NSU’s AD tackles balancing $13.5M budget
NORFOLK — When Melody Webb was a young volleyball coach at Bowie State, she shifted her career goals toward becoming an athletic department’s business manager.
When she accomplished that goal, she decided on another: For the next 20 years, she wanted to be an athletic director.
That mission was accomplished in July when Norfolk State appointed the Chicago native to replace longtime AD and school stalwart Marty Miller.
Just because Webb has made it doesn’t mean she’s out of goals.
Last month, Webb and NSU’s athletic department unveiled a detailed five-year strategic plan designed to carry the department through 2025. The themes of the plan, in order, include academic excellence and personal development for athletes; athletics excellence; financial stability; stakeholder engagement and brand management.
Webb, a former threesport athlete at Savannah State and volleyball coach at Bowie State who was promoted from the department’s No. 2 position, said the plan is designed to provide a “holistic” college experience for NSU’s athletes.
“I want to make sure that we’re helping them get that next job or that next step,” Webb said. “I always say there should be two signing days for a student-athlete: the day they sign with a university and the day they sign with that first job. I think that’s important. I want them to be able to sit behind a table and get excited about that next step.”
Webb’s own signing day netted her a two-year contract worth $200,000 annually with the possibility of bonuses, according to an offer letter obtained from NSU via a Freedom of Information Act request.
Since she took over as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down NSU’s sports, Webb has been challenged to manage the department’s $13.5 million budget while limiting spending. She’s managed to do it while avoiding layoffs or furloughs for employees.
So far, NSU is Hampton Roads’ only Division I college that hasn’t announced the elimination of at least one sport, and Webb said there are no plans to do so. Since the pandemic started, Old Dominion announced
the elimination of wrestling, Hampton cut men’s and women’s golf and William & Mary made the controversial decision to eliminate seven sports. W&M’s announcement led to the resignation of AD Samantha Huge, threat of a lawsuit from some of the affected sports and a promise from the administration to reexamine the decision.
At NSU, the strategic plan, Webb said, was the result of a “group effort” from the department’s seasoned senior staff. In it are goals like maintaining a high graduation rate, hiring qualified coaches and staff, scholarship initiatives, increased sponsorship sales and strengthening relationships with alumni, fans and stakeholders.
Webb’s lone peer in Norfolk expects her to do well. Old Dominion AD Wood Selig said that though he’ll miss working with Miller, a Virginia Sports Hall of Famer, he’s enjoyed his relationship with Webb over the years.
“I think he groomed his successor very nicely, and I think she’s going to do a tremendous job as well,” Selig said.
Currently on Webb’s plate is deciding what to do about basketball season. The Spartans expect to play, but whether anyone will be allowed to watch them hasn’t yet been decided as Webb and her staff explore various options.
Webb plans to be there when things return to normal, but in a different role. At past games, she was occupied as she helped operate the events.
“So I was always kind of in the weeds,” she said. “But this time, I’ll be able just to kind of sit down and relax and enjoy our student-athletes competing and just engaging with the donors, the fans and alumni.”
That’s the goal.