Former Bulldog Britz becomes a leader in collegiate athletics

Story written by Mike Gore

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Patrick Britz played a high school soccer playoff game in Western North Carolina his senior year in high school.

He scored three goals that day against Ben Lippen as his Bishop McGuiness squad won 5-3 to advance in the state playoffs. But more importantly that day began his journey to becoming one of the top college athletic administrators in the country.

Refereeing that game was UNC Asheville men's soccer coach Hank Komodowski. The veteran coach quickly realized what a talent Britz was and invited him to visit the school in February.

"Hank called me after that game and asked me to come visit UNC Asheville," said Britz from his palatial Fort Mill, S.C. office where he has served as South Atlantic Conference commissioner for the past 15 years.

"I came up in February and loved that it was a small school with a great academic reputation," Britz added. "I was able to play in an indoor tournament while I was there, and I just knew that UNC Asheville was the place for me."

Britz was an immediate starter for the Bulldogs and enjoyed a great career on the pitch for Asheville. He helped lead the program to three straight Big South Tournament semifinal appearances and earned All- Conference honors twice. Pat finished his career as the program's second all-time leading scorer. He was an Academic All-America nominee three times.

Pat was not only enjoying success on the soccer field and in the classroom but he was also preparing for a career in college administration.

"The girl I was dating at the time suggested I go talk to the Sports Information Office about keeping the book for men's basketball," said Britz. "I had done that in high school and I thought it would be fun to do in college."

Pat was hired on the spot and he was the Bulldogs' official scorer for men's and women's basketball the next eight years. And he was given more responsibility in the SID's office.

"They didn't have much help in the SID office back then and I got some more responsibilities. I would handle home women's basketball games when the regular SID couldn't be there," added Britz. "I was also proofing media guides, helping keep stats for all sports. It was tremendous learning experience."

Pat graduated with honors from UNC Asheville in 1991 and wasn't 100 percent sure what to do next.

"I wasn't sure what to do after I graduated but luckily the Southern Conference office was in Asheville and they needed an intern for their SID office," stated Britz. "I had gotten to know Geoff Cabe (SoCon Media Relations Director at the time) during my time at Asheville because he was a UNC Asheville graduate. Geoff was nice enough to hire me and I began my career with the Southern Conference."

Pat worked in Media Relations for a few years, while also still helping at UNC Asheville and working as a sports correspondent at the Asheville Citizen-Times. He was then hired full-time in a different area in the league office.

"Wright Waters was our commissioner back then and he asked me if I wanted to become the league's compliance director," said Britz. "I didn't know much about compliance then but was ready to learn. I kind of fell into the position of compliance. I quickly found out that I really liked it and enjoyed working with schools and compliance issues."

Pat decided he wanted back on a campus and moved to ETSU as its compliance director. After a few years in Johnson City, the NCAA was so impressed with Britz's work they asked him to come work in their national office, first in Overland Park, Kansas and he then made the move to Indianapolis.

"I really enjoyed being at ETSU. Those were some good years and I had a good experience at the NCAA," he said. "But after a few years at the NCAA, I realized I wanted to be back on campus."

And Pat got an incredible opportunity as an Associate Athletics Director at Texas Tech of the Big 12. He would work with legendary men's basketball coach Bobby Knight and the rest of the Red Raiders' program.

While Britz enjoyed working in Lubbock, he was ready for another change in his career.

"I enjoyed compliance and it was an interesting experience working at Texas Tech but I decided I wanted to get out of compliance because I was afraid, I would be pigeon-holed in that for the rest of my career," said Britz.

Pat returned to the sport that was his first love – soccer. In 2005, he left Texas Tech to become the first ever Director of Division I Intercollegiate Programs for the United Soccer Coaches (USC). During his tenure with the USC, Britz was responsible for raising the visibility of men's and women's Division I soccer. He played a vital role in the establishment and expansion of the Fox Soccer Channel College Match of the Week, including selling corporate sponsorships. Pat also served as the liaison between the USC and various constituent groups, including the NCAA, Division I men's and women's coaches and the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association.

He was ready for a new challenge when the Commissioner's job at the South Atlantic Conference opened. Pat admitted he didn't know much about Division II athletics but knew something about the league that went back to his playing days at Asheville.

"When I played soccer at UNC Asheville, we played Mars Hill, Carson-Newman and Tusculum so I was familiar with many of the schools in the conference," he said. "But I didn't know that much about Division II athletics. As I researched the job and investigated what Division II athletics was about, I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity."

Pat knew what is like to work in the big-time arena of college athletics and he looked forward to the change.

"Working in big-time college athletics isn't what I had envisioned it to be," declared Britz. "There's a lot of wonderful things about being in the big-time but there are things that aren't much fun to deal with either. I was really looking forward to working with Division II athletes and their programs."

Pat was hired in the spring of 2008 and has spent 15 years in charge of the South Atlantic Conference. He has done an incredible job in an ever-changing landscape of college athletics.

Two of his many achievements with the SAC has seen the conference go from nine schools to 14. When he began, the league had 13 sports it sponsored, now it's almost doubled to 24.

"I'm really proud of the opportunities and experiences we've been able to provide our student- athletes over the past few years," said Britz. "We've made our focus to be on the experience and have had tried to teach special life skills that they'll need once they finish playing their sport."

Britz was inducted into the UNC Asheville Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008 and remembers his days in North Asheville fondly.

"I had a great experience at UNC Asheville both on and off the pitch," stated Britz. "The school provided me with an incredible education that I've used since the day I graduated."

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Former Bulldog Britz becomes a leader in collegiate athletics

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