04 10 25 DU Athletics Director Josh Berlo talks Pioneers and the Frozen Four

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is Colorado's Morning News. Your DU Pioneers, the men's
ice hockey team headed to its twentieth twentieth Frozen Four.
They're going to be taking on Western Michigan and Saint
Louis later today.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Joining us now on the KOA Common Spirit Health Hotline
to talk more about it is do you Athletic director
Josh Burlough, Josh, thanks for joining us. What is this
like seeing a team that you have so much, so
many close ties, to make it all the way to
the Frozen Four and have a chance to go back
to back.

Speaker 3 (00:27):
Well, it's certainly pretty special. I think we're knocking on
the door of being the team of not just a decade,
but the quarter century. And I'll just say that it
never gets old. Josh.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
I mean, I use this and I hate to conflate sports,
but I said, the DU program in hockey is like
John Wooden's UCLA teams. It's like the New England Patriots
in the NFL, but maybe more applicable. You are the
Montreal Canadians of college hockey. You are just multiple a
dynastic college. Do you ever wonder yourself, how do I
not screw this up? I just need to stay out
of the way.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, for sure. I mean it's all about empowering folks
to be successful and making sure that we never get
complacent and that every year we step back and look
at what we did right and what we can do better,
Because when you hold a special place in a sport
like we do in college hockey, you never want to
give up that high ground. So we're excited, we're proud,

(01:17):
we're committed, but we will never be complacent.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
Since last April, you guys are tied for third in
the country with the most final fours across all sports.
This is now the fourth hockey last year, men's lacrosse
last year as well, and then men's soccer in the fall.
Now you're back to another one. What is this like
to cheer on your teams? And you know, why does
Denver have so much success with these teams?

Speaker 3 (01:42):
Well, you know I get that question from other athletic
directors and leaders in college sports across the country. My
answer is really pretty simple. It's people in culture. We
have an incredible culture, we have exceptional coaches, we have
a committed university, and they bring in some really special
young folks. And when you put that together and you

(02:03):
do it at a place that values excellence academically and competitively,
some special things can happen. So it's exciting to see,
and I've got the benefit of behind the teams up close,
witnessing all the hard work and dedication that goes into it.
Because the product that you have on the ice or
on the fields, that's the finished product. But the blood

(02:24):
and the sweat and the hard work that goes into
it behind the scenes is really what empowers this level
of success.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
Josh, I've talked to other ideas of institutions in particular
about NIL and mostly about basketball and football, But how
does NIL play a role with men's hockey at do you?
And does it at all? So that's something you keep
an eye on effort towards as college sports is moving
that direction or is already in that.

Speaker 3 (02:48):
Place, no question. I mean, it is certainly part of
college athletics, and we're a supporter of it. Empowering our
student athletes to be their own entrepreneurs and working on
partnerships on campus with the law school and the business
school to help them with business plans and contract reviews.
It's a piece of the puzzle and it's something that
will continue to engage in, but really there's so many

(03:10):
advantages and opportunities to being a DU student athlete and
getting a top education and being part of a special community.
It's part of the recipe, but it's certainly not something
that is going to be what we lead with. And
we're happy to engage in support and empower, but it's
really part of the puzzle that is just the tremendous

(03:31):
opportunity to be a student athlete and a special institution.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
Josh a double overtime loss in the Frozen face Off
final up in Saint Paul to Western Michigan last month.
Now you guys get a chance for redemption on the
biggest stage in the national semifinal. What's your prediction for
today's game.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
Well, I stay out of the prediction business, but I
will tell you that our student athletes are highly motivated.
They're excited about the opportunity our hockey team rises to
the occasion. The statistics you all off about their success
as evidence of such, and they're ready to go. They're loose,
but they're focused, and this is a moment that whether

(04:07):
it's Maddy Davis taking it to another level or Carter
King and his leadership skill. It's a moment that they
relish and they're comfortable in, and I would say the
most of the pressure has generally been on our opponents.
As this tremendous NCAA tournament championship run continues.

Speaker 1 (04:25):
We're going to wrap up here, Josh. But I've got
to ask from the business of sport perspective, because it's
not your first rodeo as a hockey program getting this point,
but what kind of spotlight does it shine on the university,
on your athletics program, the college in general. When you
have a chance to be in front of a national
audience with a dynastic athletic program.

Speaker 3 (04:44):
Oh, it's tremendous. The national television coverage, the rallying of
our alums, the excitement of our current students and parents
and campus community. It's a great thing. It's a unifying force.
It's a positive experience, and it pays dividends in so
many ways and does shine a bright spotlight on our
great university. So it does a lot of good things

(05:05):
in a fun and unifying way, which is something that
I think has a lot of benefit in the world today.

Speaker 2 (05:11):
That's DEU Athletic Director Josh Burlo Josh, good luck today,
thanks for joining us.

Speaker 3 (05:15):
Thank you go pios. Take care,