NCAA basketball keeps Grace connected - Summer 2008 Wartburg Magazine - Wartburg College

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NCAA basketball keeps Grace connected

Wartburg Vice President for Administration Gary Grace presents NCAA Division III men’s basketball Player of the Year Troy Ruths of Washington University with an individual award after the Bears wrapped up the 2008 national men’s basketball title in Salem, Va., in March. Grace concluded a four-year stint on the NCAA Division III national committee in June.

by Mark Adkins ’90

Gary Grace enjoys his involvement with intercollegiate athletics.

Whether it’s serving Wartburg in his former role as director of athletics, overseeing operations of the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center in his current position as vice president for administration or even his previous years as a basketball coach, he’s been committed to the value of NCAA Division III athletics.

“I’ve always appreciated the interaction with student-athletes and other coaches,” Grace said. “That’s what makes college athletics so fun for me—getting to know those people on a personal level.”

During the course of the last four years, Grace rekindled his firsthand connection with athletics through the Division III men’s basketball championship committee. Working his way up through the national committee, he served the past two years as chairman. His work with the committee ended in June.

“When you see CBS Sports clips of the ‘war room’ for the Division I men’s tournament selections, it’s along the same lines for Division III,” he said. “It’s a thorough process, enabling the committee to select the best teams.”

Before the committee convenes in Indianapolis to choose the field, the process begins with conference calls throughout the fall and winter.

“We’re going through the regional rankings, keeping up to date on recent results, and looking at possible site selections as the rankings change,” Grace said. “All of that information continues to build until late February. We are in constant contact in the weeks leading up to Selection Sunday.”

“Selection Sunday” is just as long a day on the Division III level, Grace added.

“We have a map put up in the room and begin piecing the regions together,” he said. “We review conferences that have automatic qualifiers along with some Pool B (conferences with no automatic qualifiers) and Pool C (remaining at-large teams) to consider.

The NCAA has specific selecting criteria, Grace explained.

“It’s based on your win-loss percentage in Division III, your strength of schedule and some other factors. Our committee really put in some long hours. It’s a great group that has a tremendous knowledge of basketball from so many different sources. All of that information helps us pick the best tournament field.”

The work doesn’t end with “Selection Sunday.” After decisions are made, it’s time for the committee to focus on the “Big Dance”—Division III style.

“Once the tournament pairings were announced, my duties as the national chair had a new focus,” he noted. “I wasn’t necessarily tied to going to an early-rounds sectional, as we had regional representatives for those sites. However, there were needs at the main regional venues, so usually you went to the one closest to you.”

And, of course, the chairperson gets to go to the Final Four, Grace added with a smile.

“It’s an awesome venue; what Salem and the Roanoke, Va., area have done for Division III men’s basketball is incredible. They really roll out the red carpet, offering a tremendous experience for the student-athletes.”

The national committee, in joint cooperation with the City of Salem and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, help facilitate the Division III Final Four.

As committee chairman, Grace had a special role: delivering the national championship trophy to Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., when it claimed the top spot and all of the individual player awards.

“It all wrapped up with a few more conference calls to recap items from the 2008 tournament and then to discuss 2009,” he said. “Now, I’m back to serving Wartburg.”

And, as always, keeping himself connected to athletics.

Adkins is sports information director and edits sports for Wartburg Magazine.