Lawrence Today magazine, Fall 2005
Robert L. Beeman, Jr., assumed his duties as Lawrence University’s director
of athletics on July 5. He comes to Lawrence from Charles Wright Academy in
Tacoma, Wash., where he had served as director of athletics, head boys’ basketball
coach, and assistant football coach since 2001
.
Speaking of his new assignment, he says, “It’s everything I had hoped
it would be, to be honest with you. The days fly by and all of them are filled
with a learning curve. It’s been very exciting.
“I feel a real collaborative effort thus far and have been very impressed
with the work ethic of the coaches. I see a genuine commitment to the student-athletes
on the part of the staff.”
He is the first full-time director of athletics at Lawrence, which had previously
used a model in which the director of athletics also served as a head coach.
In making the change, the university cited the need for strong leadership in
the Department of Athletics from an individual with no coaching responsibilities.
Beeman succeeds Kim Tatro, who had been director of athletics since August 2002.
Tatro will continue to serve as head coach of Lawrence’s successful softball
team.
Beeman is a native of North Branford, Conn., and earned his bachelor’s
degree in history from Principia College, where he also played football and baseball.
He received a master’s degree in kinesiology from Southern Illinois University,
Edwardsville.
Much of his professional life has been spent at Principia, where he worked from
1982-85 and again from 1993-2001. During his last three years at Principia, Beeman
was associate athletic director, with his focus on finance, development, and
facilities.