ITHACA, N.Y. -- James L. Broadhead `57, and his wife Sharon, have provided a significant gift in support of Cornell's Varsity Squash program. Jim and Sharon have committed to a gift of $500,000 to the Squash Program Endowment which will be matched by an anonymous benefactor. In recognition of their generous gift, Cornell University and the Department of Athletics and Physical Education are honored to name the position the James Broadhead `57 Head Coach of Squash.
"We are so grateful to Jim and Sharon for their transformative gift that will enhance the experience of Big Red Squash athletes. The team enjoys a rich history and this gift helps to enable our program to remain competitive within the upper echelon of intercollegiate squash," said
Andy Noel, the Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education.
The inaugural holder of the title will be current head coach,
Mark Devoy. Mark has led the men's team for the past 11 years and is recognized as one of the nation's premiere coaches. The Ivy League is the most formidable collegiate squash conference and Mark has elevated our program to new heights. The Big Red men, like our women, are perennially among the top teams in the country.
Prior to Cornell, Coach Devoy was the head professional at the Heights Casino in Brooklyn. Before relocating to the United States, Mark was a professional coach at the Hamilton Squash Club in New Zealand. He played professionally from 1980-83 on the international circuit, earning the #3 ranking in France while his wife Julie, who coaches for our Big Red Women's team, climbed to #1.
When informed of the gift, Coach Devoy commented, "… the squash team appreciates our extraordinary group of former players, parents and friends of the program who have supported us very generously. Jim has been there for us, year-in and year-out and I couldn't be more proud to hold this title."
Mr. Broadhead received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell and a J.D. from Columbia University Law School. He served as a Cornell Trustee for ten years and has been named a Presidential Councillor. Jim and Sharon have a history of supporting Cornell, having previously established both a Cornell Tradition Fellowship and a scholarship in the College of Engineering.
Mr. Broadhead has had a distinguished business career, having served as the CEO and Chairman of FPL Group Inc. (now NextEra Energy, Inc.) and its largest subsidiary, Florida Power & Light Company, from 1989 to 2001. Jim also served as President of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and as a Director for many prominent companies including New York Life Insurance Company, Delta Air Lines, and The Brinks Company.
The Broadheads have four children, three of whom are Cornellians: Jeff - MBA`99; Carolyn - Hotel `96; and Catherine - MBA '05.
Cornell offers 37 varsity sports, eleven that are designated as self-funded programs. One of Big Red Athletics' key fundraising priorities is growing program endowment for the self-funded programs that rely on annual gifts from alumni, parents and friends, and interest income from program specific endowment. Many of the 11 have achieved true "self-funded" status while some continue to receive an annual allocation from the department.
The Department of Athletics and Physical Education now celebrates 32 named positions, (including administrative and assistant coach positions), more than any other athletic department in the country.
| Department of Athletics & Physical Education Named Positions |
| Title/Position | Benefactor | Holder |
| The George Heekin '29 Head Coach of Men's Track & Field and Cross Country | George Heekin '29 | Nathan Taylor |
| The Helen Newman Director of Recreational Services | F. R. Newman '12 | Andrea Dutcher |
| The Roger J. Weiss '61 Head Coach of Football | Roger J. Weiss '61 | David Archer `05 |
| The Robert E. Gallagher '44 Head Coach of Men's Basketball | Robert E. Gallagher '44 | Bill Courtney |
| The Lindseth Director of Cornell Outdoor Education | Jon A. and Virginia M. Lindseth '56 | Marc Magnus-Sharpe |
| The Spirit of '57 Director of Rowing (coaches HW Crew) | Endowed by the HW Crew of 1957, and Louise P. and William E. Mullestein '32 | Todd Kennett '91 |
| The Philip H. Bartels '71 Head Coach of Men's Swimming | Philip H. Bartels '71 | Joe Lucia |
| The Ted Thoren Head Coach of Baseball | Richard L. Booth '82 | Bill Walkenbach `98 |
| The David Dunlop '59 Head Coach of Wrestling | Anonymous | Rob Koll |
| Positions Endowed During Cornell Victorious Campaign (and matched by Bartels Challenge) |
| The Staley Head Coach of Women's Rowing | Robert W. '57 and Elizabeth C. '61 Staley | Liz Dennison |
| The Jan Rock Zubrow '77 Head Coach of Softball | Jan Rock Zubrow '77 | Dick Blood |
| The Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse | Friends of Cornell Lacrosse | Matt Kerwick |
| The Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Men's Hockey | Jay R. Bloom '77 | Mike Schafer '86 |
| The Robert E. Browning '56 Director of Physical Education | Robert E. Browning '56 | Andrea Dutcher |
| The Henry E. Bartels '48 Head Coach of Men's Lightweight Rowing | Henry E. Bartels `48 | Chris Kerber |
| The Peter B. Orthwein `68 Head Coach of Polo | Peter B. Orthwein '68 | David Eldredge '81 |
| The Richard W. Gilbert Head Coach of Diving | Robert C. `70 and Maura S. `72 Dughi | Veronica Ribot-Canales |
| The Andrew '78 and Margaret Paul Director of Student-Athlete Support Services | Andrew M. '78 and Margaret Paul | Sarah Wattenberg `03 |
| The Robert D. Kennedy '54 Director of Intramural Sports | Robert D. Kennedy '54 | Brian Weaver |
| The Richard Savitt `50 - Stephen Weiss `57 Head Coach of Men's Tennis | Richard Savitt '50 & Stephen Weiss '57 | Silviu Tanasoiu |
| The Terry Cullen Head Coach of Sprint Football | Jay W. and Julie R. Carter '71 | Terry Cullen, MBA `66 |
| The John B. and Ann B. Rogers '45 Defensive Coordinator (football) | John B. and Ann B. Rogers '45 | Jared Backus |
| The Dan Tillemans Director of Teambuilding, COE | Friends of Cornell Outdoor Education | Amy Kohut |
| The Doc Kavanagh Head Athletic Trainer/ Physical Therapist | Friends of Doc Kavanagh, led by Class of 1941 | Bernie DePalma |
| The Alan B. `53 and Elizabeth Heekin Harris Women's Track Coach | Alan B. `53 and Elizabeth Heekin | Rich Bowman |
| The Wendy Schaenen '79 Head Coach of Women's Volleyball | Nelson Schaenen '50 | Trudy Vande Berg |
| The Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Women's Basketball. | Rebecca Quin Morgan `60 | Dayna Smith |
| The Carl Meinig `31 Head Coach of Women's Tennis | The Meinig Family; Peter `61, Nancy `62, Anne `87, Kathryn MBA `93 and Sally | Mike Stevens |
| The Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics & Physical Education | John J. `58 and Diane `61 Baillet Meakem, and
Scott Smith `79 | Andy Noel |
| The Mario St. George Boiardi Assistant Coach of Men's Lacrosse. | Mario and Deborah Boiardi + various donors, Hoffman | Peter Milliman |
| The James Broadhead '57 Head Coach of Squash | James L. Broadhead '57 and Sharon Broadhead | Mark Devoy |
Cornell's 11 Self-Funded Varsity Sports:
Baseball
Sprint Football
Golf
Men's and Women's Polo
Men's and Women's Tennis
Men's and Women's Squash
Women's Sailing
Lightweight Rowing
Head Coach Positions Not Named:
Men's teams
Golf
Soccer
Women's teams
Equestrian
Fencing
Field Hockey
Gymnastics
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Sailing
Soccer
Squash
