Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > July > 30 > Entry
A Shocking Cut for a Wright State Hall of Famer
Wright State associate athletics director Matt Liddy — the longest tenured person in the department, the most decorated coach in WSU history and a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame — has lost his job at the school.
A surprise victim of the massive budget cuts the school is facing, the 49-year-old Liddy — a popular figure on campus and the ultra successful former swimming coach — was given the news Thursday morning, July 30, by athletic director Bob Grant.
“I’m shocked…I’m just numb,” Liddy said Thursday afternoon. “Basically I was told they are eliminating my position due to budgetary constraints.”
Associate sports information director Matt Zircher — who had been at the school 16 years and, like Liddy, is a good guy — also was laid off from the athletic department Thursday.
“This was an awful day,” Grant said. “Through all this, I didn’t want to cut into any programs or people…but today that changed. It’s all about the economy and has absolutely nothing to do with job performance.”
Wright State is in the process of trying to trim $1 million of its $10 million athletics budget. It plans to cut some athletic scholarships and team travel. It is eliminating the men’s track and field team and is reducing the publication of media guides.
Liddy has been at Wright State — except for a three-year hiatus to coach age-group swimming after his graduation from the school — for 30 years.
During Liddy’s 16-year coaching career — in which he was named the conference coach of the year 11 times — the Raiders won seven league championships on the men’s side and nine on the women’s side. He had a combined 228 dual meet wins, developed 170 individual conference champions and 65 conference relay championship teams.
While an assistant under WSU Hall of Fame coach Jeff Cavana, Liddy helped guide the Raiders to five Top Ten finishes in NCAA Division II in a three-year span.
In his four years as an assistant AD, he has overseen several sports, dealt with human resources and currently directs the operation of the school’s facilities and manages the athletic competitions.
He had cleaned out his office by noon Thursday.
“This school is all I’ve known for most of my life,” he said quietly. “I’m just numb.”
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Comments
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By Skip Soelter
January 26, 2010 1:46 PM | Link to this
No respect shown to a man that gave his heart and soul to WSU. It’s a shame and a travesty that the powers that be could not find a position for this kind and decent man after what he has given them.
By ME
August 5, 2009 8:37 PM | Link to this
People post comments anonymously due to the fact that retaliation is alive and well in the Grant reign. Not just Grant but a majority of his handpicked staff. It is understood that a good portion of the decision was monitarily driven. But know this, there is other things to be cut besides people who actually contribute to the department. and that Arch, is a fact. You get what is given to you. You haven’t lived it. On the surface, Grant is a good guy. Was there bad blood between Grant and Liddy, I wouldn’t say bad blood. I would say it was a strained relationship at best. But when an office that was once open door now is all closed door secret secret. One must wonder. The grass is not as green as you see it!
By Amy Liddy
August 2, 2009 8:59 PM | Link to this
I was as suprised as was the rest of my family to hear that my brother, Matt, had been let go as Assistant Athletic Director at Wright State University. His dedication to Wright State and his winning coaching career are known to many. Matt puts his heart into his work and he treats people with kindness and respect. This week, he was not shown the same treatment from the place he has called his professional home for the last 24 years. I don’t know all of the the factors that went into the decision made by Bob Grant and the university administration. What I do know is that the way the situation was handled does not properly represent Matt’s level of contribution to the university. He is a good man with a huge heart and a love of Wright State University and their athletics program. While I’m sure that many will agree that this is a great loss to the Wright State athletics community, I am certain that Matt’s celebrated accomplishments, his dedication to people and lifelong commitment to athletics will insure his future success.
