Stars on Sports Intro: It's time for Stars on Sports! A podcast-radio show dedicated to sharing stories about our athletic program at Lansing Community College. LCC athletics has a strong tradition. 23 national championship wins! Over 170 All-Americans, 19 MCCAA all sports trophies! Stars on Sports will introduce you to individuals that have contributed to our program success and give you the backstory on what it takes to develop it. We'll also dive into and break down the topics and issues facing athletic departments across the nation and right here at LCC. This is Stars on Sports!

I am Greg Lattig, the director of athletics at Lansing Community College.

And I'm Steven Cutter, assistant athletic director and head baseball coach.

And both Steven and I have been at Lansing Community College for a little over a year now, and a lot has happened in that year that brings excitement to both of us. And, you know, we're both looking forward to the future. But today we'd like to talk a little bit about what has happened to both of us or occurred over the last year here at LCC. I'm from the high school setting for 25 years, so I'm new to the college environment and I'm also from the area. But, you know, lct, we mentioned it in the intro how strong of an athletic tradition it has. So it was exciting to be a part of it. It just. It's crazy to me that many in this area don't know about those successes. So that's definitely a goal of Stephen and I over the future to make that, you know, happen to this area. Stephen, anything stand out, particularly from you over the last year? I mean, even in your own program, you've had a lot of success. A lot of cool things happen. You know, what are you thinking about your little time here at LCC?

I think this is an incredible environment. So we're oftentimes dealing with student athletes or potential student athletes that come into Lansing and they see it for the first time and parents are seeing it for the first time, and everybody seems extremely overwhelmed on how nice things are, how attentive people are to them, how much help there is here for student athletes and everybody, everybody else. So, you know, when, when I, I was a transplant to Lansing as well and not a native, and coming here, seeing our college campus, seeing the leaders that we have on our college campus, seeing all the success we've had, you know, I was thinking about it last night with our women's team winning, that makes 23 national championships. How many other junior colleges have that many national championships? And I, I think that those are probably hard numbers to find, but I would say we in definitely a very high category when it comes to winning and everybody wants to be a part of winning environments at the end of the day. So it's an incredible place to be and you know, it's just super happy to be here in just one year.

And I agree with you and you know, just listening to our coaches when they bring recruits on campus, how much our student athletes like our campus environment. But you're right, the success is one thing and that's definitely something we should celebrate because I agree. I've looked at a lot of websites over, over the last year and 23 is a high number. And the other cool thing is that then a multiple number of sports, not just all in one sport or something, but again a credit to our women cross country team who just won their 8th national championship and our 23rd overall. So you're right, that's always exciting to be a part of a winning program. But there's so many other things that have excited me about being here at LCC. The academic support we can provide these student athletes. You and I have both embraced downtown Lansing, how fun and vibrant that community is, you know, getting our pictures taken at the Capitol, just getting involved in downtown Lansing with community service, which the baseball team has done an excellent job. So, you know, it's a combination of all those things. You know, I didn't really understand community college when I came here, but, you know, there's a lot of meat behind that that we embrace. You know, Lansing community and college and all three of those parts excite me and contribute to the success that our student athletes have. Our college is very supportive of our athletic program. We have some good resources at our disposal. Obviously there's always challenges and things we want more of and to be better at, but, you know, that's our job to work on and sell and implement in the future. But yeah, being part of that success over the last year, you know, winning the all sports trophy says a lot to me because that's, you know, not just one sport, it's all sports. Being around these student athletes, you know, going to the College World Series with baseball that our second time at the College World Series, it's just fun because, you know, we're in this business for students. You know, one of my favorite quotes you talk about people is, you know, and I saw it on a college day, game day sign. So I'm not going to, you know, take credit for it. The best thing about this job is the people. The worst thing about this job is the people. And that's true. You know, you deal with both. But there is a lot of good people here at LCC, as you mentioned, Steve, and they're very supportive or willing to help with us. And Ian, it's about our student athletes and helping them be successful on the field and in life. I got an educational athletics because I'm a believer that the things they learn through athletics will apply to them of being successful in life. Hard work, you know, a positive attitude, you know, having fun. I mean, and I know you and I are on that same page. You know, we're working on a vision for our athletic program. A motto, core values. I know you have some already for your. For your baseball program, and that'll be a whole nother podcast. But. But those are. You know, we got lots of ideas and plans for this athletic program, but, you know, it's already on solid ground and it was fun. And now what attracted me to this job was, you know, becoming a part of that and seeing the potential of taking it to a whole nother level. But. So that's exciting to me. Again, we talk about student athletes. You know, one of my favorite things over the last year that, you know, you and I have developed and you're a big part of this is our student athlete advisory council, you know, meeting monthly with student athlete representative from each team involved in that and just hearing their perspective about what being a student athlete here at LCC. And we've had some great conversations and some great input from them. You know, our last meeting, we talked about websites and how our student athletes don't seem to use website. They use app, they use Instagram, they use social media, they use other means of finding YouTube to find information. So, you know, just little things like that that just excites you, being around, you know, student athlete that are trying to figure things out in life. You know, they inspire us. You know, my coaches inspire me. You know, how much work they put in behind the scenes. Always working, always trying to get better. I mean, that's exciting. That's what our LCC athletic department embraces. So. And I know you fit right into that. So what about you? Any other things from the last year that stand out to you?

