Quotes

“I knew from the 1st time I met Kevin White years ago that he would be going uptown in the world of intercollegiate sports . Kevin had all the qualities that are needed to become a “Big Star “ as an Athletic Administrator . Yes, he possessed great enthusiasm, energy, knowledge, plus the golden gift as a master communicator. Yes, to me for decades KEVIN WHITE has been AWESOME BABY with a CAPITAL A!”

“Throughout his distinguished career in college athletics, Kevin White led with a clear vision and built strong relationships with stakeholders at every level. His secrets on effective leadership will be helpful for any aspiring leader.”

“Kevin is an amazing leader and his ability to positively impact people, and the organizations they serve, is second to none. To be certain, I’ve been incredibly blessed to know Kevin as a friend, colleague and mentor for more than three decades. His endless support and advice have been priceless. He remains the ‘gold standard’ of college sports.”

"When watching other teams you place a keen eye not only on the team but also on their administration. Because greatness starts top down. Kevin has always provided a great example and model of how this should be done."

“Kevin White was a joy to work with during his years as Athletic Director at Notre Dame. He is the preeminent mentor of future athletic leaders in the country. He is also a terrific person and a treasured friend.”

“Having served as Athletic Director in six different institutions and had his advice sought in many more, Kevin White is simply unparalleled in his knowledge of intercollegiate athletics. I’ll go further: there may never be anyone, EVER, who knows this field better than Kevin. Add that he’s a modest, low-ego guy who shows equal respect for everyone, holds himself and others to the highest ethical standards, and fights valiantly for his department while fully supporting the larger, non-sports mission of universities, and you begin to grasp how rare he is. Now we learn that this Irish storyteller is a natural writer too!”

“Kevin White has been a visionary servant leader for more than five decades. The impact that has come from the community of his disciples, is unmatched in collegiate athletics. Kevin has spawned two generations of leaders and it will not end there. He is a remarkable and great man who’s story will fascinate and inspire readers.”

“In my near decade with Kevin White I was always struck by his humility and willingness to listen to all sides before making a decision. Make no mistake he was our leader, but he always wanted input to make the best decision. I consider myself, and our family, lucky and blessed to have been so close with Kevin and Jane.”

“Kevin White is widely recognized as the unofficial dean of university athletic directors. Some refer to him as “the godfather” of intercollegiate sports. At latest count, Kevin has mentored 31 current athletic directors or other senior officials in collegiate athletics. He has been a perennial force – whether negotiating television rights for the then-PAC-10 Conference when he was at Arizona State University, representing Notre Dame to NBC, winning two national championships in men’s basketball at Duke, or serving on the United States Olympic Committee. Kevin is a model mentor and person of unflinching integrity and loyalty.”

“Kevin has an extraordinary ability to motivate diverse constituencies toward a common goal. He has an uncanny ability to honor the dignity of everyone he meets while inspiring each to aspire and work toward something greater. Perhaps most uniquely, he cares for those with whom he interacts more than the larger purpose which might better benefit himself. Kevin exemplifies the character, integrity, and values of a world we desperately seek.”

“Kevin White is an extraordinary leader and person. He is team-oriented, and blends team goals with the professional development of every person in his charge. Kevin does a magnificent job of navigating change, and perhaps his greatest strength is listening. Kevin seeks input and thoughts from others, then makes an informed, “we first” decision. In the college sports industry, Kevin White is on its Mount Rushmore.”

“Kevin is passionate, supportive, empathetic, inspiring, and motivating – as a colleague, a friend, and a leader. My two years working directly with him allowed me incredible opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills, and to grow within our industry. His vision and ability to anticipate future change helped me develop my own leadership style and philosophy. I have experienced first-hand Kevin’s strong commitment to mentoring, and I appreciate that he has been willing to provide advice and guidance throughout my career.”

