There is a man, but you can barely see him. Hidden behind phonebook-sized folders, this man juggles more in a day than many do in a week. Even when he's not engulfed by paperwork you can barely see him, but don't worry, he's there. Beyond every touchdown pass thrown by Matt Schuab, every crossover dribble from Majestic Mapp, every goal scored by Lindsay Gusick, there is a man that steers the course in making athletics at the University of Virginia great. That man is Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage.
In his two years at the helm, Littlepage has demonstrated a work ethic that has earned him national acclaim. His pride and commitment have also put him in leadership positions beyond the realm of Cavalier athletics, ensuring that there's never a dull moment in the life of Virginia's ninth athletic director.
"This is one of my folders for the BCA convention, and somewhere else here is the basketball issues folder," Littlepage said as he went through the countless stacks of paper on his desk.
"I'm preparing for going on the road tomorrow. I'm accepting an award and also speaking as a mentor to aspiring administrators in Indianapolis."
Littlepage was named athletic director at Virginia in August 2001 after serving in the position on an interim basis since June 2001. He has served Virginia athletics as an assistant basketball coach from 1976-82 and then again from 1988-90. Since then, he has served in the front office of Virginia in various roles.
"Over the past decade, he has stood out for his commitment to the overall well-being of our student-athletes, and for his thoughtful, collegial approach to complex issues," University President John T. Casteen, III said upon his naming as athletic director. "Craig solves problems, believes in the University's values and embodies the concept of excellence that we try to promote in all that we undertake."
Littlepage approaches his work with a confidence that he believes will serve Virginia athletics in its pursuit of excellence.
"My role is to establish the vision. What we're moving toward and what we want to look like," Littlepage said. "Those goals and the direction are established to put together all the resources in terms of an administrative team, in terms of facilities, in terms of other operational support which will enable our coaches and the teams they oversee to pursue that level of success."
Littlepage has not been ignored in that pursuit of success. Recently, he was named one of the most influential minorities in sports by Sports Illustrated.
"I was humbled by it," Littlepage said of the recognition. "Basically in the course of doing my work and the passion I have for my work I've gotten this recognition, which was not anticipated."
Littlepage may perhaps be in the spotlight for more than the quality of his work.As the conference's first and only African-American athletics director, he is fully aware of the ramifications of his work.
"I am mindful of the fact there will be those who will look at the performance that I might have as an indication of what others that are ethnic minorities might have in similar positions," he said. "But I think more so having been a coach previously and having been a competitive Division I athlete, I put pressure on myself to be the very best. It isn't specifically because I'm an African American. I think it's a matter of striving to be the very best because I have pride in what I do."
This pride and commitment to his work has enabled Littlepage to hold many leadership roles within the NCAA and the University at large. Previously, Littlepage served as a member of the NCAA Academics, Eligibility and Compliance Cabinet. In 2001 Littlepage was appointed to the NCAA Division I Infractions Committee. He is also a member of the NCAA basketball tournament committee which is responsible for administering all aspects of the Men's NCAA championship tournament.
"The most obvious job is the selection of teams in the fields, and then administering all things relative to the sites," Littlepage said of his role on the tournament committee.
Word with the basketball tournament committee, however, isn't just about planning March Madness.
"There's about a five week window in which all of that takes place," he said. "Year long there's a bigger role for the tournament committee because it's another voice that speaks for college basketball and what is good for the game."
Littlepage's involvement with the tournament committee has given him the opportunity to be a part of the basketball issues committee, which he described as "a group of administrators and coaches that work together basically on the frontlines to talk about issues from the legislative standpoint."
For the Pennsylvania native, the laundry list of work doesn't end there. He is also involved with the University's Center for Alcohol and Substance Education. Although Littlepage's hectic schedule prohibited him from traveling to California for CASE, he would not let that stand in the way of his commitment.
"I've volunteered to do a videotape to help CASE make the case for the continued support of the NCAA," he said. "In the 12 year period of time, we've brought in hundreds of schools and tens of thousands of student-athletes."
In the end, another accomplishment, another folder. But don't worry, while Littlepage alone does the workload of several, that's just the way he likes it.
"More so than anything I'm working hard because I want to be the very best athletic director in the country," Littlepage said. "Not just the best in the ACC, or the best in the state of Virginia, but I want to be the best in the country. That's what motivates me to do the kind of job that I do and to dedicate the time and effort that I have to do the very best for the University."
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