A Tribute to Dr. White
After nearly five decades of exemplary service as a world-class leader, Duke University and Duke Athletics wants to say thank you, Dr. White, for your constant commitment to our coaches, student-athletes and Duke.
“Few, if any, have shaped intercollegiate athletics as much as Kevin White, and his contributions to our university have been immeasurable. Thanks, Kevin, for being such an extraordinary Blue Devil colleague, a treasured friend and an inspiring Duke leader. Sláinte!” - Vincent Price, Duke University President
“I have absolutely loved working with Kevin the past 13 years. He’s made Duke basketball and me better. He’s made Duke Athletics and Duke University better. He’s made all of intercollegiate athletics better for 47 years. No one in college athletics has mentored as many people as Kevin White. Simply put, he is the very best in the business. While I will miss working day-to-day with Kevin immensely, my family and I are so thankful for the amazing friendship and strong partnership we’ve enjoyed with both Kevin and Jane.” - Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Men's Basketball
“Kevin White is legendary in every sense of the word. Legends like Dr. White have stories of their accomplishments shared and told by many, many people. During our time here at Duke, we would not have had any chance to move the needle with the football program without the talent, drive and work ethic of Dr. White. He is, without doubt, the most talented individual I’ve encountered during my career in athletics. Karen and I wish he and Jane all the best in retirement; they’ve earned some real beach time! Our gratitude and well wishes extend to the entire family – children, their spouses and grandchildren. Thank you, Dr. White, for making it all happen! Go Duke!” - David Cutcliffe, Duke Football
"Kevin White’s distinguished administrative career is one to be admired. He has successfully navigated the world of college athletics over four decades with professionalism, class and humility. He will go down as one of the best to ever lead an athletic department. I’m grateful for his belief in me as a coach and his positivity in the direction of our program. He is directly responsible for the varied successes of the Duke Athletic Department. I wish him all the best in retirement." - Kara Lawson, Duke Women's Basketball
"We have been so fortunate to have Kevin White as our leader since 2008. As a coach, having an Athletic Director who has coached and who had also been the leader at many other institutions before he arrived at Duke, really gave him a unique set of skills. At the time of his arrival I was told by my mentors who were also in athletic administration that he was the best in the country. As a department, we benefited tremendously from his experiences and wisdom. We always knew he had Athletics' best interests at heart and truly wanted our student-athletes to have the best experience possible. We felt his support. We wish him and his family the best in retirement and hopefully maybe some more time together. Dr. White will be greatly missed. His legacy will live on with the many athletic administrators and coaches in the country who he has influenced and “'coached' along his journey." - Jolene Nagel, Duke Volleyball
“Congratulations to Dr. Kevin White on a tremendous to career. What a legacy of excellence and servant leadership he leaves behind, not just at Duke, but throughout the world of college athletics! I want to wish he and Jane a long and wonderful retirement.” - Chris Pollard, Duke Baseball
“I have always appreciated Kevin’s open communication and patience with me as the Chair of the Athletics Council. As a new Council Chair, I was on a steep learning curve with respect to Athletics, and today I feel as though I still am. I believe Kevin’s instincts as a teacher are an essential part of his personality and that is why I have never felt embarrassed to ask a silly or stupid question in front of him and why he is able to explain a complicated issue in a way that a novice, like me, can understand it. Not only does he allow me to feel comfortable asking questions, he usually thanks me for having asked the question in the first place. How awesome is that?! Kevin’s notion of family extends well beyond the White family . . . when Kevin invites you to his home or his box at Wallace Wade, he makes you feel like more than just a guest, he makes you feel like a family member (granted, it’s a very, very large family). Nonetheless, he shares stories, good wine, food, and fellowship, and tries to get to know you as a person. It has been a privilege to be part of this extended family. Kevin, I hope that your retirement years will be full of wonderful memorable times spent with ALL of your family members, immediate and extended, near and far, with whom you have opened your heart & home over the years.” - Linda Franzoni, Duke University
"Kevin, congratulations on your retirement and the phenomenal legacy you will leave in college athletics and for us here at Duke. My head coaching career began the same month you arrived at Duke and I would like to thank you for 13 years of support, leadership and friendship. I’ve admired your passion, vision and unique ability to connect with those around you. It’s hard to put into words the impact you have made on Duke University & our Athletics Department, but I am most grateful for the culture of integrity and excellence you instilled. You will be missed, and I wish you, Jane, and your extended family the very best in this next chapter - Go Duke!" - Ramsey Smith, Duke Men's Tennis