By Fred Newhall
July 31, 2009 2:26 PM | Link to this
I believe that the firing of Matt Liddy was a travisty and shows a complete disrespect on the part of the WSU administration for long term unselfish dedication to WSU and their athletic programs and high academic standards. I have many more thoughts that I will continue with as long as the space will allow. Your article above and that of Mr Katz about the firing of Matt Liddy at least gives credit to Matt for his dedicated and exceptional service to WSU over the last 24 years, something the school apparently doesn’t appreciate. My wife and I have known Matt since before he was a swimmer in the Dayton “Y” program. He had dedicated himself to developing a winning swim program for WSU and bringing recognition to the school and his teams. He always stressed not only athletic ability but also teamwork, loyalty to the team and school, scholastic achievement and good citizenship. His teams were international in composition in addition to many members from out of state. Matt not only coached but councilled his team on personal problems they brought to him and the team members often thought of him as a “father” image. My wife and I personally observed this when we met team members at his home during holiday activities and picnics that Matt invited them to celebrate with his family. We also went to Florida several times at the same time Matt had his team there for early season training. We observed the training sessions and volunteered, along with Matt’s parents to provide refreshments for the team ( donuts, juice, even breakfast a few times) for the team after the last practice that we observed the times we were there. Our visits and our participation was all at our own expense. The team always demonstrated a great respect for Matt and his assistants and were always very polite to us. Dispite their tough practice routines, the team knew Matt had their best interest at heart and that they could help him bring recognition to WSU and themselves, which he did with every swim team while he was coach. He was a great recruiter and ambassidor for the school. Since Matt became an Assistant Athletic Director several years ago, I’m not as familiar with his job activities. I do know however that he continued to support some of the other sports activities besides swimming and special school events with the same enthusiasm and unselfish effort he has always had to make WSU stand out and present itself well to the community. I think it’s a shame that the WSU Administration has not appreciated his efforts and fired him and other senior employees in the Athletic Department for “money” reasons. It’s strange that other new hires are being made with the same kind of “money”. I guess it’s the same old office politics and book keeping - fire the old dedicated employees who are paid more because they earned it and hire new people for less money and with less knowhow. The All-Mighty-Buck wins again.
By WSUAlu
July 31, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this
I feel badly for these two fine men and their families; it is a genuine shame. But the economics in this area are REALLY suffering, and I have no doubt that this was a financial decision only. You people and your conspiracy theories—wake up and see some reality around you. All departments must be cut in order to make ends meet. These were not the only cuts to the athletics program. BTW, Grant was the top guy under Cusack, so if anyone were to be promoted from within for the head AD position, it would have been Grant not Liddy. This is not Brownell’s fault. He was hired to coach, which he has done very well with 3 straight 20 win seasons.
By Green Eyes
July 31, 2009 10:52 AM | Link to this
Wow, why would you get rid of someone legendary at WSU like Liddy - unless you felt threatened by them?? How could you behave so apparently ego-driven, at a school with as little athletic rep as WSU?
By DI is all about the $$$$
July 31, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this
It really comes back to Brownewell wanting a “lackey” in the job as AD! Grant was an easy mark that will give Brownewell anything he wants. He left UNCW for WSU because of disagreements with the AD. Cusack retires and then the “Big man on campus” wants his guy in the big job! Hope they are happy when Brownewell skips town for the next job!
By John
July 30, 2009 11:30 PM | Link to this
If you call a “Great man” a “back stabber” and a “master manipulator”, Bob Grant fits that definition to a tee.
By WSU Fan
July 30, 2009 11:11 PM | Link to this
As a life long Wright State Fan all my life, it makes me sick to my stomach to see how the administration treats life-long Raiders like myself. Ron Nischwitz, Ralph Underhill, Jim Brown, Bo Bilinski, Mike Tracy, and now Matt Liddy and Matt Zircher spent the majority of their lives bleeding green and gold only to be disrespected and receive undeserved exits, all while BOB GRANT was part of the administration. “Budgetary Difficulties” is just an excuse for a lack of professionalism, credibility and falty leadership. I suggest WSU, primarily Athletics, their so-called leader, and VP of Student Affairs Dan Abrahamowitz, value those that actually care about the university and not cherish those that view the school as a pit stop on their road to bigger opportunities. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I WISH I ATTENDED THE SCHOOL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN. At least I won’t have to wait another 20 years to see my team in March Madness!!!!
By Steve
July 30, 2009 10:21 PM | Link to this
Liddy had to know it was coming. He and Grant were competing for the same job. Employees in the department were pulled in both directions. The better man got the job. Liddy should have been eliminated sooner.
By Steve
July 30, 2009 10:21 PM | Link to this
Liddy had to know it was coming. He and Grant were competing for the same job. Employees in the department were pulled in both directions. The better man got the job. Liddy should have been eliminated sooner.