Andrea Hudy
Assistant Athletic Director for Sports
Performance University of Kansas
Third Quarter 2012
story by ANNE BROCKHOFF
photos by STEVEN HERTZOG

Andrea Hudy

Andrea Hudy’s office is filled with exactly the sort of memorabilia you’d expect the University of Kansas’ assistant athletic director for sports performance to have—NBA jerseys from former students, a photo of the nine national championship rings her teams have won and signed basketballs.

Hudy, 40, clearly likes to win. But the key to her success isn’t in a frame. It’s written in the lower corner of a white board on her wall, a list of core values including trust, care, hard work, knowledge and, perhaps most important, authenticity.

“I never want somebody to be what they aren’t,” says Hudy, who is strength and conditioning coach for the KU men’s and women’s basketball teams and who manages the Anderson Family Strength and Conditioning Complex for all KU sports except football. “Authenticity is huge.”

Hudy grew up in Huntingdon, Pa., the daughter of two high school teachers and coaches and the youngest of five athletic siblings. Days were spent outside hiking, biking, playing on the water or competing in sports.

Dinnertime found the family at the table, where accomplishments were celebrated, discipline doled out and accountability and responsibility emphasized. Money was tight in her Irish-Catholic household, Hudy says, but that didn’t stop her parents from opening their home to other kids who needed a hand.

“There were some times in our house when I didn’t know who those people were sleeping on our floor. You just walked over them,” Hudy says. “It was just because my parents wanted to help kids. I think that’s been ingrained in my upbringing.”

So was hard work. Hudy mowed lawns in junior high, and, in high school, worked at a local marina and cleaned boats on the side while competing in three sports. She went on to play volleyball at the University of Maryland, where she graduated with a degree in kinesiology.

Andrea Hudy

Andrea in Strength and Conditioning Center with Elijah Johnson

A stint in corporate fitness followed—something Hudy says she hated. So, she returned to higher education with a graduate assistantship at the University of Connecticut and helped coach two men’s basketball, five women’s basketball and one men’s soccer team to national championships while earning her masters in sports biomechanics.

Hudy joined KU’s staff in 2004 and regularly pulls 12-hour days throughout the university’s 46-week training schedule. Working in a male-dominated field for the past 18 years has not been without challenges, Hudy admits, but she doesn’t waste time worrying about it.

“I’m in charge of the weight room, but I’ll be the last person somebody will approach because I’m female, which is fine,” Hudy says with a smile and shrug. “I get it.”

She remains entirely focused on her “kids,” often training with them as they lift weights or run stadium stairs, and is quick to share credit for any success with her staff, KU’s coaches and the administration.

Hudy enjoys spending time on her boat on Clinton Lake and sometimes heads out of town for a weekend break, but hers is not a job she ever feels the need to escape from.

Helping her teams reach their full potential—both as athletes and people—is simply what she loves doing.

“If I’m true to myself, and I trust the kids, and they know I’m honest and care, then how can you fail at that? You can’t,” Hudy says.

Share.

80 Comments

  1. Thanks for the ideas you share through this site. In addition, numerous young women who become pregnant will not even try and get medical care insurance because they fear they would not qualify. Although some states at this moment require that insurers provide coverage despite the pre-existing conditions. Prices on these types of guaranteed programs are usually larger, but when with the high cost of health care bills it may be a safer way to go to protect your own financial future.

  2. With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement? My site has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my agreement. Do you know any techniques to help stop content from being stolen? I’d certainly appreciate it.|

  3. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to mention that I’ve truly loved browsing your weblog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing for your rss feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!|

  4. Hello are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any html coding expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!|

  5. Its like you learn my thoughts! You appear to understand a lot approximately this, like you wrote the guide in it or something. I feel that you just can do with a few p.c. to power the message house a little bit, but other than that, that is wonderful blog. An excellent read. I will definitely be back.|

  6. Hello there, You’ve done an incredible job. I will definitely digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited from this site.|

  7. It’s remarkable to pay a visit this web site and reading the views of all mates about this post, while I am also keen of getting familiarity.|

  8. Usually I don’t read post on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to take a look at and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thank you, quite great post.|

  9. The very next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesn’t fail me as much as this one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read, nonetheless I genuinely thought you would have something useful to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of complaining about something you could possibly fix if you were not too busy seeking attention.

  10. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who has been conducting a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to discuss this matter here on your internet site.

  11. My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find almost all of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content for you? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome weblog!|

  12. It’s a great tool! It is a great resource! printabgle habit tracker can be a straightforward but effective tool for building the habit
    of being cconsistent annd emain engaged. I like how your tracking tools are nicely organized and simple to use.
    They are perfect for creating annd reaching individual targets.

    The visual tracking oof habits can make an enormous distinnction in staying on track.
    We appreciate you for providing these useful templates!
    We lokk forward too examining further of yopur offerings.
    Additionally, I wrote a piece about the process of habit-forming and I would like to hear from you aboyt your experiences.
    You are doing a fantastic job!.
    Read mopre abot : Printable habit tracker

  13. Excellent resource! Dosing pump have a viyal role in exact chemical dosing ffor different industries.
    your knowledge in this area is exceptional. In the range of thee chemicl dosing pump to etering pumps or
    Milkton Roy dosing pump the solutions you offer seem
    to cover a wide range of uses. I found your informatioon regarding laundry pumps, dishwasher pumps as welpl as dosing machines for chlorine extremely useful for the industrial as weell as domestic requirements.
    Your selection in Pumps for Injecta is promising for providing accuracy and effectiveness in chemical dosing.
    We look forward to fiding out more about yopur developments in the field!

    Read more about : chemical dosing pumps

  14. Definitely consider that that you stated. Your favourite reason seemed to be on the internet the simplest factor to consider of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while other people consider issues that they just don’t recognise about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also outlined out the entire thing with no need side-effects , people could take a signal. Will probably be again to get more. Thanks|

  15. Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my visitors would certainly benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Regards!|

  16. This design is spectacular! You most certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!|

  17. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn something like this before. So nice to seek out any individual with some authentic thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is something that’s wanted on the net, somebody with a bit of originality. useful job for bringing one thing new to the internet!

  18. Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your content seem to be running off the screen in Firefox. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The design and style look great though! Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Many thanks|

  19. Howdy would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m looking to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S My apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!|

  20. you’re in reality a just right webmaster. The site loading velocity is incredible. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a excellent process on this matter!|

  21. An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who was conducting a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me lunch due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this matter here on your site.|

Leave A Reply