“Kevin has been an amazing asset for Duke — not just for athletics, but for the University as a whole. He has a deep understanding of, and tremendous respect for, the University’s mission and has done everything he can to make us better, with enormous success. Despite his extraordinary success, he remains unchanged: kind, generous, enthusiastic, energetic, wise and eternally humble. Now, as he hangs up his spikes (appropriate for someone who got his start coaching track) and closes the chapter on one part of his career, we are thrilled beyond measure that Kevin is bringing his talents to Fuqua. At the business school, we’re not thinking retirement, we’re excited to see the next chapter unfold. Only one thing remains to be said: profound thanks, Kevin, for what you have done, and will do, for Duke.”

“In Kevin's thirteen years at Duke he has overseen both a continuation (and in some cases resurgence) of athletic excellence across the Olympic and revenue sports, as well as vast improvements in our athletics facilities and tremendous academic success of our student-athletes, while never allowing the integrity of our athletics program to falter. Kevin's influence and impact are not just evident at Duke University, but it is clear at ACC meetings, that they are felt broadly at the conference, national, and even international levels. His many formal committee and service assignments have allowed for such continued broad influence, but perhaps even more of his impact has resulted through his informal role as a ready advisor and mentor to all. He has had a significant role in the development of what seems like everyone in the field of intercollegiate athletics, including many of those in significant leadership roles.”

"For more than a decade, I loved working with Kevin White. He made Duke Athletics and Duke University so much better. In fact, he made the entire college athletics industry better. Kevin leads with his heart and never wavers from the strong values that define him as a person of the highest character. My family and I are incredibly grateful for his friendship, guidance, and the partnership our two families created together."

"Kevin White is legendary in every sense of the word. Legends like Dr. White have stories of their accomplishments shared and told by many, many people. During our time here at Duke, we would not have had any chance to move the needle with the football program without the talent, drive, and work ethic of Dr. White. He is, without doubt, the most talented individual I've encountered during my career in athletics."

“Kevin White has been a true North Star for college athletics for decades. As a practitioner and teacher, he has provided value-driven leadership based on integrity, dignity, and humaneness, coupled with extraordinary effectiveness. He is a shining example of how it should be done.”

"Kevin White’s distinguished administrative career is one to be admired. He has successfully navigated the world of college athletics over four decades with professionalism, class and humility. He will go down as one of the best to ever lead an athletic department. I’m grateful for his belief in me as a coach and his positivity in the direction of our program. He is directly responsible for the varied successes of the Duke Athletic Department. I wish him all the best in retirement."

"We have been so fortunate to have Kevin White as our leader since 2008. As a coach, having an Athletic Director who has coached and who had also been the leader at many other institutions before he arrived at Duke, really gave him a unique set of skills. At the time of his arrival I was told by my mentors who were also in athletic administration that he was the best in the country. As a department, we benefited tremendously from his experiences and wisdom. We always knew he had Athletics' best interests at heart and truly wanted our student-athletes to have the best experience possible."

“Kevin’s leadership shines a bright light on Duke excellence, teamwork, perseverance and purpose. His example and distinguished achievements will inspire leaders for many years to come. Duke Health joins the wider Duke community in celebrating his remarkable career.”

“Kevin has inspired us with his unique combination of extraordinary vision and deep compassion. He carried Duke to new levels of excellence across across the athletic spectrum, and built an ecosystem where student athletes can thrive. Most importantly, he instilled a spirit of collaboration between athletics and the entire university, and that spirit will be an enduring part of his legacy.”

“Kevin White's track record of championship-caliber leadership in college athletics is unrivaled. He made everyone around him better with his unique ability to relate to student-athletes, coaches, and staff at every level of the organization. Duke University is fortunate to have benefited from Kevin’s guidance and I am so grateful to call him both a colleague and a friend.”

“Kevin has all the traits of a great leader. Empathy, humility and an unwavering belief in his coaches. He had a way of expecting the best from you while continually helping you achieve your potential. He had the rare ability to know what to say, when to say it and also when to step back and listen. If you want to become a great leader, read this book!”