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By Shelly Swasey
Motorcycles, cattle herding and football are a few words describing the childhood experiences of a man who has attached success in the world of athletics. Rance Pugmire, Utah State University athletic director, grew up in Hagerman, Idaho. He says being an active youth at a very young age led him to where he is today. "I wasn't the typical boy who played with cars and trucks. I never built models or watched television. During most of my childhood I was either playing sports, hunting ducks, or going on road trips with my dad and his live stocking company," said Pugmire. His years growing up were spent herding cattle on his grandfather's ranch. Pugmire was mature at the age of seven, having been around adults his whole life. He often found himself watching out for his younger sister Amy when his parents went out of town. "When I was nine years old and my sister was five my parents would leave for a couple of days. It was up to me to watch out for her," he said. Sports played a key part in Pugmire's childhood. "I remember playing basketball almost everyday with my cousins, using the basket we had hammered to our garage," he said. "During sixth grade recess, myself and four of my buddies would play football challenging any guys within the school. We used to play ninth graders and beat them," he said. Pugmire attended Hagerman High School where he started as football quarterback and basketball point guard his sophomore year. As a junior, Pugmire transferred to Castle Fort where he lived with one of his coaches. "I decided to transfer to another high school to give those athletes who were a year older the chance to start in my place. My parents were very supportive of my decision," said Pugmire. Pugmire's family gave him all the support he needed in sporting events throughout high school. "My folks never missed a game. Even though I never saw my father at home because he was out driving truck, he made it to every game one way or another. So did Mom," said Pugmire. "Dad was the driving force for my success in athletics. Since he was an excellent football player growing up, Dad was very critical of my performance. The two things I focused on during each game were to win the game, and make my dad proud," he said. Throughout his high school years, Pugmire made All State for three positions in football as well as one in basketball. He was a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and graduated with a 3.8 GPA. "School came too easy for me. I never had to study in high school, which was good so I could focus a lot of my attention on my job and athletics," he said. Once out of high school, Pugmire focused many of his efforts on excelling within his classes. "I enjoyed sports throughout high school and could have been better if I would have work harder. It was time to switch priorities and get a good education." Pugmire pursued a degree within the field of computer sciences during his first two years at University of Idaho. He then quickly realized the field was not for him and changed his major. "I woke up one day and thought, duh, and changed to what I loved doing--that being broadcasting," said Pugmire. He pursued his degree in journalism with a minor in political science, and set a graduation goal for Spring 1987. Pugmire found the girl of his dreams during his junior year. He met his wife, Barbara Hinkle, through his roommate, who was her brother. "It was funny because I was always trying to set Barb up with all of my friends, telling them what a terrific girl she was and then it hit me how wonderful she was," he said. Pugmire popped the question on New Year's Eve on 1986 and the two were married a year later in the summer of 1988. During the year of his engagement, Pugmire spent three seasons working as the assistant sport information director at St. John's University in New York. "This was a hard time because Barbara was finishing her degree in Idaho and I was on the other side of the country. She flew up a few times and I flew down to see her as much as I could," he said. Once married, Pugmire moved back to Idaho where he got a job working as the sports information director at the University of Idaho from 1990-1994, then as the regional development director at Idaho from 1994-1995. "It was nice working back in Idaho, where I was use to, where I had pursued my education. I found many wonderful experiences during my years with Idaho," he said. In March of 1993, Pugmire broadened his many duties when he became a father to his new daughter, Jordan. In 1995, he was offered a job working as the assistant athletic director for development and media relations at Utah State University. During August of 1996, Pugmire expanded his family with a new addition, his son Conner. In 1997, Pugmire worked with a team of staff members and volunteers to set Utah State's record-breaking fund-raising auction. He also oversaw the department's fundraising efforts, the marketing department, media relations department, and