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January 24, 2005
Robin Moll
Vice President
Institutional Advancement
Cabrini College
610 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Dear Ms. Moll,
As a Cabrini College alum, I am writing to express my utter
disgust and outrage over the recent announcement that the College
has decided not to renew John Dzik’s contract as head men’s
basketball coach beyond the current season – without any
explanation.
In an effort to collect my thoughts prior to composing this
letter, I spent some time thinking about the mission and core values
upon which Cabrini College was founded. Your website and numerous
pieces of literature generated by the College, state the following:
“In response to Frances Cabrini’s desire to provide an
‘education of the heart’ – a Catholic, Cabrinian education centered
in Christ and ever mindful of the dignity and contributions
of each person – the members of this College community,
through a collaborative process, have enunciated these values which
exist as a standard for our activities and as a hallmark for
all future development. Education of the heart is achieved
through the core values of: respect, vision, community, and
dedication to excellence.”
I encourage you and everyone else who had a part in this
inconceivable decision to reflect on the abovementioned quote and
think about exactly which core value, or combination thereof, were
evoked during the decision making process and upon reaching the
conclusion not to renew John Dzik’s contract. One thing seems
certain, the current administration has in no way been mindful of
the dignity and contributions of John Dzik. At the conclusion of
this letter I beg you to differ.
John Dzik and Cabrini College are synonymous. For over 20 years,
John Dzik has dedicated his life to serving the Cabrini College
community institutionally, athletically and spiritually. It is his
hard work and unwavering dedication that have contributed in
countless ways to the College’s continued advancement, success and
reputation. I challenge you to find a person more dedicated to the
mission of Cabrini College than John Dzik – in my mind and in the
minds of most Cabrini College alumni, former student athlete or not,
John Dzik is Cabrini College.
Of course, John “Coach” Dzik is most notable for his
contributions and accomplishments, which speak for themselves, in
the basketball arena. I can’t say for certain you were aware of
these accomplishments prior to the College’s announcement, but I’m
certain by now you’ve received numerous letters and read the
newspaper articles that have run in recent days. Cabrini’s NCAA
affiliation and PAC membership are both the result of Coach Dzik’s
vision and dedication. Coach Dzik is currently ranked ninth in wins
among active Division III coaches, 19th all-time. With a .697
winning percentage, coaching only one losing season in 24 years,
Coach Dzik has coached the Cabrini men’s basketball team into the
record books as the second winningest Division III program in
history. Nothing in these credentials (and I have only highlighted a
few) even hint of a reason not to renew Coach Dzik’s contract,
especially as he nears the 500-win milestone, an accomplishment
worth reveling for Coach Dzik, Cabrini College, current and former
basketball players, and the entire Cabrini College community.
However, John Dzik’s success reaches far beyond the basketball
arena. When you think of the countless lives he’s touched during his
tenure at Cabrini College – students, parents, extended families,
staff, and members of the community – the lasting impact he has made
as a mentor and role model is insurmountable and unquestionable.
I was not a student athlete during my time at Cabrini
(1992-1996), however, I didn’t have to be to say John Dzik had an
impact on my college experience. From 1992-1996 John Dzik rallied
the entire College community in support of the men’s basketball team
as they went on to win four consecutive PAC championships. In those
days there wasn’t an empty seat in the entire gymnasium as, in true
Cabrini fashion, John Dzik coached his team to numerous victories.
He taught his team and the College community how to win with dignity
and sportsmanship – a story that drew media attention time and time
again throughout each basketball season. John Dzik always assembled
a team in the truest sense of the word – coaches and players of all
backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and religions, and taught them
how to work together to achieve a common goal – a lesson this world
so desperately needs to learn.
Having had many friends who played for John Dzik during that
time, I can also tell you about the profound impact he had, and
continues to have, on many lives reaching far beyond the 110-acre
campus known as Cabrini College. My husband, Eric Tidwell (Class of
1996) was recruited by John Dzik to play basketball for Cabrini. It
was John Dzik the coach, but also John Dzik the mentor, role model
and leader that convinced Eric to come to Cabrini, and I assure you
this was and is the case with most basketball players who come to
Cabrini – they come because of John Dzik. The knowledge, experiences
and life lessons John Dzik teaches his players reach far beyond
their brief time at Cabrini. I can tell you without any hesitation,
my husband is the man he is today largely in part to the tremendous
influence John Dzik has had in his life for the past 13 years as a
role model, coach, mentor, leader, and friend. For this I will
always have the utmost respect and love for John Dzik. He has always
embodied and taught “education of the heart,” which will forever be
part of our lives, and my heart breaks for those lives that will not
have the opportunity to be shaped by this great man.
Now I ask you, which of Cabrini’s core values, or combination
thereof, were evoked when the administration made the decision not
to renew John Dzik’s contract?
Respect? Doubtful – this is NOT a demonstration of respect for
someone who has touched so many lives, enjoyed numerous career
accomplishments and dedicated his life to the continued mission of
Cabrini College. “We strive for a reverence of self and others
manifested in trust and appreciation.” Do you honestly believe
this matter was handled in such a way? And do you honestly believe
the alumni and Cabrini College community will continue to respect
the current administration for such a decision?
Vision? Again, doubtful – before making such an incomprehensible
decision the administration should have had the vision to foresee
the impact it would have on the students, alumni, donors, members of
the community – and, of course, John Dzik and his family. It seems
no one had the “vision” to think of how this decision would impact
Cabrini College, not only today but in the future. I would venture
to say the results of this “vision” will soon be felt in terms of
alumni financial support (or lack thereof) for many years to come.
Community? This core value, as stated by the College, calls for
“participation in the celebration of our values and traditions.”
This decision in no way celebrates the values John Dzik has taught
and traditions he has woven into the very fabric of Cabrini College.
If anything, this decision has rallied the Cabrini College alumni
community, among others, in support of John Dzik – something the
administration should have been doing all along.
Dedication to excellence? As stated by the College, dedication of
excellence “to maximize the potential of the individual and
community we strive for the education of the whole person –
intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual.” I feel this
letter and the numerous others I’m sure you’ve received have more
than adequately addressed John Dzik’s dedication to excellence and
his commitment to education of the whole person.
To quote the headline in Terry Toohey’s 1/13/05 column in the
Delaware County Daily Times, “Cabrini owed Dzik something
better…once again we are reminded that loyalty is a thing of the
past.” John Dzik is the most recent in a list of dedicated people
who have been forced out of the very institution they have so
selflessly served. With this decision Cabrini College has lost one
of its finest supporters and ambassadors, and with that the College
will also lose the respect, support and endorsement of many alumni,
my self included. As a Cabrini College alum, I cannot in good
conscious continue to support the mission of the College when the
administration itself does not feel the need to do so. With this I
ask that you immediately remove my name and personal contact
information from any and all Cabrini College solicitations and
mailing lists.
Regards,
Jana Bruno Tidwell
Class of 1996
Vice President Alta Communications, Inc.
cc: Antoinette Iadarola, Christine Lysionek, Board of Trustees,
Alumni Board, The Loquitur
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