Well, I kind of want to go in a separate direction and talk about parents a little bit. So as a coach, I learned at the other levels how involved parents are. And I think a head coach, a coach once told me that the best team that he could ever coach would be a team of orphans because the parents would not Be involved. And at the high school levels and below the parents are significantly involved. And as the athletic director for a number of years you're very involved with parents. Now the transition's been. Your involvement with parents is much less. Not completely zero, but much less. And it's more into staff and student athletes. Is that, do you, do you like that or do you miss the, do you miss the back and forth with the parents? Because at the end of the day they just want what's best for their own child. Right?

That is right. And we need them on our side. I mean they still support us. They make tons of, of sacrifices for their students to participate in athletics. So we can't just not include them. But it is much different at this level. And always, you know what people said one of the advantages of being at this level because unfortunately parents get a bad rap at the lower level because they are pretty involved and it's very important to them that their students success on the athletic field and almost to a fault. And I have a full time job because athletics is so important to parents and people. So I've always liked working with parents. Obviously sometimes it's hard to DEI escalate some of them or constant differences. But in the end they are their sons or daughters advocate. In the end we need their support financially buy in. I mean they have a. Obviously they're the most influential people on their student side and the coaches are right up there too. So it's got to be a work. They got to work together and be a win to win. And I don't mind that interaction because most parents are very supportive and careful about their students success in athletics. But it's definitely been one of the bigger differences and changes between the high school and college level. It transferred even into the, into the spectator view of, you know, how they act or behave in the bleachers and that, you know, towards official their coaches or other players and not just parents spectators in general. But they're different.

The crowds are different between a high school and a college environment.

Well, what I'm saying is yeah, they're different. I mean I think more is accepted at the college level because there's adults on the floor where in the high school setting it's more kids and you know what you can say or not say and there's still a line and an appropriateness and something we have to deal with. Again, I'm a big believer in just being positive. You know, my parents always taught me if you don't have anything positive to say, don't Say it, but we struggle with that in athletics.

Social media has changed all that.

Oh, yeah, yeah, Significantly. But I'm just saying. So if I develop relationships with parents and work with them, if they're even another favorite quote of mine, you're going to hear all my favorite quotes throughout these podcasts. But success brings out the best in product and the worst in people. And we just get so involved and so caught up in having to win and the scrutiny that our officials are taking nowadays, that worry me that everyone's making mistakes out there, but they're the most public one that get yelled at about it. I always joke with the scoreboard operator, you're the most public stat guy out there. You forget to start the clock. Everyone's yelling at, but no one catches if the core keeper next to you doesn't get a basket or that that guy misses a steal. And again. And that's sports in general. It's public, it's viewing. I call it the best reality tv. There is just a lot of excitement and unpredictability that leads to high emotions. And so developing relationships with parents and working with your coaches helps alleviate a lot of those concerns up front. And just listening, I mean, people just want to talk and listen. So being a good listener has worked well for me. But I hearing what they have to say and then if there's a problem, we'll try and deal with it. But yes, that has been one of the largest differences between the high school and college setting, the parental involvement.

What about winning?

