Pull Back the Plaid Curtain on Athletics Director Josh Centor

Get to know Athletics Director Josh Centor in this addition of "Pull Back the Plaid Curtain!"

1. What drew you to being an Athletics Director – why the path to intercollegiate athletics?

When I was in college, I changed my mind about what I wanted to do a number of times. It became clear about five minutes into my college baseball career that I wasn’t going to be a good Division III player, so I knew I wasn’t going to play professional baseball. I bought the LSAT book, but after carrying it to my bedroom, I left it there. I was an Economics major at Brandeis, and decided to interview for positions in the finance world. I was offered a role at Morgan Stanley, but was having a hard time seeing myself living that life. At the same time, I was serving on the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was offered a 10-month internship in Media Relations at Boston College. I turned down the full-time role at Morgan Stanley, went to BC and fell in love with intercollegiate athletics. After a three-year stint at the NCAA, I received the opportunity of a lifetime and came to Carnegie Mellon. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel like I have the greatest job in the world, working with the greatest students in the world.

2. What is your favorite memory during your time at Carnegie Mellon?

I have had the privilege of raising my children on the Carnegie Mellon campus, around Carnegie Mellon students. I have bounced all three of my kids on bleachers during basketball games, and watched tense minutes of games with them at my side. This past fall, I took my 9-year-old son with me to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Sectional rounds in Chicago. After we advanced to the national quarterfinals, we went to penalty kicks for a chance to go to the first Final Four in our history. When we advanced past the kicks, my son and I celebrated in a way that fills my heart with great emotion. We embraced and jumped up and down for several minutes, holding on to each other. I shared this story with our women after the season, and thanked them for providing a dad with one of the great memories of a lifetime. Our shared joy is something I will never forget.

3. Who has been the most influential person in your career?

I have had the fortune of having multiple “most influential people” in my career. NCAA President Myles Brand taught me through our many conversations that intercollegiate athletics, when done right, is all about educating young people. Former Carnegie Mellon Director of Athletics Susan Bassett taught me so much about this business, and most especially that people are the most important part of what we do. Former Carnegie Mellon Vice President of Campus Affairs Michael Murphy hired me as athletics director, and mentored me with every single meeting and discussion we ever had. Current Vice President of Student Affairs Gina Casalegno is the hardest-working individual I have ever come across, and she leads with incredible humility, passion and grace. Truly, I have been blessed to have worked alongside giants. They have shaped me into the professional I have become.

4. What was sports like while you were growing up – how do you think it’s changed?

I think much is the same – sports were a way for kids to be with other kids, to learn how to succeed and more importantly, to learn how to fail. I think all of those things still hold. We learn the greatest life lessons through sport, and that’s what makes it so critical. I think youth sports have changed a lot – there is a lot more money in it, and kids are specializing early. I worry that children aren’t allowed the time to find as much joy as they should in playing for their local leagues and with their friends. Remember, only a very few will get to play sports at the college level, and a minute percentage will move on to the professional ranks. Sports should be about health, well-being and learning.

5. What is the most memorable athletic event you have witnessed / been a part of outside of Carnegie Mellon Athletics?

The first Major League Baseball game I ever went to – in 1988, with my dad. The New York Mets hosted the Chicago Cubs. A big league baseball game with my dad. That was the best. I hope my kids will feel the same about going to games with their dad.

6. What is one thing that no one knows about you?

I was in an acapella group during my freshman year at Brandeis. We rocked show tunes.

For other department member responses, visit Pull Back the Plaid Curtain.