General 11/11/2021 7:30:00 AM

Where Are They Now? Andy Lane - Lipscomb Athletics

Andy Lane believes his 33 years of work at Lipscomb University was God's plan for his life. Starting as a student assistant in athletics he worked his way through the coaching ranks to administration as an associate athletics director. He will be inducted into the Lipscomb Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday. He and his wife, Stephanie, are the first husband and wife to have earned Hall of Fame recognition. He was not at the first Hall of Fame presentation but did not miss any more. One of his jobs at one time was to make sure the Hall of Fame plaques were properly prepared. Lane, retired from the athletics department, spent time recalling his experiences on campus for Lipscombsports.com.

What years did you work for Lipscomb, and what positions did you hold?

I graduated from David Lipscomb College in 1987.

Assistant sports information director (1987-91)
Assistant baseball coach (1987-91)
Director of sports information and media relations (1991-94)
Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing and Director of the National Bison Club (1994-99)
Head softball coach (1995-99, 2003-2005)
Associate Athletics Director for Administration (1999-2005)
Assistant Director of Athletics for Event Management (2005-2009)
Associate Athletics Director (2009-2020)

What individuals were most memorable, and why?

Administrator: Jonathan Seamon. He was my mentor.
Coaches: Ken Dugan and Don Meyer. I got to know coach Dugan as a friend as a well as coach. I would say the same thing about coach Meyer.
Players: There are so man, but the 1984 baseball team and the 1996 men's basketball team standout.

Prior to working on campus, did you have a connection to Lipscomb?

My brother Larry was a student here and he drove me around campus one day when I was in high school.

I had planned to transfer to the University of Tennessee after my freshman year at Lipscomb, but Dr. Marlin Connelly told me I wasn't leaving the school.

I worked as sports editor of "The Babbler" my sophomore year and that is how I became involved with athletics getting to work with the coaches and players.

When the basketball team won the NAIA National Championship I was really bitten by the bug in Kansas City, Missouri.

Why did you choose to work at Lipscomb?

It was all part of God's plan. God knew what I needed to do. It is hard for me to talk about it without being emotional.

This goes back to the early days of my childhood. I loved sports. I wanted to be in sports.

I just lived there at Lipscomb. I loved it.

What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb?

The 1984 Bison baseball team. That was the year Phillip Dicken's hit the home run on the roof of McQuiddy Gym. I was doing the P.A. that year. That was a magical year.

I walked into covering the 1986 NAIA National Championship. Then I helped put together the "Kansas City Shuffle" video. Then I started promoting Philip Hutcheson and then John Pierce for the most points scored in college basketball and Andy McQueen for the all-time three-point shooting record.

After John broke the record he wanted to give the game ball to his father. He was on the far end of the court at McQuiddy. Mr. Pierce was on the other end. John threw the ball to his father and it was a perfect strike to Mr. Pierce. That place erupted. It was the loudest I ever heard it in McQuiddy.

Mary Carrigan, Barbara Anderson, Sherry Phillips and Greta Harber raised me to a certain extent.

It was all like a fairy tale. They were magical times.

Who most influenced you in your time on campus?

Jonathan Seamon changed my life. It was such a blessing to work with him. I followed right along behind him as he moved up.

Coach Dugan was also a major influence. I wanted to get into coaching and asked coach Dugan if I could be an assistant coach in baseball. He said my timing was good and we went on the road together recruiting. He was proud a lot of the players I got made an impact on the program.

In my later years, I got to work with Philip Hutcheson. He was the boss and a co-worker. But he is a friend. He is the most humble person I have ever worked with. He is a genuine, genuine person and so talented.

What is your favorite memory of Lipscomb campus life during your time here?

The tennis courts were next to the baseball field. One day coach Dugan told me to go over to the tennis courts and "tell that Shouse girl" to quit talking to the baseball players.

She knew a bunch of the baseball players. I went down there and said, 'hey Stephanie, coach Dugan has asked me to tell you not to talk to the players because they were getting ready to practice'.

Stephanie was taking one of his physical education courses and got to know coach Dugan.

Stephanie and I started talking. We got to know each other. Coach Dugan came up to me, put his arm around me, and said, 'I see you took care of that problem'.The he said, 'I like that Shouse girl. She's a good girl.'

What lessons did you learn while at Lipscomb?

I learned that God is definitely the most important part of our school and campus. My story is a blessing from God that is unexplainable except to give God all of the glory and credit.

Where was your office located?

My first office was in the basement of Sewell Hall in the audio-visual department. I was the sports information director and the audio-visual director.

I then had an office in McQuiddy Gym which was a closet used by Tom Hanvey, the gymnastics coach. He taught fly and bait casting as a P.E. class and the room was filled with fishing rods and gymnastics equipment.

When the athletic department moved to Allen Arena, I had an office there.

What do you do now?

I am retired.

Tell us about your family:

Stephanie and I have been married for 30 years. Our daughter, LeEllen, is a sophomore at Lipscomb University majoring in business.

FAST FINISH:

Favorite food: A hamburger from Brown's Diner.
Favorite TV show or movie: "The Andy Griffith Show"
Favorite Bible scripture: Any that have anything to do with being kind to people.
Favorite sports team: Lipscomb Bisons are No. 1. Tennessee Titans are second. University of Tennessee teams are third.
Pet Peeve: I have a lot of those.
Person I most admire: Parents, Mary and Bill Lane.
Person I'd most like to meet: My brother Larry in heaven.
Rather ride or drive? I can't drive anymore so I would have to say ride. It has been the greatest blessing. I have made so many great friendships because I need a ride.
Pick one – salad or dessert: Both
Dream vacation spot: Bora Bora
Early morning or late night person? Late, late, late night person.

If you wish to contact Andy, he can be reached at the email below:

andylane1414@gmail.com

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