KU AD provides insight into his job

Sheahon Zenger, the new athletic director at the University of Kansas, speaks to members of the Fort Scott Kiwanis Club, Pioneer Kiwanis and the Rotary Club during a special event Wednesday at Fort Scott Community College. (Jason E. Silvers/Tribune)

Sheahon Zenger provided some insight into his job and philosophies during a special appearance Wednesday at Fort Scott Community College.

Zenger, the new athletic director at the University of Kansas and a Kansas native, was the guest speaker at a joint meeting of the Fort Scott Kiwanis Club, Pioneer Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus.

Zenger, who is from Hays, said he has visited Fort Scott several times in the past.

Prior to his remarks, Zenger joined other attendees in singing the state song, "Home on the Range."

"You know you're home when you know the words to the state song," he said.

Zenger called it an "honor" to serve at KU although after taking the job, he often had to look in the mirror and ask, "Why me?" He said it became clear to him what his main focus would be after being chosen for the post.

"I help boys and girls become men and women when they finish their four years at KU so the next generation can lead us where we need to go," he said.

Zenger offered his perspective on student-athletes at the university level. He said he tells many student-athletes at KU that 70 percent of them will never start on a sports squad at the university, so they should "pay attention to their books."

"Tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness -- welcome to KU," he said he tells students. "Our job as administrators and coaches is to give them the tools to survive."

Concerning rebuilding KU athletic programs, Zenger said there are four mottos that are shared with student-athletes -- "Substance over image, not image over substance," "Underpromise and overproduce," "Don't write checks with your mouth that your butt can't cash," and "Just work hard."

Zenger also took some time to field some audience questions. In response to one person's question about current unrest in the Big 12 Conference, "What will happen to the Big 12?," Zenger said the answer is "Nobody knows."

"We know we'll fight to the death for this conference, and we'll be prepared for whatever happens," he said.

With degrees from both KU and Kansas State University, Zenger has come "home" to Kansas after holding coaching and administrative positions in various locations nationwide, a news release said.

He oversees all of the intercollegiate athletic programs at KU, including the programs of head coaches Bill Self, Bonnie Henrickson and Turner Gill, among others.

Zenger said there are 18 sports and about 550 student-athletes at KU.