By Madyson Montoya (@MadysonMontoya):
Nine women.
That’s how many athletic directors run a NCAA Division I program with football. San Jose State’s Marie Tuite is one of them.
“I never thought I’d be an athletic director because it’s so hard for women to get the job,” said Tuite, now in her eighth year at SJSU and in May will mark her first as athletic director.
She believes the athletic world is becoming more accepting of women, but didn’t always think that way.
Being a pre-Title IX athlete, Tuite received no scholarships even though she was a four-year letterwinner in field hockey and basketball.
Despite having to pay student loans until her 30s, Tuite was the opposite of bitter about her situation.
“I loved every minute,” Tuite said about playing at the college level. “I was just so thankful to have an opportunity to compete.”
In 1990, she became the third female inducted into Central Michigan University’s Hall of Fame.
Working with different Division I and Division II schools throughout her career, she developed much experience.
Tuite never thought she lacked the skills to be an athletic director.
“It was more, ‘Will I have the opportunity to do the job?’” Tuite said.
Being in a male-dominated industry, Tuite didn’t want the job handed to her.
“I never want to be sitting in the chair as an athletic director because I’m a woman,” Tuite said.
Helping Tuite with day-to-day guidelines, Jacquelyn Duysen, the Associate Athletics Director of Compliance, is able to attest to Tuite’s commitment with the 19 NCAA sports SJSU has to offer.
According to an October 2017 data collection in a Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) report, there were 484 student athletes that competed with the Spartans.
It comes with little surprise the highlight of Tuite’s job is interacting with all the members of each program.
“Student-athlete welfare is a huge emphasis for her … when you see a female succeed, it’s exciting as a fellow female,” Duysen said.
Ben Thienes, Director of Football Operations, met Tuite in 2014 before he started working at SJSU. Tuite had spoken as a guest lecturer in one of Thienes’ graduate school classes at the University of Washington.
“I was instantly drawn to her (Tuite’s) energy,” Thienes said. “I met her, class was over and I’m charging to the front of the room.”
Thienes came to SJSU to get his dream job of creating a legacy.
“You have all the things you need in order to build a powerhouse, if you choose to stay,” Thienes said.
Choosing to stay has not been the forte for some of the more recent athletic directors, as the last two have served for no longer than seven years.
Tuite is looking to build a home and a university to be proud of for the student-athletes.
It has been a rebuilding year for many sports with new coaches and new athletes, but Tuite hopes it is the start of a consistent program.
“I think she’s got a great vision for what she wants this athletic program to be, and she lives it everyday,” Thienes said.