Memories from the AD's Chair - Don Purdy

As Belmont celebrates 75 seasons of athletics, throughout the year, Belmont Athletics will profile the five living Athletic Directors to discuss their memories of their time as the leader of the athletic department.

First up is Don Purdy, who served as Head Men's Basketball Coach and Athletics Director from 1978-1986. Purdy came to Belmont in 1978 after serving as an assistant coach at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas.  During his tenure at BU, his teams won 116 games and reached the NAIA District 24 Tournament twice.  He also served alongside Belmont coaching legends Betty Wiseman and Dave Whitten.  In 1986, Purdy retired from coaching but continued to serve Belmont as Director of Auxiliary Services for nearly 25 years. 

Recently, Don spoke to BelmontBruins.com about his time at Belmont and how the school and athletic programs influenced his life.
 
What was the process that led to you becoming Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach at Belmont?

In 1978, I was in my fourth year as an assistant at my alma mater, Ouachita Baptist, so I really wanted to get a head coaching job.  I found out Belmont was looking for a coach so I sent my information to them.  It just so happened that the academic dean at Belmont, Dr. Kelly, was one of my teachers at Ouachita Baptist, so I had a little bit of a connection there.  But I called them and they said they had someone they were going to hire. 

After Ouachita made the NAIA Tournament in Kansas City, our head coach, Coach Vining, comes in and he says, Belmont called and they want you to come down for an interview.  So after we lost a tournament game, I flew to Nashville and met up with two professors, Bob Byrd and Mike Awalt, who were on the search committee with Kenny Sidwell, Dr. Glen Kelly, and president, Herbert Gabhart.  We went to eat and then we went up to Dr. Gabhart's office and talked some more.  I think it helped I was Baptist and working at a Baptist school.

After 45 minutes, Dr. Gabhart asked me to leave the room and when I came back, they offered me the job.  I was supposed to visit Southwest Baptist to interview there, but when I got back home, I told my wife that I really liked Belmont so I took the job.
 

Anything stand out about your tenure as Athletic Director/Head Basketball Coach?

We only had 5-6 sports, so my main job as AD was to deal with budgets and make sure everyone stayed within them.  I had a great group of coaches… Betty Wiseman and Dave Whitten were two of them.  They were wonderful people and easy to work with on a daily basis.  I just let them coach and didn't bother them too much

One of my fondest memories was going out in the summer with Betty and one of my players, Danny Duvall, to speak at different churches.  Betty would sing as part of the presentation.  People just wanted to know what was going on at Belmont. 

I also remember a time that the University talked about moving up to NCAA Division II, but there was no Division II conference nearby and the cost to move was expensive, so we decided not to do it.  NAIA was a good spot for us.

As for basketball, I recall we played at Georgia when they had Dominique Wilkins his freshman year.  At halftime, Georgia was just up 22 to 20.  Coach Hugh Durham was not happy.  We ended up getting beat 74-53, but we hung with them for a while.
 

Do you remember a particular moment during your tenure that sticks out to you the most either as AD or as basketball coach?

One late night, Betty called me and that the team van had broke down on a road trip in Alabama and she needed someone to come down and pick them up.  Well I was athletic director, so I had to drive down there to get them and bring them back to Nashville. 
 

Who did you rely on for advice while in that role?

Dr. Herbert Gabhart.  He was such a man of humility.  The only man I know that could say a prayer and it would be a sermon. 
 

This is Belmont's 75^th season of athletics, as a former staff member, what stands out to you about the athletic department?  What are you most proud of?

The facilities.  Dr. Bob Fisher did a great job of getting these buildings built to help us be competitive.  You have to do that these days. 

Also, the campus itself.  It's so beautiful, just one of the prettiest in the nation.