By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

Support, sincerity and visibility are what most people in the Purdue athletic family will remember about Purdue president Steven Beering when he retires.

Throughout his 18 years as president, Beering has been an ardent supporter of Purdue athletics.

"When you have a president that's pro-athletics, that's huge," said Purdue wrestling coach Jessie Reyes. "You want him behind you."

Beering is present at many athletic events and is often a guest speaker when teams hold preseason banquets.

"His appearances are all voluntary; I mean, I wouldn't tell him what to do," said Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady. "The fact that he supports us and shows that support means something. There are other guys at other universities that have special interests, but he pulls for everybody."

Beering said his favorite events to attend have been the women's basketball team's NCAA title game and the football team's bowl games.

"I think that it's important that you not only talk about it, but that you walk the talk and physically show up at practices and the games and the activities that the athletes have," said Beering. "We've done that all these years and it is a way that we can show our sincere support."

Beering has been a strong supporter for all of Purdue's varsity athletic programs and has been a part of the addition of two programs — women's soccer and softball — along the way.

"I have been very, very active in making sure that the opportunities are there and that we have enough scholarships," said Beering. "I think it's wonderful that we have a great amount of sports, and I support the whole range of sports. I wish we had more NCAA programs, but that all depends on the balance of the finances."

Purdue women's swimming coach Cathy Wright-Eger said she appreciates that Beering is fair in his affection for all sports.

"He has done a lot for gender equity," said Wright-Eger. "Other schools cut men's programs to add women's programs. And that gives gender equity a bad name. He hasn't done that; he has done nothing but add programs."

Wright-Eger, who recently completed her 13th season at Purdue, said Beering has done more than administrative work.

"He's a very visible president, and that's unique," said Wright-Eger. "I was at Iowa for two years, and I never once met the president. Here, everywhere you look you see President Beering. I mean, you'd have to be hiding your head in the sand to not see him. And I think that's really neat."

Several coaches said Beering is good at showing his sincere support in his interactions with people.

"He has a lot of people to talk to, and even with that he's very cordial," said Reyes.

Reyes said he knows Beering is very good at talking to everybody because he has seen Beering in many places, including at golf outings.

"I'm not a very good golfer," said Reyes. "I've never ridden in a cart with him, but I'm sure that if I asked, I could. I get the impression that he'll talk to anyone."

Wright-Eger said she also enjoys seeing Beering be personable, and that he's not condescending.

"You see him at functions and he talks to everybody; he hits the whole gamut of the population," said Wright-Eger. "He'll talk to anyone from little kids to elderly people, and he's very sincere.

"And if I see him, he'll comment on our program and how we're doing," said Wright-Eger, whose team had the ninth-best GPA in the nation among Division I programs last season.

"My swimmers have always done a good job with their GPAs, and he's always commenting about that. He makes it known that first and foremost athletes should want their degrees."

Beering said he is glad that Purdue has an outstanding reputation for success in athletics and academics. For example, Purdue athletes past and present, including men's basketball player Carson Cunningham and former women's basketball player Stephanie White-McCarty, have become members of Phi Beta Kappa, which was established in 1776 and remains one of the nation's most prestigious academic honor societies.

"I am very proud that our student-athletes are students first," said Beering. "They maintain a true balance, and that wholesomeness will carry them on in life. It's very important that you have learned things here, so that if you don't make a career in athletics you can have success in other areas of life."

Wright-Eger said Beering has always been thinking ahead.

"He has passed that down to us to not be short-sighted," said Wright-Eger. "He had a vision long before it was popular to say, 'I have a vision.'"

Part of Beering's vision included hiring athletic director Morgan Burke in 1992. Wright-Eger said the two have worked together to pass administration to allot more money to athletics and make Purdue's athletic department a nationally prominent one.

"To watch his relationship with Morgan has been something special," said Wright-Eger. "They're more than just administrators; they're friends, and you can tell that."

Burke will continue on after Beering leaves, but Beering's impact will still be felt.

"He's not the kind of person that you realize how much you miss him when he's gone," said Wright-Eger. "You realize now that he's going to be greatly missed."