Samantha Huge comes from Texas A&M, where the student enrollment is more than 60,000, to William and Mary, where it’s about 6,300. She’s leaving an athletic program that’s a member of the Power Five for one that is considered mid-major.
On the surface, A&M and W&M would seem to have little in common. But Huge, who has spent the last three years in College Station, prefers to stress an important similarity.
“There is a passion and commitment of our fans and donors and supporters and student athletes and coaches here just like there is there,” said Huge, who was introduced as the Tribe’s new athletic director Wednesday morning. “It might be fewer of (us), but we’re going to change that.”
A tall order, to be sure, but Huge (pronounced hugh-gee with a hard g) doesn’t seem to lack for energy.
At her introductory press conference, Huge talked about her early memories of Williamsburg, praised the mentors that helped her along the way, and laid out her vision to build on the success created by her predecessor, Terry Driscoll.
W&M president Taylor Reveley joked about how large Driscoll’s shoes would be to fill. Being that Driscoll was listed at 6-foot-7 in his playing days, that’s literally true. But he also leaves behind a 21-year legacy at William and Mary.
“His shoes are enormous,” Reveley said. “But we’ve found just the person who can in fact fill Terry’s shoes.”
Driscoll applauded the hire.
“The goals and values William and Mary has align with her personal goals,” he said. “That’s one of the key things about this department. The words she spoke today were the same thoughts I was expressing as the AD.
“She’s coming into a department that is immediately going to understand the direction. That will make her transition go very, very quickly.”
When Huge officially takes over on May 1, she will become the first female athletic director in W&M history. She will also be the only female AD among the 14 Division I schools in Virginia.
“It’s humbling,” she said. “There is a lot of honor that comes with it. I do know I represent a lot of women who have worked very hard in this profession to reach a goal like this.
“There are some incredible men and women who have advocated for me, and I will return that. William and Mary and I are making history together, and it’s pretty cool.”
A 1992 graduate of Gordon College in Wenham, Mass. — she also has a law degree from Campbell University — Huge brings a full and diverse resume. Before Texas A&M, she worked at Delaware, Georgetown, Wake Forest, Illinois, and Michigan State.
“Places known for athletic success or academic success or both,” said Lawrence Pulley, dean of W&M’s business school and chair of the search committee.
At A&M, she was a senior associate AD and senior women’s administrator. She oversaw the department’s deal with Adidas. She also was its primary liaison to the 12th Man Foundation, the Aggies’ fund-raising arm.
In her five years at Delaware, she handled day-to-day operations like capital projects and human resources. She also served as special assistant to the president and was the Blue Hens’ interim athletic director for three months.
Other highlights: She was a member of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Issues Committee and worked in the compliance office of the Southern Conference.
“At each stop, I think I learned something specific that has prepared me for this,” she said. “I’ve worked at several schools, some of whom have got very rigorous academic standards, many of whom have got championship athletics.
“I’ve worked for some amazing mentors. I’ve been led by some great athletic directors.”
Though Huge had never worked at William and Mary before, she isn’t unfamiliar with the school or the town. Her older brother, Chris, played football for the Tribe and head coach Jimmye Laycock from 1981-83.
“I have very early memories of Williamsburg,” she said. “In addition to visiting the historic area, I recall coming to campus for football weekends and being amazed by the passion and energy surrounding the stadium. The fans in the stands, the players on the field, the pageantry of the game.
“To return to William and Mary is simply a full-circle dream come true. I’ve always admired William and Mary from afar.”
For the next six weeks, Huge and Driscoll will work together in the transition. Then, on May 1, she gets the keys.
“I can’t wait to get to spend a little bit of time with him before I let him walk out the door,” Huge said. “And then he’s not allowed to change his number.”
Johnson can be reached by phone at 757-247-4649.