Well, you know, I've never been a person that focused on winning. I've tried to focus on the process, as you and I both do, that if you do the thing, the winning will be a result. And there's a lot of clues that you leave and doing those things. Retention of athletes, bringing in talent and skill, seeing improvement throughout the season, good relationship, good involvement, everyone on the same page. But in the end, we are keeping score. I like to win, I don't like to lose. But again, it's working hard to do that. Not necessarily just having it take place. And so it's a lot of process to get to winning. If other things are happening and you're not winning, I'm okay with it if that team's better than us. Like our cross country team, the men took third, which, you know, with an incredible finish. You know, the first time we had, I believe we had both our teams on the podium since 2007. Their highest finish in 2007, they ran a great day, but they lost the two teams that were a little better that day and the team that won it just ran out of their mind. If we ran against them next Saturday, we might beat them. You know, it was that close. But that's why I don't want to always focus on winning. It's focusing on if we did our best. But in the end, athletics is about keeping score and winning. So it's definitely a stat stat. You look out. I'm not a sore loser, but I don't like to lose. And another quote is, I hate losing more than I like winning. So that's true at all levels. But I think the higher you go and the more it becomes the focus or livelihood, like at the pro level, it's your job. Winning is a big deal. But in educational athletics, it's the life lessons. It's developing good student athletes that they have a lifetime positive experience participating in in sports and getting a great education because of it. And that's what we're here for. We're an academic institution, so the main focus is getting a great education. And athletics is an avenue that helps them out. And there's other great avenues. I've always joked we're no different than the music program. We just use a ball, they use an instrument, we use a ball, they use their voice. Good thing I don't use a voice. I can't sing, but I can play a trombone. But you practice, you prepare, and then you compete and you do your best and you go from there. It's not the end. I'm a big believer in how you respond and how you get better. But I like to win. And I know you do too.

Right, because you're competing. And as an athletic director, the athletic department gets judged by wins and losses at the end of the day. So it's a double edged sword. If you only focus on winning all the time, then you're missing what your true vision of the athletic department is. Serving the student athletes and doing all the things that you can do to make sure that they're better people when they leave here. But you still have to win. And as you go up to higher levels, if you're not winning, you're not going to have a job. And that can stand for athletic directors, that stands for coaches, that stands for support personnel all the time. So there's definitely pressure that's different than what it is at the high school level, you don't see it unless there's something egregious that happens. At the high school level, you don't see a whole lot of High school coaches getting terminated. But at the college level, you see it all the time. It's always happening. And so you're trying to balance that out. You know, how important is winning and what. What drives winning? And then what is your vision? And if is your vision more important and that process more important that takes you to the. Winning just takes care of itself. When I came in, we had a strong program, but one of the things that we really lacked was communication. We didn't. We didn't have any good systems to be able to communicate our athletes, we didn't have good systems to be able to communicate with success. Coaches, our trainers, you know, just on and on. And do you want to talk a little bit about some of the stuff that you brought in to kind of have people come together so that there was better communication between the coaches, the support staff and the student athletes?

Well, I want to get back to the winning piece real quick too, because I agree that the higher level you go, the more the focus is on winning. And I still believe at this level, educational athletics, so it's more about learning and a combination of winning at the Division 1 level. At the big business, it's billions of dollars. So, you know, it's become about winning. It's a big business. But I believe at most levels of college, it's educational athletics and the focus should be on developing the student athlete. And your point? We get judged on how we win. I also believe we get judged on how we represent LCC and how we host events when people come to us. And I always try and tell, you know, we're. We're a big brand for any educational institution we're part of, because we're going all over the country like we were down in Tallahassee, Florida, with LCC stuff all over. So they get a perception of LCC just from our cross country team. So I really focus on representing our school well. And when people come here, I have our staff work hard that this is the best place they'll ever come during that season. So we do get judged on winning, but I hope we get judged on those other things too. And I feel those are more important. We have newspapers, we have sports channels that are specific to sports, and so the scores go in there, but hopefully the people leave with the other positive things that our student athletes and we're doing here at LCC. Now, to your point of things we're trying to do here, I'm always a believer if a coach can communicate and organize, they're going to go a long way to Being successful. And the one toughest thing that been a transition for me at the college level is how big it is. It's a big institution where at the high school level, you know, I'm in the same building with a lot of my colleagues that I need the resources from. But the thing I'm finding out here at LCC is how exciting. I mean there's a lot of experts in those particular department that I can go to that help me accomplish those things. But being so large, we've had to streamline or come up with scenarios to help with communication and organization. We're working on getting student athlete software that will tie us all together and it'll be right on an app for our student athlete to be able to communicate with coaches, trainers, success coaches, advising, finance, financial aid, degree path. So that's exciting. We're implementing it. It's coming along slowly. But that's an exciting piece that a lot of colleges at higher level to have communication with their student athletes. You know, again being such a larger institution and being all over the place, you know, practicing at different facilities. We need a streamlined effect to communication organization. The student athlete advisory council help getting hearing their voice, just developing relationships with other departments in the college. We've talked about Dr. Timbrink and working with the music department on maybe starting a pep band. Our media class with Jeff Hamlin is doing some great YouTube live streaming of our athletic events and we're hoping to expand that. But our students at LCC getting a great experience of a production and I watch them do volleyball games and they have like five or six students and he's the production guy and it's a well oiled machine. It's just like an athleticon. They got to work together as a team. They do a lot of prep work. But that's exciting to work with our media department here at LCC because there's just a lot of good resources at this college working with our kinesiology department, you know, that's right up our alley. You know, movement science and how our student athletes can prevent injury. You know, our coaches are working with a couple of the kinesiology professors and strength and conditioning programs. So just developing relationships with all those valuable resources across the college will help help the college understand us better and help us educate that we can be a positive representation of LCC. Did I miss anything?

