DeLoss Dodds, Kansas State ’69, is a patient man. He knows that success takes time. One of his most prized possessions is his backyard, which is set among Austin’s stubborn “greenbelt.” He has spent countless hours perfecting a view that is truly breathtaking from every angle, one that leaves many of his guests in awe.

The same can be said of the athletic program that Dodds has facilitated at the University of Texas at Austin. Yet instead of bushes and blooms, there are sports teams and instead of guests, there are rivals who leave scratching their head.

“We have created a very special thing here in Austin. It really shows as a testament to the players, coaches and alumni,” stated Dodds. “Everyone plays a part in the Longhorn’s success.”

Since Dodds became the school’s ninth athletics director in 1981, the men’s athletics program has become one of the most prominent in the NCAA. During his tenure, the Longhorns have claimed 32 national championships and 97 conference titles in nine different sports.

An avid athlete, Dodds grew up around the athletic fi eld and competed for Kansas State before becoming the assistant track coach there in 1961. He then served as head coach for 14 years (1963-77). During that time, Dodds guided the Wildcats to six Big Eight titles.

Everywhere Dodds goes he fi nds success. “It would most certainly have to be the students that make it fun. It is witnessing them succeed not only on the competition fields, but in the classrooms as well . . . that’s what makes this job so rewarding and easy for me,” said Dodds.

Success in the classroom is a must for Dodds. Students and coaches must be performing in both the classrooms and on the fields. He states that both the coaches and the students must perfect a balance that allows them to succeed both on and off the fi elds.

It is evident that Dodds has created a sense of family within the office. He regularly walks the halls and checks in on various employees. “Birthdays are big around here,” said Dodds. “We get excited with another reason to celebrate.” He enjoys checking in on students who are studying at the facility and continues to foster an open relationship with them.

Many of the student-athletes have stated to Dodds that their primary goal is to graduate. Even many who leave early for a professional career come back to Austin to complete their degrees. Coaches must not only have winning percentages, but also high graduation rates for the athletes on their teams.

Dodds oversees a $130 million athletics budget and spearheaded the creation of The Longhorn Foundation, the athletics department’s offi cial fundraising arm, in 1984. Before the Foundation was started, approximately $250,000 was raised annually by various booster clubs. In just its fi rst year, The Longhorn Foundation raised more than $1 million. In the 25-year history of the Foundation, which now garners support from more than 13,000 donors, more than $293 million has been raised for student-athlete scholarships, academic services, facilities and other areas of UT Athletics.

“The Longhorn Foundation is very special to me because it took so much work from so many people to succeed,” explained Dodds. “We wanted this department to be self-funding, and it now is giving back to the academic side of the University.”

Dodds proclaims that as an undergraduate, it was the Fraternity that set him up for success. He struggled when he first arrived at Kansas State and it was the help of brothers that allowed him to excel in the classroom. “The older brothers really forced us to study and to do well in academics,” recalled Dodds. “We were number one in grades for a long time, an accomplishment we were very fond of. Beta made this an expectation for the younger members.”

Dodds has shown what a little luck and hard work can get you these days. He loves his job and the family he has at UT. He has been called a coach, a father, a pioneer and a mentor. But the name Dodds is most proud of? “It’s a special thing to be able to say you’re a Longhorn.” — A. Hammel