Limestone Athletics
Ernest Meyers, Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations
GAFFNEY – Given recent events across the nation and the swelling call for action in the long-standing fight against inequality, the Limestone College Athletics Department announced that it has launched a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Taskforce to continue providing a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for both Limestone student-athletes and athletic department coaches and staff.
The DEI Taskforce will be co-chaired by Hailey Martin, Limestone’s Senior Woman Administrator, and Joe Wassink, Limestone’s veteran head track and field coach. The Taskforce will be comprised of both coaches and staff members that will regularly meet to communicate and collaborate in putting together goals that enhance the environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the athletics department.
Once students return to campus, the DEI Taskforce will work closely with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to ensure that student-athletes have a voice and that their concerns are being heard. The SAAC will most likely hold elections for student-athletes to serve on the DEI Taskforce committee.
“I believe that diversity, equality, and inclusion are topics that we cannot be on the sideline for,” said Wassink. “It’s important to know that just because we are all part of Limestone College, it does not guarantee that we all have the same experience. We need to be active in our pursuit of equality and inclusion so we can become, and remain, LimestONEnation.”
With the understanding that diversity within the student-athlete, coaching, and athletic staff ranks will help the Limestone Athletics Department fulfill its stated mission and build upon its core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, and community, the DEI committee will be tasked with providing leadership and resources while strategically creating and implementing goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In conjunction with the goals and mission created by the Taskforce, Limestone Athletics will remain committed in supporting every student-athlete, coach, and staff member’s pursuit of excellence and use the depth of each of our perspectives to prepare our students for the future. Limestone’s ability to foster an equitable and inclusive environment for all Saints will determine our collective success.
“It is incredibly important for Limestone student-athletes, coaches and staff to have a voice,” said Martin. “I think that the DEI Taskforce will provide an avenue for those voices to be heard, so I am looking forward to working closely with our committee members and with Limestone’s Equity and Inclusion Office to provide a supportive atmosphere and to bring about real and meaningful change to our communities.”
The DEI Taskforce will be co-chaired by Martin and Wassink and will include: Isaac Rodgers, assistant strength and conditioning coach; Melissa DeVore, assistant women’s basketball coach; Cliff Matthews, football defensive line coach; and, Devin Watson, football defensive backs coach. In the coming weeks, the taskforce will create a mission statement and will shape the committee to work toward that mission.
Once the statement has been completed, the DEI Taskforce webpage will be housed on the Limestone Athletics website, www.golimestonesaints.com, under the Inside Athletics tab.