I don't think so.

Okay, well good. So it's exciting and we want so much left to accomplish and so many things to work on. And we're both impatient in Making that happen. And there's also so many other things going on in athletics that we deal with. You know, even things at other levels. You know, when you see the Michigan, Michigan State tunnel incident and how that could happen. At LCC, we don't have football or tunnel, but knowing what times of the game, that emotions are so high that you got to keep people separated. You know, protecting officials is a big emphasis of mine. So, you know, there's a lot of topics we'll dive into as we get into the future, but we just wanted to get started here, you know. Anything else we need to review over the last year that I missed?

No, I think you've brought a lot of positive changes into the athletic department in the last year, and the snowball is starting to go down the hill. Whether it's been with communication or community relations or anything else, you've done a really good job. And I think this podcast is a great way to share some of that because like you said at the beginning, a lot of people don't completely understand LCC, whether it's the campus, the athletic programs or anything else. Some people didn't even know that they. They had certain teams or anything else. So the education piece is huge. And then I think the understanding piece, because when you work in athletics, I mean, do you work a 9 to 5 job?

No, it's around the clock. I mean, most events take place at night or on the weekends. And even like traveling to Tallahassee, we had some student drive down there, and you just worry about them getting home Sunday morning. But you know that when you get into this job, and that's what excites me and inspires me, is, you know, our coaches and student athletes that work 24, 7, 365 to be better and compete and represent our school well. So that's all I've ever known. So that's not new to me. But to a lot of people, that they might not understand that. And, you know, that excites me, too. You mentioned, you know, like, when I took this job, I was on the golf course talking to another local high school coach, and he didn't even know what sports LCC offered. And that just surprised me. And so. So, you know, I sent a letter out to all the high schools in this area and let them know what student athlete they have, you know, participating at LCC other than Mason High School this morning. And they had our sticker up on their fridge that I sent out. And, you know, there's just so many connections to LCC to this area, you know, a lot of nurses in the local hospitals probably went to LCC's program and, you know, the same with student athletes. And it's our job to embrace and recognize those efforts in this community and how, and how far it branches again. We branch across the country, you know, student athletes from California, Georgia and other areas and even have international students before. But a lot of our kids are local right here in the Lansing areas or a certain radius. And, you know, it's exciting to watch them grow and develop. And still being that close to the high school setting, I'm trying to capitalize on developing that relationship with those schools and showing them what positive things LCC has to offer their students in their school. You know, it's about perspective. And I, I try and take the positive perspective on many things. We're in a learning environment. It's, you know, we should learn from it, not dwell or blame. Let's learn from it and do better. So it's worked for me. I'm excited to be here. I've inherited a strong program. So, you know, the success we've had over the last year goes to a lot of credit to the, to the many people here before me. But it's exciting to be a part of and help even become even better.

Yep, good stuff.

Stars on Sports Outro: Stars on Sports is recorded live at the WLNZ studios. Engineering and production assistance are provided by Daedalian Lowry. You can listen to this episode and other episodes of Stars on Sports on demand at LCCconnect.org to find more information about our athletic program, visit LCCstars.com thanks for listening. Go Stars!