Summit League Tourney Host Reflects on OU President, Ousted Hoops Coach

The following opinion was submitted by Pamela Miller of Sioux Falls, SD, who volunteers at the Summit League basketball tournament, where she hosted the Oakland University women's basketball team. OU President Gary Russi announced his retirement, effective Aug. 1, shortly before his wife, women's coach Beckie Francis, was fired.

We had the privilege of getting to know the Oakland University family over the past five years because of our volunteerism at the Summit League Basketball tournament in Sioux Falls.  By luck of the draw, we were assigned as Team Hosts to the Oakland University Women’s basketball team.  From the moment Dr. Russi stepped off the bus at a local restaurant, which was where we first met Dr. Russi and Coach Francis, it was evident to us that this organization was top-notch and was being led by an incredible President.  Over these past five years as we have continued our relationship with OU, we have seen first-hand how he cares about the university and everyone associated with it.  We experienced how he welcomed the students, faculty, parents, staff and even visitors like us into the OU family.  He held high expectations and he led by example.

In addition, we had the privilege of getting to know Coach Francis and experience the kind of leadership and coaching we want for our own daughter as she explores the complicated world of college athletics.  On so many occasions, we observed Coach Francis mentor to her players and reach out to girls she didn’t even know to encourage them and lift their self-esteem.  The pen pal program she initiated at one of our local middle schools is a perfect example of how she shared positive messaging and role modeling to encourage young girls to achieve. 

As an outsider looking in, OU could not have had better ambassadors to what the university stands for than Dr. Russi and Coach Francis. 

We will always value the time we invested getting to know OU.  But more importantly, our family will always value having had the opportunity to get to know Dr. Russi and Coach Francis, because in the end, people matter and relationships matter. 

Pamela Miller
Sioux Falls, SD