BEHIND THE CURTAIN

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

After missing most of Baylor equestrian's magical run to the NCEA National Championship Hunter Seat finals in 2012, Nancy Post knew that she dare not jinx it.

The Baylor Associate AD and NCEA Championship Manager watched "from behind the curtain" as the Bears edged Texas A&M, 1192-1070, in a points tiebreaker after a 4-4 tie with the Aggies to claim the Hunter Seat national championship.

"When all that was happening, I was like, 'Oh, I can't come out of the back now and jinx it,''' Post said. "That old sports adage that I haven't been in that spot watching all day, so I can't show up now. So, I was kind of watching from behind the curtain."

Behind the curtains, certainly behind the scenes, is where Nancy spent the bulk of her time in the 15 years that the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Championship was hosted by Baylor at the Extraco Events Center in Waco.

"There's a lot going on in the back, just keeping things rolling," said Post, who was part of the inaugural class for the NCEA Hall of Fame that was inducted April 19 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla. "But it was so rewarding to be a part of it. You get to the end, you crown a champion, and you see those young women out there so excited, holding up the trophy. And you're like, 'This is good. We did it!'''

Still heavily involved with committee work and helping with the NCEA Championship operations during its three-year run in Ocala, Post was aware of the Hall of Fame inception, but was "shocked" when she found out in December that she was part of the inaugural induction class.

Elected in the "special contributor" category, Post joins former student-athletes Quincy Cahill Allen of Teas A&M and Samantha Schaefer of Baylor, coaches Tana McKay of A&M and Greg Williams of Auburn and Tom O'Mara, a passionate advocate for the sport who currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board of the United States Equestrian Foundation.

"Really, it was the vision of (NCEA executive director) Dr. Leah Fiorentino," Post said. "She was the one who said we're really at the point where we need to look at creating a Hall of Fame, which I thought was great. Honestly, in my mind, I was thinking athletes and coaches. Never thought anything about a special contributor category. I just thought it would be tremendous for the sport."

Cody Hall, Baylor Executive Senior Associate AD and Chief Financial Officer, said Post's contributions to the sport of equestrian have been "transformational."

"The investment you've made in the sport of equestrian from its inception to its growth and advancement along the way, to where it stands now," Hall said, "is nothing short of monumental and transformational. You are a leader and a trailblazer for the sport. And it would not be where it is today without your energy, time, sacrifices and all that you have put into it."
Nancy Post & Family

At least from a Baylor perspective, Nancy was there even prior to inception. She was part of a committee that then-Athletics Director Ian McCaw had tasked with "looking at sports options (specifically for female athletes) that were out there."

Equestrian was approved as Baylor's 18^th varsity collegiate sport by the Board of Regents on Nov. 2, 2004, Ellen White was hired as its coach the next month and the team began competing in 2005-06. At the Varsity Equestrian National Championships that were held in Albuquerque, N.M., Baylor finished eighth in the English (now Hunter Seat) discipline.

At the 2006 nationals, Nancy and longtime Baylor athletics trainer Mike Sims "went out there and looked around," she said.

"From our experience of being at Baylor," Nancy said, "we knew Baylor hosted championships, and we did a really good job of it. And we thought, 'Gosh, this is something we could probably host back in Waco,' knowing that the Extraco facility was in our back yard. There was never any thought that we could host it on our campus because of the number of horses you needed. But we thought, 'Let's go to Extraco and see if they're willing to help us do this.'''

With a facility that hosts a number of equine events throughout the year, the equestrian collegiate championship was in Extraco's "wheelhouse," Nancy said.

"(President and CEO) Wes Alison and his staff were supportive from day one," she said. "They really didn't know anything about the college side of it. They just knew it was going to be horse and rider, and they could make it happen."

Starting a partnership with McLennan County, Extraco (a county facility) and the City of Waco, Baylor hosted the championship for 15 years (2007-21).

"I really appreciate (Baylor Vice President and AD) Mack Rhoades and Baylor University for allowing me to be involved with the championship and the NCEA organization at the national level," Nancy said. "As we got into a cycle of hosting it for 15 years, it was really an all-year process, because you wrapped up the event in April, completed the financial settlement in May, and then very quickly that next fall, plans were already being made. Our desire was to continue to improve upon the event every single year."

While the planning was year-round, the week of the meet was truly a grind for Nancy and the rest of a staff that included a host of Baylor volunteers.

"There were literally nights that I did not ever go home," she said. "I just stayed at the Extraco and changed clothes. Or, I would go home at 1 a.m. and return by 6 a.m. Definitely a long week, a lot to do. And while yes, there are people to help, sometimes if it's your responsibility as the manager, you just have to makes sure all the boxes are checked and ready to go for the next day. And I didn't feel like I could exit the building until I was confident in the next day."

John Morris, Baylor Assistant AD for Broadcasting and longtime announcer at the NCEA Championship, said no one "worked more tirelessly than Nancy Post to support Baylor equestrian and the sport of equestrian overall."

"I remember when we got the news that the national championships were coming to Waco," he said, "and man, what a ride that was literally and figuratively. . . . (Nancy's office) was three doors down from mine, and we didn't see you for the month of April. But we always knew where you were, because you were getting ready for the NCEA National Championship."

Nancy Post and her brother

With a three-year bid cycle, Baylor remained the host through 2021 before the event moved to Ocala, Fla., at the brand-new World Equestrian Center.

"It was (a little sad), just because it's been a part of the life here in Waco," Nancy said, "but also, always keeping in mind the desire to grow the sport and grow this opportunity. The World Equestrian Center hosts a lot of equine events. It's kind of the mecca or Disneyland for horses. I think the organization was looking at that and trying to think, 'Is this something that would better the sport to be a part of the goings-on there?'''

Working in Baylor Athletics since 1995, Nancy was the sport program administrator for the emerging sports of equestrian and acrobatics & tumbling until recently and served as Baylor's Senior Woman Administrator for 16 years. A 1987 Baylor graduate with a BBA in accounting and information systems, she has three daughters, Brooke, Whitney and McKenna; one son, Daniel; three grandsons and three granddaughters.

At the induction ceremony two weeks ago, she was joined by three of her children, two grandsons, her brother, Glenn Morrison, and two cousins, along with Carolyn Morrison and Alison Dillon from the Baylor business office and the Baylor equestrian staff.

Baylor equestrian head coach Casie Maxwell said Nancy has been "everything from a friend and mentor to an SPA, and I've really enjoyed my time of working alongside of you with the NCEA and also here at Baylor."

"There has been no one like you who has championed the sport to the level that you have," Maxwell said. "It's been an honor for me to be able to learn from you and walk in your footsteps and work beside you."

Nancy said her focus "this entire journey" has been on the student-athletes and giving them a true championship experience.

"These young women are so deserving of access and opportunity," she said, "just like their peers in other sports. So, that became my individual goal, if you will, to provide a championship experience to these young women that they are so deserving of."

BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Related News

Related Videos

Promotional Background Photo

Footer