Interim Commissioner Mategakis Looks to Lead Conference to Greener Pastures

                                                                             

 

TUCKER, Ga. – When George Mategakis joined the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference office in June 2003, he had hoped to turn his experience into a gig as a college athletic director.

But April 15, 2008 brought him more than a rush to file his tax forms. It was also the day he was informed that he would replace the deposed Dr. William Lide as interim commissioner of the SIAC.

“I was surprised that they offered me the opportunity. They told me that they wanted me to step in as acting commissioner and do so until further notice,” Mategakis said.

While taking over the top spot in the SIAC office is certainly a plum opportunity for the 30-year-old Mategakis, there is no doubt that he has his hands full in trying to restore the league’s presence among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and its overall luster in the world of college athletics.

Even more, Mategakis is currently in charge of cleaning up the financial standing of the conference. In removing Dr. Lide, the Council of Presidents for the SIAC found through an audit that – among other things – he mismanaged the finances of the conference and failed to properly inform the conference members and leadership of the league’s “real financial challenges.”

Albany State athletic director Joshua Murfree, who is a close friend of Lide’s, told The Albany Herald that removing Lide was the best move for the SIAC.

“We will continue to do the necessary things to make the conference grow. The athletic directors are in agreement with the president’s council. We wish Dr. Lide the best.”

The transition has been arduous. Mategakis, who was the league’s Director of Championships, has not been replaced. An already thin staff was whittled down even more.

“There haven’t been any promotions. But a lot has to do with the direction of the conference and future plans,” Mategakis said. “Those things are on hold but will be revisited very shortly.”

While the President’s Council’s findings may spell doom and gloom to others, Mategakis thinks it will better allow the conference to move forward.

“People may not like to hear it, but everything is in the open now,” Mategakis said. “The presidents have an understanding of what’s going on.

“They know that meeting one or two times a year for an hour or two is not enough. They have to have more active involvement in running the conference. Knowing this, it will only improve things in the future.”

While there is no doubt the conference has several issues to confront (the league canceled its annual preseason football luncheon last week), Mategakis said the biggest involves filling the league’s coiffeurs and establishing the league’s championship programs.

“We need to make money and have successful Pioneer Bowl and basketball tournament to help with all the other sports,” Mategakis said.

The other big agenda Mategakis wants to parlay is patience. He said the league will need some time to right itself from the Lide era.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s going to take some time to make something that our fans, student-athletes, coaches, administrators and schools deserve,” he said.

“We’re on the right path. Everything is open. The presidents know what’s needed and are taking the appropriate steps to make it happen,” Mategakis said. “There could be some hiccups, but we must be patient with the progress we’re making.”

As far as his dreams of becoming an athletic director, Mategakis said he now might have other ideas.

“After working here a while, I still wouldn’t mind being an athletic director, but I also wouldn’t mind being a commissioner. I’m open to new possibilities.”

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