by W.Scott Bailey, San Antonio Business Journal
Eric Buskirk grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where collegiate sports — especially Ohio State University Buckeyes football — is nearly as important as oxygen. A little less than two years ago, the Central Ohio native took a deep breath and headed for the Lone Star State and a position with the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners athletic program. Buskirk’s career in collegiate athletics began with a stint at Ohio State with that university’s sports and recreation program. But now he is playing a key role in UTSA’s efforts to breathe new life into its sports programs.
After years of struggling to draw top-of-mind attention from fans, businesses and the media, UTSA is embarking on an ambitious effort to raise the stature of its NCAA Division I athletics program. That effort will include, among other things, a visual re-branding of UTSA’s sports image, as well as a major push to attract regional and national corporate sponsor support.
Knee-deep in those efforts is Buskirk, who has not forgotten his roots. He says UTSA has commissioned an Ohio-based graphics company to redo the Roadrunners’ look — including a new logo and color scheme. Meanwhile, the former Buckeye is now busy knocking on doors, looking for more fan and financial support for a Roadrunners athletic program that has enjoyed some significant accomplishments over the years.
Both are essential if UTSA hopes to raise the profile of Roadrunners sports.
“This is vital,” says Buskirk about building up a greater buy-in from the business community. “Corporate sponsor revenue is an important part of college sports.”
Sports is in Buskirk’s blood. He says the pursuit of a career in athletics has offered him one of those rare opportunities in life to “participate in and contribute to an industry with a tremendous positive influence on entire communities.”
Buskirk says the passion was born while he was in Ohio. And it has grown stronger since he arrived in San Antonio.
“The impact that Ohio State had on the city and state gave me the hunger I have today to advance UTSA athletics to a level that will provide a similar impact on the San Antonio community,” Buskirk says.
That hunger apparently has no bounds. Buskirk says he has his eye on a more prominent role in collegiate sports down the road.
“I have one ultimate career goal: To work hard enough and be productive and successful enough in collegiate athletics to one day serve as director of athletics for a major NCAA Division I-A program,” Buskirk notes.
First, there is much work to do at UTSA, where talk of adding football is stirring up new enthusiasm in Roadrunner country.
Buskirk says he wants to help propel UTSA athletics to a level that is comparable to what fans of the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies — even the Ohio State Buckeyes — experience.
It’s a lofty goal. Some might say an impossible one.
Buskirk disagrees.
“I have never listened to naysayers,” Buskirk says, explaining that, with confidence, hunger and determination, “great things happen.”
Buskirk — whose résumé includes stints with the Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins and the PGA — retrieves that “P” word again, explaining that it is passion which drives everything.
More on Buskirk
Education: Bachelor's of science in sports management, Ohio State University; Master's of Business Administration in sports management, Florida Atlantic University
Words of advice: Those with true passion and hunger will always succeed.
What others say about him: Fiery competitor
Favorite book: Glory Road: My Story of the 1966 NCAA Basketball Championship and How One Team Triumphed Against the Odds and Changed America Forever
Hunger or Humility: For me, this is easy: Hunger. Throughout my life, the success that I have been able to enjoy is a result of my hunger.
Community Spirit: Buskirk says he is involved in a number of civic and charitable organizations. The list includes Birdies for Charity and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
