For many Iowans, Hawkeye sports are the pride of the state.

Fred Mims wants to make sure that along with dominance during game-time, student-athletes also excel in academics.

"We put the student-athletes first and foremost in all of the programming that we do. We have a theme, 'Today's Hawkeyes are Tomorrow's Leaders,' and all of our programs fall underneath that umbrella," he said.

Mims has been integral in running one of the best athletic student service programs nationwide. During the 2001-02 academic year, the University of Iowa was one of only four schools nationwide to receive the prestigious Program of Excellence award by the Division 1A Athletic Directors Association.

The programming that has been implemented by Mims and his staff has assisted in graduating UI student-athletes at an average of 10 percentage points or higher than the average student body.

As a former basketball and baseball player for the Hawkeyes, Mims knows as well as anyone how difficult it can be to manage being a full-time student and a full-time athlete. He uses his experiences to help today's athletes.

"I have been very fortunate to have had some very good mentors, and I have a strong sense of compassion for people that was instilled in me by my parents, who always opened their doors to help others," he said.

Fred wants UI graduates and alumni to be proud of their alma mater, for people across the country to recognize UI's great athletic culture, and for UI athletes to realize that they represent not only the university, but the entire state.

"The University of Iowa, Iowa City community, and the state of Iowa have something special, and that is how we treat people - being honest and true to our beliefs, knowing that people are special," he said. "We need to work hard at maintaining that, because once it's lost, it's hard to get back."

- Jacob Maxson