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CIU Bids Kim Abbott Godspeed
Kim Abbott made her
mark in the history of
Columbia International
University. And now
CIU has said its
goodbyes to the
school’s first athletics
director.
Abbott resigned from
CIU at the end of the
fall semester to give
more attention and
care to her elderly
parents in Oklahoma.
A farewell reception
was held for Abbott in
the Moore Fitness Center, a building that stood when Abbott
was hired in 2010, but needed an athletics program to make
it come alive. Two years later, under Abbott’s leadership, the
CIU Rams were playing intercollegiate men’s soccer with a half
dozen other sports added over the rest of her tenure.
“I know that it was hard work, but it’s very rewarding,” Abbott
said in between hugs from CIU staff, faculty and student-
athletes. “I’ve been given so much more than I’ve given. I love
the coaches, I love the people. I love the kids. I think that’s what
CIU is all about. I’ve received so much.”
James Whitaker is the new A.D., having served as CIU’s
assistant A.D. and men’s soccer coach. At the reception, he
stood nearby and as he watched students, faculty and staff
give Abbott a final hug, he talked about what he learned from
Abbott on how to be “a coach’s A.D.”
“Her door is always open,” Whitaker said. “She makes the job
of a coach a lot easier, coming alongside us and helping to
manage all the little things that need to be done — a lot of the
ATHLETICS
Ryan Gibson, 1,000 points scorer, with
Coach Marshall Tague
CIU’s first Athletics
Director Kim Abbott
Coach Bill Brindley
things you don’t see or hear about, but ultimately making our
Athletics Department successful.”
Abbott took a moment to look around the room and address
the athletes who had come to bid her farewell.
“You know I love you,” Abbott began. “You guys are special
and on the right track. You’ve chosen to come to CIU. This
is an amazing place. Hang in there. Don’t give up. Be great
athletes.”
Meanwhile...
James Whitaker’s promotion
to athletics director left the
men’s head soccer coach
position vacant. That position
was filled by Bill Brindley.
Brindley comes to CIU
from Trinity Baptist College
in Jacksonville, Florida
where he built TBC’s soccer
program from scratch in
2012 to consecutive regional
tournament championships,
and the 2015 NCCAA D2
National Championship. Before becoming a coach, Brindley
played professionally with USL teams Real Maryland and the
Pittsburgh River Hounds. He was a collegiate standout at
Tennessee Temple and Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Brindley says he was attracted to CIU because, “it was
evident that CIU is filled with passionate people who believe
in providing a Christ-centered environment for the student
athlete.”
“I am proud to join the Ram nation and look forward to helping
our student athletes achieve success on the field, in the
classroom and in the community,” Brindley added.
CIU Athlete Achieves Milestone
Ryan Gibson is the first basketball player in CIU history to score 1,000 points.
He achieved the milestone on Jan. 31 in a win against Warren Wilson College at
Swannanoa, North Carolina. He would later be honored in front of the hometown
crowd in the Moore Fitness Center on Feb. 2 prior to the Rams’ contest against
Johnson & Wales University. Gibson was introduced and presented with a
basketball inscribed with his achievement. He immediately ran toward the stands
with the basketball and presented it to his parents in the front row.
ATHLETICS
22
CIU Today
Spring 2017