worked with the ticket office as well as served as the administrator for many of the varsity sports. In 1998, before his appointment as athletics director, Pugmire served as associate athletic director for external operations. On July 16, 1999, Pugmire was appointed to the position of athletic director replacing Bruce Van De Velde. Pugmire, now 38 years old, is in his fourth year as athletic director. "Hard work had definitely paid off. I have a love for athletics and just want to do what I can to help our programs succeed," he said. Since his appointment as athletic director, Pugmire has been heavily involved in bringing about improvements to the athletic department. He has worked closely with USU President Kermit L. Hall in securing a spot in the Sun Belt Conference for USU's football team. "We've got to do something for football. If it requires us looking at all sports, we're willing to do that," Pugmire told The Salt Lake Tribune. Improvements did not stop there. The women's basketball program was reinstated, after being dropped back in 1987, with its first season marked to begin in the 2003-04 year. Utah State's Raegan Scott-Pebley, 27, the youngest head coach in Division I women's basketball will coach this new team. "We needed someone with tireless enthusiasm," Pugmire told Dick Patrick, a reporter with USA Today. "Right from the start, you could tell she had a passion not only to be a coach but a passion for this job. It almost seemed she preferred to take over a program from scratch than pick up one already established. You got excited about our program, just listening to her talk." Upon adding the new women's basketball program, many changes needed to take place. Now was the perfect time to improve the facilities within the Dee Gleen Smith Spectrum. Teaming up with Coca-Cola, Utah State University was able to install a state of the art sound system and scoreboard in the basketball arena. "The scoreboard will be approximately the size of the Jumbo-tron in Salt Lake City's Delta Center. While the scoreboard is the same size as the Delta Center's, the DGS Spectrum is half the size," said Tyler Riggs in an article appearing on the Ustateags.com website. With the new technology, Pugmire set out to negotiate radio and television contracts to guarantee publicity. In July 2002 at a Big Blue Club meeting, Pugmire informed coaches, athletes, and students about the changes made to the contract. "He explained that the televisionn contract the university had with Sportswest, was not renewed and a new contract was created with KJZZ. Pugmire announced that KJZZ would broadcast the USU/Utah game, but Sportswest held the rights to the USU/BYU game. Pugmire explained that a new radio agreement with KVNU was on the way, as well as a chance that the Aggies may soon be broadcast on FM radio across the state. He briefly mentioned that negotiations were ongoing with "two major sports stations" (presumably 1280 KZN and 1320 KFAN)," wrote Tyler Riggs, a reporter for the Ustateags.com website. In addition to everything going on, Pugmire still finds time to talk to the students to get their feedback and improvements that can be made within the department. He recently put together a committee called the Student Fan Directors Council (SFDC), where once a month he listens to students who are both in support of athletics and skeptical of the department and answers their questions. "I was able to sit on this committee the first time it was brought together and I found it to be very beneficial. Rance was able to answer all of my questions and the other students questions," said Stephanie King, a student at USU. He also has a webpage where anyone can visit and "Ask the AD" whatever questions they have: Ask the AD "Being an athletic director is a 24/7/365 status-if you go to the grocery store at midnight for a carton of milk you might run into someone who wants to talk about establishing an endowment. Your AD cap is always on," said Brian Evans, USU's Assistant Athletic Director. "In the world of Division I athletics, many athletic directors are often 'controlled' by the head football and basketball coach. That could happen here, but Rance has earned the respect of Mick and Stew and he runs the show-but in a way that everyone has input. It's a collective administration," said Evans. Aside from his many work-related duties, Pugmire still finds time for his wife and kids. Jordan, age 9 and Conner, age 6 are actively involved in their childhood, as their father was during his youthful years. Jordan is currently pursuing a love for soccer and Conner is just enjoying being a kid. "I will not push my kids to participate in athletics. If they want to get involved I will be completely behind them," Pugmire said. Right now Pugmire has his life just how he wants it. He is actively involved in sports, a passion that has carried through his life, has "terrific children and a wonderful wife." To sum it all up, "I am as happy as I could ever be."
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