When I began in my role as athletic director nine months ago, I wanted to identify one word that would embody UCLA Athletics, both defining our history and guiding our vision for the future as a department. E.L.I.T.E. was that word. Energy. Leadership. Integrity. Toughness. Excellence.
E.L.I.T.E. is about our mindset, our daily approach to the process. It rang true from my first day, and has been reinforced every day since, through how our student-athletes, coaches and staff conduct themselves in every situation, through the commitment that's demonstrated in practice, in competition and in the classroom, and through the level of competition we've seen over the past few weeks.
It's also been reinforced through the conversations I've had with thousands of you, our alumni, donors and fans. It's clear that you share our E.L.I.T.E. mindset, and with your support, together we will continue to move UCLA Athletics forward, as one of the premiere programs in college athletics.
E.L.I.T.E is attainable for all of us. It's a commitment to showing up as the best version of yourself, every day.
For more on what that means, please enjoy this video.
Go Bruins!
Martin