Up Close with TU's Ross Parmley
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
10/02/12 at 5:42 AM
Position: Athletic director
Height: 5-11
Weight: 200
Alma mater: Lawton MacArthur High School, Cameron University (business administration degree), University of Oklahoma (master's in sports management).
Hometown: Lawton
Parmley was the University of Tulsa's director of football operations in 2005. In 2006, he was the assistant athletic director for football operations. After TU athletic director Bubba Cunningham departed for North Carolina last fall, Parmley became Tulsa's interim athletic director. In January, the word "interim" was stripped from his title.
You'll turn 40 next year. Do you expect it to be traumatic, or will it not be a stressful birthday?
I'll have no reaction at all. It's not a big deal. It will be the same thing as when I turned 30. I was named an athletic director at Norman Public Schools when I was 29.
Being the athletic director of the smallest school in the Football Bowl Subdivision class, what is your most prominent challenge?
When you're trying to attract new fans, it's one of our biggest challenge. We'd like to have bigger crowds to watch our kids. We put a good product out there in several sports and we get good media coverage in Tulsa, but we haven't gotten the results we want yet.
Do you watch football games from field level or a suite?
I alternate, but I absolutely love being on the field. I like to see the coaches interact with the players.
Football coach Bill Blankenship has been a member of the Tulsa program for six seasons. Three words that best describe him?
Genuine, passionate and intelligent. I thought he was the right guy at the right time for TU. His knowledge of the university and his relationship with area high school coaches - it's invaluable.
Basketball coach Danny Manning has been on the Tulsa campus for six months. Three words that best describe him?
Genuine, humble and connected. We've got a coaching clinic coming up with guys like Jay Bilas and Fran Fraschilla. They'll be here because they respect Danny Manning, and that's a huge positive for our basketball program.
Original Print Headline: Up Close: Ross Parmley
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