Athletic director is cornerstone of sports
Tim Curley bleeds blue and white

By NAINA NARAYANA
Collegian Sports Writer

Tim Curley grew up watching Penn State athletes outside his front door.

Except for the first two months of his life, Penn State's athletic director has known no other home than State College. He lived in a house on Park Avenue, across the street from the old Beaver Stadium for much of his life.

Curley said he and his six brothers, all two years apart, kept his parents busy -- they were all involved in athletics. Besides participating in sports, he spent a lot of time watching athletes practice on the baseball field across the street.

Now, as a career, Curley spends a lot of time watching Penn State athletes.

His commitment to athletics goes back a long way, said Bruce Ellis, a longtime friend who played with Curley on the State College Area High School football team. Curley has always called the shots as a leader, he added.

As a high school quarterback, "he always knew what he was doing," said Ellis, coordinator of minority affairs and student programs in the Smeal College of Business.

"Now, he's the quarterback for collegiate athletics," he said.

Curley's interest in athletics extends outside the office, Ellis said, recalling a time when he saw Curley at a basketball game. Ellis went to get a breath of air when he noticed Curley pacing and wringing his hands behind the bleachers -- he was worrying about how the team was doing.

"His emotions go with the emotions of whatever team is playing," Ellis said. "He's there at the games every single moment, whether the team wins or loses."

Ellis said he was surprised at how serious athletic teams are to Curley.

"He kind of bleeds Penn State athletics," Ellis said.

But Curley said he is pretty calm at athletic events. While watching good and bad calls being made, he knows it all evens out it in the end.

"It's part of the game," Curley said.

His own success in athletics started when he played for his high school football team during an undefeated season.

"I was very fortunate to be a part of a great time in athletics at State College High School," he said.

His coach, Jim Williams, said Curley was a good leader as quarterback and free safety for the team. He and Curley still keep in touch -- Williams works as an administrative assistant in the Penn State football office.

Williams recalled one of the first memories he has of his friend, when Curley was a high school sophomore and Williams first became coach of the team. Williams had invited Curley and the two other quarterbacks to his house. One of the first things Curley did was spill a soda all over the floor.

"It could happen to anybody," Williams said with a laugh.

The rest of Curley's football career seemed to go smoothly. During his junior year, the team lost one game. During his senior year, the team went undefeated.

After he graduated from high school, it seemed a natural progression for Curley to attend Penn State, where he became a health and physical education major.

"I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to go to Penn State," he said.

During his freshman year, Curley was a walk-on for the Nittany Lion football team. But his football career was cut short the following year due to an injury.

Football Coach Joe Paterno said Curley stayed involved by becoming an undergraduate assistant coach for the team. Since then, Curley moved up the ranks of Penn State athletics.

After graduating from the University, Curley began his career in athletics as a graduate assistant football coach, later he became the first person to hold the title of recruiting coordinator for the team, Paterno said.

Originally, Curley wanted to coach, but he seemed to find his niche in administration after his job as recruiting coordinator, Paterno said. Finding out that he was able to give valuable input for athletics, Curley said he did not feel the need to go anywhere else.

Paterno said Curley was perfect for the job, which required traveling -- perfect for a young bachelor.

"He had a great way with people," Paterno added.

Curley also worked with Paterno as an administrative assistant for the football program.

"I always felt eventually he would become athletic director," Paterno said. In that position, Curley took athletics to another level with his "self-effacing" and "considerate" nature, he said.

"He's a tireless worker," Paterno said. "He works until he gets the job done."

Curley said he never gets tired of living in a college town because he enjoys the dynamics of a college community, such as the number of athletic events held as well as events in other arenas, such as the arts.

He and his family -- his wife, Melinda; his daughter, Devon; and his son, Tanner -- try to take advantage of as many events on campus as they can, Curley said.

When he attends Penn State athletic events, he and his wife take the children along as much as possible.

"At this point," he added, "I'm pretty well-focused on my work."