“I am forever grateful for the opportunity Dr. White gave me to be the head wrestling coach at Duke University. It seems like only yesterday I was sitting in his office interviewing for the job. I’m thankful for his leadership and support during my 10-plus years here at Duke. I wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life.” - Glen Lanham, Duke Wrestling
I was only in the role of Duke’s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for about a year when I was asked to serve on a panel at an intercollegiate athletics conference. As we panelists were introducing ourselves to one other, one of the ADs on the panel congratulated me and told me that Duke had just hired ‘the best Athletic Director in the country’. Certainly, Kevin White’s years as Duke's AD has more than proven this AD's praise and description to be accurate. In Kevin's thirteen years at Duke he has overseen both a continuation (and in some cases resurgence) of athletic excellence across the Olympic and revenue sports, as well as vast improvements in our athletics facilities and tremendous academic success of our student athletes, while never allowing the integrity of our athletics program to falter. Kevin's influence and impact are not just evident at Duke University, but it is clear at ACC meetings, that they are felt broadly at the conference, national, and even international levels. His many formal committee and service assignments have allowed for such continued broad influence, but perhaps even more of his impact has resulted through his informal role as ready advisor and mentor to all. He has had a significant role in the development of what seems like everyone in the field of intercollegiate athletics, including many of those in significant leadership roles. Personally, I know I have benefitted and become much more effective in my role as Duke's FAR from working with Kevin and learning from him over the years. I am most grateful to Kevin for both his wisdom and his friendship, and I wish him and Jane the very best in their new chapter. Or as the Irish would say, ‘Go maire sibh bhur saol nua’ ('May you enjoy your new life')." - Martha Putallaz, Duke University
“Kevin’s leadership shines a bright light on Duke excellence, teamwork, perseverance and purpose. His example and distinguished achievements will inspire leaders for many years to come. Duke Health joins the wider Duke community in celebrating his remarkable career.” - Eugene Washington, Duke University
"Congratulations to you on your retirement and thank you for all you have done for Duke athletics over your long tenure as athletic director. In particular, I appreciate your leadership during my four years as chair of the board of trustees and our personal friendship. Enjoy your well earned retirement." - Jack Bovender, Duke University
“Kevin has inspired us with his unique combination of extraordinary vision and deep compassion. He carried Duke to new levels of excellence across across the athletic spectrum, and built an ecosystem where student athletes can thrive. Most importantly, he instilled a spirit of collaboration between athletics and the entire university, and that spirit will be an enduring part of his legacy.” - Laurene Sperling, Duke University Board of Trustees
“Kevin has been an amazing asset for Duke — not just for athletics, but for the University as a whole. He has a deep understanding of, and tremendous respect for, the University’s mission and has done everything he can to make us better, with enormous success. Despite his extraordinary success, he remains unchanged: kind, generous, enthusiastic, energetic, wise and eternally humble. Now, as he hangs up his spikes (appropriate for someone who got his start coaching track) and closes the chapter on one part of his career, we are thrilled beyond measure that Kevin is bringing his talents to Fuqua. At the business school, we’re not thinking retirement, we’re excited to see the next chapter unfold. Only one thing remains to be said: profound thanks, Kevin, for what you have done, and will do, for Duke.” - Bill Boulding, Duke University
“Dr. Kevin White has been a great athletic director. Duke and Duke athletics cannot thank him enough for all his leadership and work. Kevin, all of Duke Fencing join me in thanking you very much for all you did for all of us. We will miss you very much, but hope your retirement brings you days of wonderful new adventures.” - Alex Beguinet, Duke Fencing
“I’m personally and selfishly shocked and saddened at the announcement of Dr. White’s retirement. However, there is not an athletic director out there who deserves the opportunity to enjoy more personal time than Kevin White. The time, passion and leadership he has dedicated to college athletics over the many years are impressive and provided exceptional experiences for both coaches and student-athletes. He has been a great inspiration during my 10 years here at Duke. I send my appreciation and deep thanks to both Kevin and his wife, Jane, for creating this Duke family that I deeply cherish. I've been most fortunate to work for and with Dr. Kevin White, and I wish him all the happiness. On behalf of the entire field hockey program, Duke True!” - Pam Bustin, Duke Field Hockey
