Don’t worry, the athletic director’s office still has the name Joel Thirer engraved on its doorplate. Despite recently becoming a semifinalist for the athletic director’s job at Florida Gulf Coast University, the Binghamton University administrator has “no intention whatsoever” of changing schools anytime soon.
“I have no plans to go anywhere,” Thirer said. “Binghamton University is not a school you can simply walk away from.”
Thirer was among 13 semifinalists that the college in Fort Myers interviewed by phone late in March and confirmed that he had spoken to a representative of the university. Six finalists were chosen by FGCU, however, he was not among them.
Offers such as this are not rare according to Thirer.
“I have gotten nominated for jobs every single year for the last 12 years,” he said. “It’s flattering to be nominated and just hear what people have to say.”
Since the time he assumed his position in 1989, the 60-year-old Thirer has made some striking changes to Binghamton University athletics. He was the man behind the renaming of the school’s moniker from the Colonials to the Bearcats. In 2001, he oversaw the five-year transition from Division III, into Division I of the NCAA. In addition, he helped place Binghamton into the America East Conference.
During Thirer’s administration, Binghamton founded the Binghamton University Athletic Club and the Athletic Hall of Fame. He also oversaw the construction of the Events Center and Bearcats Sports Complex and helped plan renovations of the West Gym.
Thirer was a past chair of the Athletic Directors Council and was recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics as the “Division I Athletic Director of the Year” in the Northeast region in June.
Despite all his success, he and his administration have lately come under a lot of fire by the media pertaining to controversies surrounding the men’s basketball program. According to a New York Times report, an athletics administrator has been accused of sexual misconduct toward another member of the department.
Thirer, however, said he is not affected by this negative light and vows that he is standing strong.
“You don’t run away from problems, because every school has these issues,” Thirer said. ”It’s part of the job. I have a terrific staff and we are doing things in the best way possible, keeping our nose to the grindstone.”
At the end of the day, Thirer will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Even his family can’t stay away from the region. Thirer’s eldest daughter, Lauren, currently works and resides with her husband in Ithaca. His younger daughter, Lisa, is a 2006 graduate of Binghamton University.
“I am committed to being at Binghamton,” he said. “I have a huge investment in this school.”