
USF PRESIDENT STEVEN CURRALL EPISODE
Vice President of Athletics
Michael Kelly welcomes University of South Florida President Dr. Steven C. Currall to Bull Speed Ahead presented by Tampa General Hospital to discuss his longtime love for athletics, the mission and role of athletics at USF and the recently announced $25 million facility enhancements and additions.
Episode No. 41 Guest:
USF President Steven C. Currall: The seventh president of the University of South Florida (USF), Currall brings three decades of leadership and academic expertise from top research universities, both public and private, in the U.S. and abroad. His longest career terms were at Rice University and the University of California, Davis. He is passionate about building institutions of higher education to help students, faculty, staff and communities flourish.
PODCAST NO. 41 CONVERSATION TOPICS
1) Michael and Dr. Currall discuss the president's background and where his love of sports took root and became an important part of his life.
• He competed in baseball, football, basketball and track growing up in Kansas City, Missouri. He played quarterback and was on a conference championship football team in high school.
• Currall reflects on the formative experiences he has had in athletics.
2) The pair discuss Currall's love of the Kansas City Chiefs from his youth growing up in Kansas City and his attendance at the last two Super Bowls.
• Currall talks about his his pride and excitement in seeing the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl as the hometown team and the impact of sports in the Bay Area.
3) President Currall discusses the role played by athletics at previous positions he has held, including at SMU, which gave him familiarity with the American Athletic Conference.
4) President Currall reflects on the hiring process that brought head football coach
Jeff Scott to USF.
• An example of the great partnership Currall has formed with
Michael Kelly, the alignment in their visions and Currall's commitment and great involvement in the search.
• The importance of football in building a community and a connectedness with faculty, students, staff, alumni and the Bay area. Scott expressed his interest in that as well and how they had built something similar at Clemson.
• Reflects on Scott's coaching and leadership strengths, especially as demonstrated during such a challenging first year. His leadership during COVID-19, but also in response to incidents of racial unrest that impact our student-athletes deeply.
5) President Currall discusses his plans for strategic renewal for the University and how Athletics fits into that plan.
• Pursuing fresh and innovative ways to imagine the University and its identity as a global research university.
• A commitment to excellence in all areas, including athletics.
• Athletics contributions to the culture, climate and branding of the university and is a powerful way to emotionally engage with constituents and rally them.
6) The pair discuss the recent announcement to move ahead with the enhancements of the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center and building of an indoor performance facility on the Tampa campus.
• Currall speaks to why the time is right for this at USF and how these projects aren't just about football, but about student success and raising the bar on excellence overall and important for the future of the entire institution.
• The IPF will have a dramatic impact on the entire university. Use by all teams, fund raising events, alumni events and will serve as a university-wide resource.
7) The pair discuss Currall's overall involvement and following of all Bulls athletics teams and seeking "comprehensive excellence" in our athletic programs across the board.
• Currall's wife, Cheyenne, is a huge soccer fan and they have attended those games and have plans to make their way to several events this spring.
• Currall points to student-athletes having a higher grade-point average on average than the rest of the student body on campus as a reflection of the chemistry and support system around student-athletes.