“I learned long ago that it’s not a ‘dream job’ as a college coach unless you have an ideal athletic director at the helm. Kevin White has absolutely been that since I arrived at Duke University 12 years ago. Supremely supportive, tirelessly dedicated, communicative, caring, forward-thinking, cool-headed, genuine, down-to-earth, bold and adaptable are a few of many positive ways I would describe Dr. White as an athletic director … and as a human being. He’s never once given less than all he could – to our student-athletes, his coaches, the Duke University staff and every alumnus, parent and donor who’ve called themselves a Blue Devil. We will miss him and Jane immeasurably as leaders of our Duke family, but are thrilled for them to enjoy endless hours as doting parents and grandparents. We congratulate Kevin on his retirement and certainly thank him for making so many lives more rich and fulfilling in collegiate athletics.” - Jamie Green, Duke Men's Golf
“Dr. White has done an incredible job at Duke. We, as a department and as a university, have benefited greatly from Kevin’s broad base of experience, his immense knowledge of the college athletics landscape, his wisdom and his real care and concern for people. He is truly a visionary leader. He has greatly improved every aspect of our operation – by raising money, by positioning much needed personnel, by making us more efficient, by building and improving facilities and through his involvement at the conference and national level. In my mind, his greatest achievement has been his ability to move Duke Athletics to higher heights while not only maintaining – but even enhancing – the special characteristics that make us unique. We combine athletics and academics better than anyone. We pull this off because Kevin White is the best there is at directing a department whose charge is to support and mentor true student-athletes.” - Dan Brooks, Duke Women's Golf
“Dr. Kevin White has been a transformational leader for Duke Athletics. He has managed to balance the nuances of operating a top 10 division I athletic program and a top 10 research university with incredible vision, humility and grace. That has not only led to great success on the field and in the classroom, but ultimately solidified Duke Athletics as one of the premier departments in the country. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. White’s commitment to creating a world-class experience for our student-athletes will be his ultimate and most significant legacy. I want to thank him for the incredible support he has always demonstrated towards our program, our coaching staff and student-athletes. On behalf of everyone with Duke women’s lacrosse, we wish Dr. White and Jane the very best in retirement.” - Kerstin Kimel, Duke Women's Lacrosse
“Duke rowing wants to wish Dr. White congratulations on an incredible career in athletics. It’s amazing to think of how many lives he’s changed, how many careers he has launched and how many opportunities he has enabled through sport, friendship and his unyielding vision. He is such a wonderful person, and I can never thank him enough for helping our team as much as he has. Personally, I’ve never met another AD who cared so much about his network and athletes. Our team is indebted to his hard work and we wish him the best.” - Megan Cooke Carcagno, Duke Rowing
“Kevin White is simply the best in the business. He has galvanized our athletic department with his wisdom, expertise and his extraordinary connections to the students and staff here at Duke. Every decision he makes is thoughtful and forward thinking. It has been an honor and a pleasure to learn from a true gentleman. He and Jane made such an enormous impact in the Duke community and their contributions are going to be positively felt for years to come.” - John Kerr, Duke Men's Soccer
“The women's soccer program sincerely thanks Dr. Kevin White for all his support of our program. We would not have been able to accomplish all the things we did without his tremendous guidance. He has always been one of the biggest supporters of our young ladies on the field as well as in the classroom. We will miss him greatly as he did an outstanding job leading Duke Athletics. We appreciate all the support and leadership he provided.” - Robbie Church, Duke Women's Soccer
“Kevin White has been a transformational leader and a pillar of support for Duke softball. I'm eternally grateful to him for entrusting me to build this program from the ground up. Kevin has led our department through unprecedented times and Duke has done it better than anyone in the country. We will continue striving for excellence and wish him the best in his retirement.” - Marissa Young, Duke Softball
“Relentless is how I would describe Dr. Kevin White. What he has done and continues to do for Duke University, Athletics and the swimming & diving program is nothing short of amazing. His energy and enthusiasm is second to none. It is and always will be about how to improve the student-athlete's experience. We are thankful for everything Dr. White has done and will continue to do for us. On behalf of myself and the entire Duke swimming & diving family, we wish Dr. White the very best in retirement.” - Dan Colella, Duke Swimming & Diving
“First and foremost, congratulations to Kevin, Jane and the entire White family and a huge thank you to them for sharing Kevin with us here at Duke since 2008. Kevin has been a transformational leader in the world of intercollegiate athletics and his impact will be felt for years to come. Personally, I am lucky to have had the opportunity to work by his side and will forever be grateful for all he has done for my family, the women's tennis program, the athletic department and the entire university. Duke is a first-class institution filled with incredible people and none have filled that description better than Kevin White.” - Jamie Ashworth, Duke Women's Tennis
With love and admiration,
-Your Duke Family
