Behind the Playbook: Dr. Bernie Mulvaney, Goose Creek CISD Athletic Director
Down I-10 East outside of Houston sits Baytown, Texas, which could be considered the cradle of 7-on-7 football for the State of Texas.
It's home to Baytown Lee, where coach Dick Olin installed a dynamic pass-happy offense and launched the 7-on-7 summer league concept. Quarterbacks flocked to play for Olin back in the day as the Ganders were H-Town powers.
Goose Creek Consolidated ISD is also home to Baytown Sterling and Goose Creek Memorial High School, which have enjoyed some recent success in sports ranging from volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer and water polo. Yes, water polo.
The community is hungry to return to the glory days and athletic director Dr. Bernie Mulvaney is bringing back a winning culture. Hired in 2013, Mulvaney has made some critical hires that are starting to pay dividends.
VYPE caught up with Mulvaney to talk about his path to Baytown.
LISTEN TO INTERVIEW WITH DR. BERNIE MULVANEY - Goose Creek CISD Athletic Director
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3luBc9j7A6gEpwWUeWM9yf?si=Bod7-zsWSV6OAt2Znz-aMQ
Mulvaney started at HISD's Furr High School, before stops at Channelview, Houston Christian and Fort Bend Clements.
He received a big boost when Scott Moehlig (Alief ISD AD) opened Fort Bend Bush as the head coach and hired Mulvaney to run the offense. He moved on to Alief Taylor as an assistant before landing his first head coaching job at Aldine MacArthur. After five seasons leading the Generals, Mulvaney was hired as the Goose Creek CISD Athletic Director.
"Throughout my six years in Baytown, I have help lead coaches, athletes and students," Mulvaney said. "I can confidently say that things are better here now.We have all heard the adage, leave things better than how you found them.I have been fortunate and am thankful for everybody who has helped me along this journey."
VYPE: What do you enjoy the most about being an Athletic Director?
MULVANEY: "There is nothing better than watching a 'B' teamer growing into a Varsity starter.I have always believed that everyday you get better or you get worse, you never stay the same. I love watching our coaches and players work to get better every day.I know the life lessons we instill on fields, gyms and courts will carry over into our athletes' personal lives as they get older.These are lessons that can't be learned in chemistry class. Sacrifice, overcoming adversity, building confidence and delayed gratification are all things needed to be successful in today's world."
VYPE: What the best advice you can give to an aspiring sports management professional or athletic director?
MULVANEY: "Make sure you have a significant other who understands your passion.You will be gone long stretches of time. As you are growing in the profession, you will take on extra, sometimes unpaid duties.These opportunities will give you insight on how the Athletic Director job is done and put you in position for the next opening. It's not easy on my wife, who must deal with two kids while I am putting other kids first.When you have one kid, you are parent.When you have two kids, you are a referee.She's the best referee I know!"