Grand plans, it is said, demand grand efforts.
Perhaps that is why Steve Pederson bursts with pride when he says the University of Pittsburgh has the hardest working athletic department in America.
That work ethic has resulted in one of the most exciting and ambitious five-year periods in the history of Pittsburgh athletics. Since being appointed athletic director in November of 1996, Pederson has set the pace with a relentless dedication that has revitalized Pittsburgh into one of the fastest-growing programs in the country.
Perhaps a small plaque displayed in Pederson's office best captures the essence of the Pittsburgh athletic director and the aggressive course he has set for Panther athletics. "Men of action," it reads, "usually succeed. Men of inaction wait for something good to happen and it never does."
From day one, Pederson has been a leader of drive and initiative, continuously cultivating a blueprint for long-term success. Among the many exciting developments he helped initiate:
Giving Pittsburgh's football and men's basketball teams their strongest radio flagship station - 45,000-watt WRRK-FM (96.9) - in at least three decades by joining forces with Steel City Media.
Those efforts have not gone unnoticed. A recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article dubbed Pitt "Comeback U." and hailed Pederson's blueprint for success.
Prophetically, Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said in announcing Pederson's appointment that the Nebraska native's "energy, creativity and values would be huge assets to the University and city of Pittsburgh." The Chancellor's words have proven true time and again.
"When Steve and I first met, he had an infectious enthusiasm about him that made me excited about our prospects for the future," said Nordenberg in a recent Post-Gazette article. "But as upbeat as I might have been at that time, what he's delivered for this university has gone far beyond my expectations."
"Steve Pederson is a remarkable professional and a remarkable person," said Pittsburgh head football coach Walt Harris. "He has put our entire athletic department in a position for long-term success. His energy and ideas are amazing - inspiring even. He has put our department on his back and is ready to take us into a great new era."
"Like all great leaders, Steve Pederson had a vision for the University of Pittsburgh when he came here and we are realizing that vision with the addition of the UPMC Sports Performance Complex, Heinz Field and the Petersen Events Center. Our facilities are among the best in the country and that has been done in a very short period of time. The obvious commitment by the University has been spearheaded by Steve and his dynamic leadership. The future is very bright here."
"Steve Pederson has a special gift to lead people," said head women's baskeball coach Traci Waites. "When I first arrived here, I considered myself a 'student' in the athletic arena and he has taught me the importance of being myself. With that in mind, his desire to change perceptions in our athletic department has not only affected our administration but all of our student-athletes.
"There is no question Steve Pederson has made a lasting imprint on our athletic department."
"Steve Pederson has been an obvious asset to the University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department," said Head Baseball Coach Joe Jordano. "He has achieved so much in such a short period of time and his blueprint for success is awesome. Steve has set our department on a course to a very bright future, and his enthusiasm is contagious."
"Our top goal is to establish a long-term positioning for our athletic program," Pederson said. "This positioning should drive our actions every day - how we coach, work and interact with each other.
Always with an eye on the best interests of Pittsburgh student-athletes, Pederson has implemented such programs as the Panther Game Plan, which is aimed at their academic, athletic, personal and professional development.
No collegiate athlete in the country is better outfitted than Pittsburgh's as a result of a lucrative footwear and apparel partnership formed by Pederson with adidas and Aeropostale. The adidas partnership, one of only five alliances adidas has with college athletic programs-the other four include Notre Dame, Tennessee, Nebraska and Northwestern-provides footwear for all Pittsburgh athletes. In teaming up with Pittsburgh, Aeropostale made its debut in collegiate athletics this year.
Additionally, Pederson enlisted the talents of Peter Moore, one of the world's top figures in sports marketing and image, to create the Pittsburgh Panthers logo and color schemes. The dynamic Panther logo and standardized blue and gold colors have been adopted by all of the University's 19 intercollegiate sports.
Moore also created the Panther eyetooth that will be debuted on Pittsburgh's uniforms this fall.
Pederson's administration has witnessed a renewed commitment to Pittsburgh fans, evidenced by the many fan-friendly initiatives he has set in motion. Events like Panther Fanfest on game days have added to the pleasure of attending an athletic contest at the University of Pittsburgh.
"My perception was that we used to wait for people to come to us," Pederson said. "Now, we're trying to reach out. We want to make it easier and more enjoyable for fans to watch Panther athletic events. We're confident if they come once, they will want to keep coming back. Pittsburgh is the greatest sports town in America and it deserves great college sports. That's what we're dedicated to giving this city."
Pederson is active on several committees. He currently serves as the Big East Conference representative to the NCAA's Football Issues Committee and is a member of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame District Screening Committee. Pederson has additionally served as the co-chairman of the Panther Leukemia Golf Open and the co-chairman of the United Way's Day of Caring for Allegheny County.
Named Pittsburgh's 10th athletic director by Chancellor Nordenberg on Oct. 28, 1996, Pederson served the previous 2½ years as the associate athletic director at the University of Nebraska. As the Cornhuskers' associate director of athletics and director of football operations, he oversaw one of the most successful football programs in the country.
Pederson also was instrumental in a fundraising plan that helped build a $36 million skybox and press box addition to Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. He additionally directed the renovation of the Athletic Medicine Center, locker room, players' lounge, halftime meeting space and Hall of Honors areas in the current athletic facilities.
Prior to Nebraska, Pederson joined the Tennessee football staff in 1991 as Head Coach Johnny Majors' recruiting coordinator. A year later he was promoted to assistant athletic director for recruiting and then was elevated to associate athletic director for football operations in the spring of 1993. In three seasons at UT, the Volunteers' recruiting classes were regarded among the top three in the country. The Volunteers' 1994 class was widely heralded as the best in the nation.
Pederson also served as the recruiting coordinator at Ohio State from 1988 through 1991 and helped rebuild the Buckeyes into the perennial power that they are today.
A native of North Platte, Neb., Pederson graduated from Nebraska in 1980 with a degree in business administration. He began his collegiate athletic career as an assistant sports information director at Nebraska. In 1982 he joined Coach Tom Osborne's staff as recruiting coordinator and administrative assistant.
Pederson and his wife Tami Osborne Pederson have three children: Mark (18), Kari (15) and Kristin (12). Tami is a professional violinist, who has played with the Pittsburgh, Omaha, Lincoln and Knoxville symphonies. She currently performs as a member of the Rienzi String Ensemble and is a founder of the Fox Chapel Suzuki Violinists, a studio of young musicians who she teaches privately.
