August 30, 2011
Last
year was a memorable one for St. John's athletics - just ask Kevin
Barry '06MBA.
As Assistant Director for Athletic Development, he's responsible
for overseeing the Red White Club, the University's premier giving
society for special donors to St. John's athletics. And after the
recent resurgence of the men’s basketball team, Barry has been a
busy man.
"My phone has been ringing off the hook," he said. "Anyone who
paid attention to college basketball last year can tell you that
our team was one of the most exciting in the country. Head Coach
Steve Lavin has been electrifying, and right now interest in all
our sports programs is very high. Naturally, a lot of people are
looking to join the Red White Club and get involved, and that’s
exciting to see."
Barry joined the St. John's family in 2004 as a Graduate
Assistant in the Office of Athletic Development. He's watched the
University grow in a variety of ways over the last seven years,
both in terms of athletics and academics. The campus has been
overhauled with state-of-the-art new buildings and athletic
complexes, all 17 of the Division I sports programs are now
competing in the BIG EAST conference and, most recently, Steve
Lavin revitalized the men's basketball program by taking his team
to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002.
"Let's just say there's been tremendous growth since I first
arrived here," Barry said. "We've grown as a university and taken
similarly great strides in athletics. Like many other New York
sports teams, once you start having success, it snowballs quickly.
I think last year was just the foundation of something really
special."
Some of Barry's responsibilities include soliciting major gifts
for athletics, courtside tickets, fundraising for all of St. John's
sports programs and organizing athletics-related events like golf
outings, seasonal banquets, away-game receptions and alumni
gatherings. He also organizes events for the Red White Club and
he’s quick to point out the many benefits that come with being a
member of this esteemed organization.
"First of all, members love the fact that their gifts go
directly toward our athletic programs," he said. "But there are
also some great benefits that the members receive, which is what
makes the Club so special. There are meet and greets, trips to away
games that give you an insider's view on what's going on with the
team, and, of course, pre-game receptions held prior to select
games."
Barry's favorite part of last season's Red White Club receptions
was when the guests were joined by a famous VIP: the Red Storm's
Special Assistant/Advisor and Hall-of-Famer Gene Keady.
"Coach Keady came to every Red White pre-game reception and gave
a detailed scouting report to all the guests," Barry explained. "He
told us what to look out for on the other team and also discussed
how the opposition was going to try and stop the Red Storm. He even
took questions from the audience, so it was a very cool experience.
I think that's a great example of the types of fantastic
opportunities you get when you're a member of the Red White Club -
something that a normal fan would never have access to."
But regardless of the perks, Barry feels that the most special
part of the Red White Club is the camaraderie he sees amongst its
members - a quality he's witnessed in all of our alumni since he
first started working at St. John's.
"The alumni here create such a welcoming and family-style
environment," he said. "A lot of the people in the Red White Club
have been there for years, and they've developed great
relationships and bonds. But they're also very welcoming to new
members. It's amazing how the Red White Club, and its fantastic
members, can somehow make St. John's athletics even more fun and
exciting. It's great to be a part of something that special."