'There are opportunities' after high school: New Terra AD leading charge to attract athletes
Terra State Community College wants athletics to be a significant part of the overall school environment.
It seeks to develop facilities to attract athletes in seven programs who then generate excitement on campus. Terra enlisted Lindi Cahill as athletic director to lead the charge.
“There is so much potential at Terra,” she said. “It’s a relatively new program and a great opportunity to strengthen the work done by Gregg Hedden and Jerry Snodgrass to establish athletics. I keep realizing more and more how many opportunities there are to be an athlete.
“For those with the passion who don’t want it to end after high school, there are opportunities.”
Gibsonburg girls basketball Star freshman keeps her winning tradition alive
Cahill hopes fans come to enjoy events as much as athletes.
“The goal will be to promote athletics and make athletics a more visible entity in the community,” Cahill said. “Opportunities for kids to do something they love.”
A donor recently provided funds for a new floor and weight room.
“I tried to focus on giving the volleyball kids at Ross a positive culture and I enjoy that part of coaching,” Cahill said. “I want to continue to explore that for opportunities at Terra. I’ll be the first full-time AD. It’s a commitment to run the athletic program to provide strong opportunities for student-athletes right in our back yard.”
Cahill led Ross volleyball to a conference championship its first season in the Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division this year.
She was second-team all-state for volleyball as a senior before graduating from Clyde in 1990. The Fliers won the first set in a regional final and were two points from advancing to state when Cahill was a sophomore.
“It’s been 30 years, I still feel that loss,” she said.
Fremont mayor Danny Sanchez first talked about the opportunity for Cahill with her husband, John Cahill.
“We’ll have two kids in college, the timing was right,” she said. “It’s in our back yard, we’re members of a community we love. A lot of things worked for us as a family. They are first and foremost in any decision.”
Cahill graduated from Kent State in 1996 with a master’s degree in sports administration. She worked as a graduate assistant in the athletic department at Kent State and then as athletic director at Cincinnati Indian Hills for her first job.
“Anybody who knows me, I preach education,” she said. “Take care of the future by being great students first. Any time you’re involved in athletics, you want to win. Winning in my definition, a student-athlete puts student first.
“Go to class. Finish your programs. Move on to a job. Move on to a four-year institution.”
Some Terra athletes will try to continue their careers at larger schools.
“That’s a huge win,” she said of such circumstances. “Winning ballgames, winning Region 12, national championships in any sport. That’s a very doable thing. We can attract strong student-athletes to Terra and be successful in a lot of ways.”
Terra relaunched athletic programs shortly before the coronavirus pandemic. Volleyball finished sixth in the nation two years ago, as the school continues to establish consistent operating procedures for coaches and kids.
“The administrative piece, running NorthCoast Showtime, coaching; it’s what I’ve done,” Cahill said. “From a gym rat, it’s been my life. I hope to put that to use and be a good listener and problem solver. I don’t have every answer, but I enjoy being a lifelong learner.
"I’ll do my best to be a support system for student-athletes and coaches.”
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Terra State Community College enlists Lindi Cahill athletic director
