Young, energetic Jarmond takes BC reins
The future of Boston College athletics is in the hands of an enthusiastic young administrator with a defined vision.
BC president William P. Leahy officially introduced Martin Jarmond as the school’s director of athletics during a packed press conference yesterday at the Yawkey Center. Many of BC’s coaches and athletic administrators were in the audience getting their first look at the new boss.
Jarmond, 37, becomes the youngest AD in a Power Five conference. He was joined by his parents Virginia and Matt Jarmond, wife Jessica and their 20-month-old daughter Scarlett. Jarmond replaces Brad Bates and will formally take control of the BC athletic department in June.
“Martin appreciates the opportunities and the challenges of leading an athletics program” said Leahy. “He also works hard, engages easily with people, clearly cares about others and has great energy and enthusiasm.”
Jarmond comes to BC after a successful stint as deputy director of athletics at Ohio State handling the day-to-day operations and fundraising of the Buckeyes’ athletic programs. Jarmond credited Ohio State AD Gene Smith for influencing and inspiring his plans for the coaches and athletes at BC.
“Our goal is to help develop the academic, athletic, spiritual and social dimensions of our student athletes and to win,” said Jarmond. “We have a wonderful opportunity and calling to lead and inspire and inform our young men and women each and every day.
“The most successful teams have a vision, a shared vision, and they develop themes that support that vision. Three themes that we will emphasize in this athletic program are passion, alignment and competitive excellence.”
Jarmond grew up in Fayetteville, N.C., at the epicenter of the Atlantic Coast Conference. His association with NCAA sports began as a studentathlete at UNC-Wilmington. Jarmond was captain of the Seahawks basketball squad that qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2000 under legendary head coach Jerry Wainwright.
“I can only speak for myself and I know some great athletic directors that weren’t college athletes, but for me that’s where my drive comes from,” said Jarmond. “I know how many people helped me and shaped me as a student-athlete.
“You understand what it takes to be a student-athlete and the rigors of academics. I think it helps you as an administrator when you have walked that path before.”
Jarmond begins his tenure just as BC is undertaking a $200 million expansion of its recreational and athletic facilities. The project includes an indoor practice field for the football team.
“I think that he is a passionate and energetic guy who comes from a great program,” said BC football coach Steve Addazio. “Gene Smith is one of the most respected athletic directors in the country and he is a part of that tree.
“That is really important in coaching and in administration. I’m excited looking forward to his leadership and his energy.”
Former Eagles’ AD Gene DeFilippo lamented that the biggest challenge of the job was maintaining that delicate balance between stringent academic standards and fielding competitive teams in the ACC. DeFilippo often said that on Monday through Friday they expect you to be Harvard and on Saturday they want you to be Alabama.
“That’s an expectation and I don’t shy away from that,” said Jarmond. “I feel strongly that being academically excellent and athletically excellent are not mutually exclusive.
“You can be both and that is what we intend to be.”