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Ask Director of Athletics Ron Wellman
 
Submit your questions now to Wake Forest University's Director of Athletics.

Wake Forest University Director of Athletics Ron Wellman

Ron Wellman, who has elevated Wake Forest University athletics to its highest level ever and committed to preparing the program for greater success in the future, enters his 12th year as director of athletics.

Wellman, who was officially named athletic director in October of 1992, is only the fifth man to assume the top position in the athletic department at Wake Forest during the modern era of intercollegiate sports, following Pat Preston, Jim Weaver, Bill Gibson and Dr. Gene Hooks, WFU�s athletic director from 1964 through 1992.

Since taking over control of WFU Athletics, Wellman has seen Deacon athletic teams rise to national prominence in several sports while perennially competing for Atlantic Coast Conference championships.The 2002-03 academic year - a banner year by any definition - is evidence.

 • Ask Director of Athletics Ron Wellman Index

 
 • Ask the Director of Athletics (October 2003 - December 2003)
 
 • Ask the Director of Athletics (10/03/03)

Greg, Winston-Salem: I heard the Kentner Stadium is up for refurbishing with a new Track (Mondo?) and a new infield for Field Hockey. Is this scheduled soon?

 
Director of Athletics Ron Wellman: We are discussing the possibility of replacing the Kentner Stadium track and field hockey turf.The current track and turf field are about 13 years old and both are worn out and need replacing.We have had meetings with representatives of two of the leading artificial turf and track companies.I anticipate a decision being made within the next month or so about the viability of doing the project this spring or summer.

Bob Baker (Winston-Salem): As an alumni and Deacon supporter, I would love to see more of a home court advantage in basketball.Any thought to giving the students the first 5 rows around the perimeter of the coliseum?

 
Director of Athletics Ron Wellman: If we gave our students the first five rows around the court, the fans sitting behind the students would not be able to see the game unless they stood the entire game because the students stand throughout the game.The schools that assign their students the seats surrounding the floor typically have a barrier/divider of some kind behind the student seats that separates the students from the non-student seating and, therefore, does not obstruct the view of the non-students.

The atmosphere at our games is improving drastically.The students are doing a great job of generating enthusiasm throughout the arena with their tie-die t-shirts, cheers, coordination with the band and encouragement of the other sections of the coliseum.The non-students are "into the game" much more than ever as they realize that they too can help our team by cheering loudly.Even though we do not have our students sitting in seats surrounding the court, that should not and is not preventing us from having a great atmosphere at our games.

Go Deacs!

Eddie Burchette (Washington, DC): What are the chances of starting lacrosse, M&W swimming and wrestling teams at Wake--if any, and how soon?

 
Director of Athletics Ron Wellman: At this time we have no plans to add any sports to our program.In recent years we have added volleyball and women's soccer and have promoted field hockey to a D1 sport.

We want to give all the programs in our department the opportunity to excel and to support them in a manner that will lead to every program becoming a championship caliber progam.

The cost of adding sports to our program would be prohibitive and hinder the goals that we have for our current sports.

Eddie (Washington, DC): Upon releasing the 2004 WF football schedule, it shows only 11 games as opposed to 12 last year. Did the NCAA revise the rule on limiting the number of games once again, if so, why so sudden?

 
Director of Athletics Ron Wellman: A few years ago the NCAA passed legislation that permits us to play 12 games when there is an extra Saturday between Labor Day and Thanksgiving.We had two consecutive years, 2002 and 2003, when the calendar permitted us to play 12 games.The next opportunity to play 12 games will be in the years of 2008, 2013 and 2014.There is some interest in adopting an annual 12 game schedule but, at this point, not enough votes to pass legislation that would permit it.

Joel (Hickory): I have season tickets for basketball and have for about 30 years.I think the vast majority of the fans who attend the games would agree with me that it is time to ban smoking within LJVM.Limiting smoking to the concourse area is of no benefit to nonsmokers since we all have to go through that area to go to the restroom or even to just get to our seats.I realize the city controls the coliseum, but can we not control smoking for the WFU events? Thanks for your concern for this matter.Thanks for a great athletic program too!

 
Director of Athletics Ron Wellman: As much as we would like to control the smoking policy at our games, we do not. It appears, however, that next year some type of smoking policy will be in place. We are hopeful that the Coliseum will ban smokingand provide an outdoor area for people to smoke. The coliseum has indicated that it would be next year before everything could be accomplished.