Mike Hamrick was named Marshall University’s athletics director on July 20, 2009 and since returning to his alma mater, he has re-energized Marshall athletics and the Huntington community. His efforts have raised Marshall University’s athletic program to a level not seen before. In Hamrick’s six-plus years as Marshall’s AD, the athletic program’s facility growth and enhancement has totaled more than $42 million.

Hamrick is a native of Clendenin, West Virginia and graduated from Marshall University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in education after playing football for the Herd from 1976-1979.  Hamrick was previously the AD at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, East Carolina University and University of Arkansas-Little Rock as well as the assistant AD at Illinois State University and the University of Kansas.

Q:  What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A:  Being able to get up every morning and look in the mirror and feel comfortable with myself.

Q:  What is your greatest fear?

A:  Not being successful.

Q:  What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

A:  I’m not very patient.

Q:  What is the trait you most deplore in others?

A:  Disrespect.

Q:  What is your greatest extravagance?

A:  Spending time with my family.

Q:  What is your favorite journey?

A:  My career.

Q:  What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

A:  I can’t answer that one because I don’t know.

Q:  What do you dislike most about your appearance?

A:  I’m too fat.

Q:  Which living person do you most despise?

A:  I don’t despise anybody.

Q:  Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

A:  Don’t screw it up.

Q:  What is your greatest regret?

A:  I have no regrets.  I don’t live my life regretting anything.

Q:  What or who is the greatest love of your life?

A:  My wife.

Q:  When and where were you happiest?

A:  When I was a student-athlete at Marshall University.

Q:  Which talent would you most like to have?

A:  Integrity.

Q:  What is your current state of mind?

A:  Very positive.

Q:  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

A:  Probably be a little more patient with people and maybe show a little more compassion to people.

Q:  What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A:  Raising a family.

Q:  What is your most treasured possession?

A:  The way I care for people.

Q:  What is your favorite occupation?

A:  What I do right now.  The director of athletics at my university.

Q:  What is your most marked characteristic?

A:  Aggressiveness.

Q:  What do you most value in your friends?

A:  Trust.

Q:  Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

A:  Mighty Mouse.

Q:  Who are your heroes in real life?

A:  My dad.

Q:  What is it that you most dislike?

A:  Hypocritical people.

Q:  If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

A:  I would never do anything different in my life than what I’ve done to date.

Q:  How would you like to die?

A:  Happy and around family.

Q:  What is your motto?

A:  Work hard, respect others and be the best you can be and do it with integrity.

Trace Johnson can be contacted at [email protected].