GARRETT WAIT
Sports Editor
Sam Lagana, the athletics vice chancellor, is this week’s guest on “10 Minutes With…”
What does being the athletics vice chancellor actually entail?
I think it really focuses on furthering the mission of the university with the inclusion of the athletic program and infusing the culture of the athletic program into the culture of the institution. What’s critical about this is working on a team to do all of this. On the team are the administrators, coaches, alumni and the students. When you were coming to do this I started thinking ‘what is the cool thing about what I get to do?’ And it’s just this. I get to work with great administrators, great coaches, great students and great alumni.
How long have you been in this role?
That’s a really good question actually. This is my fourth year at Pepperdine, and this past summer they sort of gave me this title, but I’ve been doing this for four years. It’s advancement really.
You’re an LMU grad, how did you become involved so heavily with Pepperdine?
Well, I cut myself one day and it came out orange.
Have you always been interested in Pepperdine sports?
Yes. Big yes. I grew up down the street, just down the Pacific Coast Highway in the eastern conclave of Malibu known as Pacific Palisades, so I always followed Pepperdine.
Do you have a favorite memory of athletics at Pepperdine?
I think the biggest thing I remember as a young kid was seeing the Kansas Jayhawks come into town to play the Waves. That was a big memory. But like a lot of other people around here, I also remember the Battle of the Network Stars.
How many Pepperdine events do you attend in a week?
Let’s just say that if my wife finds out the real answer to that, we’re all gong to have a problem. But really, I probably go to between six and 10 events, but not as many as Andy Benton or Charlie Runnels. Those guys are the best. They’re really committed to the students.
Why did you recently begin announcing games on the public address system at Firestone?
There was a need for someone to announce a game and they asked if I could do it. I was honored to do so, and I kind of have a background in that sort of thing, so it came pretty easily.
Are you going to continue to do it?
No. I think when there’s a need, I’ll be happy to fill a gap, but that’s all I was doing was filling a gap.
10-31-2005