Central Michigan University Athletics
Kevin Love (center) is honored during a CMU women's basketball game at McGuirk Arena by President Robert O. Davis (right). At left is Love's wife, Anita.
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Donor Spotlight: Kevin Love
4/9/2020 2:35:00 PM | General
'Very blessed to be a part of it'
For Kevin Love, it's never been a job. More like a labor of love.
Love is still going strong as a Central Michigan University professor of human resources and organizational behavior, and he remains steadfast in his to-the-core support of Chippewa Athletics as a benefactor to the department.
"It's ingrained in us now as part of our life," Love said of he and his wife Anita. "We don't see it as a nice addition, it's a part of my campus life. I always refer to the student-athletes as 'my kids.' It's always been a very enriching part of my life."
Love, a Wisconsin native, came to CMU in 1979, starting in the psychology department. He served as CMU's faculty athletics representative for 15 years before retiring from the position in 2018 and now carries the title of Faculty Athletics Representative Emeritus.
He is heavily involved with the Chippewa Athletic Fund, having donated for more than three decades and the last 19 consecutive years. He is a member of the Champions Club for several sports, including field hockey, soccer, women's track & field, volleyball, women's basketball, gymnastics, softball and lacrosse. In addition, he is a member of the 1100 Club and donates to the men's track & field and wrestling programs.
Love became involved in CMU athletics almost immediately upon his arrival in Mount Pleasant, taking a position on the Academic Senate Athletic Committee and eventually chairing it. He worked alongside athletic directors, administrators and coaches and was at the forefront during a transformative time in college athletics as the university embraced Title IX and the emergence of women's sports.
"That really resonated with me," Love said, adding that his respect and admiration for the women in Central Michigan Athletics at the time has continued to grow. "As we became champions for women's intercollegiate athletics, I saw some of the battles they had to fight nationally and I always have been very, very proud that CMU as an institution was right at the front lines of that."
As the faculty athletics representative, Love himself was at the forefront of another issue: student-athlete mental health.
He and colleagues began in 2009 to compile data, which they shared with university administration, the Mid-American Conference, and the NCAA. Love said he saw myriad examples of student-athletes who needed help but were reluctant to seek it.
"We put incredible pressure on them as athletes and at the same time we expect them to be great students," he said. "The combination is really two significant stressors for them."
By 2017, CMU had a fulltime counselor working with student-athletes and the issue has moved to a prominent role for those in and around intercollegiate athletics on a national scale.
"We took it from a behind-the-scenes thing to something we openly talk about and think about," he said. "That's been a great initiative that continues to hold sway in athletics. It's something that I think I'll always be proud of."
He is also proud of his long and deep ties to CMU Athletics. That relationship has been a source of great pride for Love, for as much as he has given, it has been returned in spades.
"These are some of the most dedicated professionals that I work with on campus," he said of the coaches, administrators and staff who make their careers in Chippewa Athletics. "There's a camaraderie, a team focus that doesn't exist outside of the athletic realm.
"It's, 'We fail, we all fail. We win, we all win,'" he said. "I've seen so many times that something happens and it's 'All hands on deck. We're going to get this done, it doesn't matter.' Athletics is not a job, it's a lifestyle.
"I think athletics at CMU has always done that. What can we do to get the job done? What can we do to put out a championship team? I love that. It's truly a family, a team that I've been very blessed to be part of."
Love is still going strong as a Central Michigan University professor of human resources and organizational behavior, and he remains steadfast in his to-the-core support of Chippewa Athletics as a benefactor to the department.
"It's ingrained in us now as part of our life," Love said of he and his wife Anita. "We don't see it as a nice addition, it's a part of my campus life. I always refer to the student-athletes as 'my kids.' It's always been a very enriching part of my life."
Love, a Wisconsin native, came to CMU in 1979, starting in the psychology department. He served as CMU's faculty athletics representative for 15 years before retiring from the position in 2018 and now carries the title of Faculty Athletics Representative Emeritus.
He is heavily involved with the Chippewa Athletic Fund, having donated for more than three decades and the last 19 consecutive years. He is a member of the Champions Club for several sports, including field hockey, soccer, women's track & field, volleyball, women's basketball, gymnastics, softball and lacrosse. In addition, he is a member of the 1100 Club and donates to the men's track & field and wrestling programs.
Love became involved in CMU athletics almost immediately upon his arrival in Mount Pleasant, taking a position on the Academic Senate Athletic Committee and eventually chairing it. He worked alongside athletic directors, administrators and coaches and was at the forefront during a transformative time in college athletics as the university embraced Title IX and the emergence of women's sports.
"That really resonated with me," Love said, adding that his respect and admiration for the women in Central Michigan Athletics at the time has continued to grow. "As we became champions for women's intercollegiate athletics, I saw some of the battles they had to fight nationally and I always have been very, very proud that CMU as an institution was right at the front lines of that."
As the faculty athletics representative, Love himself was at the forefront of another issue: student-athlete mental health.
He and colleagues began in 2009 to compile data, which they shared with university administration, the Mid-American Conference, and the NCAA. Love said he saw myriad examples of student-athletes who needed help but were reluctant to seek it.
"We put incredible pressure on them as athletes and at the same time we expect them to be great students," he said. "The combination is really two significant stressors for them."
By 2017, CMU had a fulltime counselor working with student-athletes and the issue has moved to a prominent role for those in and around intercollegiate athletics on a national scale.
"We took it from a behind-the-scenes thing to something we openly talk about and think about," he said. "That's been a great initiative that continues to hold sway in athletics. It's something that I think I'll always be proud of."
He is also proud of his long and deep ties to CMU Athletics. That relationship has been a source of great pride for Love, for as much as he has given, it has been returned in spades.
"These are some of the most dedicated professionals that I work with on campus," he said of the coaches, administrators and staff who make their careers in Chippewa Athletics. "There's a camaraderie, a team focus that doesn't exist outside of the athletic realm.
"It's, 'We fail, we all fail. We win, we all win,'" he said. "I've seen so many times that something happens and it's 'All hands on deck. We're going to get this done, it doesn't matter.' Athletics is not a job, it's a lifestyle.
"I think athletics at CMU has always done that. What can we do to get the job done? What can we do to put out a championship team? I love that. It's truly a family, a team that I've been very blessed to be part of."
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