20 Questions With Eileen Daley

Eileen Daley is the newest assistant athletic director inside the San Jose State University Intercollegiate Athletics Department. She was recently promoted to the title of assistant athletic director/academic services, after serving close to three years as an academic advisor within the department’s Student Success Services unit. Daley earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Sonoma State University with a minor in biology, before completing her master’s in sport psychology at John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, Calif. She took time out from her schedule to entertain us with this week’s 20 Questions for SJSUSpartans.com.

1. What is one word that can be used to describe yourself?

Energetic. I bring 110 percent energy to the table, every single day of the year.

2. Do you have any pre-work day rituals or superstitions?

I definitely stretch once I get out of the vehicle from my commute from Hollister. That way, I am mentally prepared to take on the tasks of the day, and anything the student-athletes might throw at me.

3. Who are some of your favorite bands or musicians?

I love old school hip-hop and disco. Jock Jams, Volume 1, is my favorite. Or, I find MC Hammer to be very motivating, and I also like to listen to the occasional Michael Jackson.

4. What are some of your favorite movies?

I have a lot, but one is that Disney baseball movie, The Rookie (2002, with Dennis Quaid, based on a true story). I love that movie. It’s inspiring for someone to keep following their dream and to actually succeed at it, and I think he also inspired young people to never give up.

5. Any favorite actors or actresses?

I love Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Angelina Jolie.

6. What are some of your favorite television shows?

I love CSI. I like the original one, the Vegas one. I also really enjoy Cold Case Files (on A&E), or Court TV. Those are my favorites, but I do like reality television.

7. Who are some of your favorite sports heroes?

I have a lot of those as well. Mary Lou Retton was one of my favorites. Walter Payton is my all-time favorite. He would be number one. Oh, and Lance Armstrong, big time.

8. Are there any professional teams that you root for?

The San Jose Sharks. I’m a Bay Area fan, so I would say the Giants, the A’s, the 49ers and the Warriors, too.

9. What is your favorite food and favorite drink?

I love Chinese chicken salad, from Costco! And Sugar Free Red Bull to keep up with the energetic personality.

10. If you could go back in time, what sport would you want to compete in?

Football! Yes! I told Coach Tomey that if I had eligibility left, I would have been honored to play for him, because he is so inspiring. For position, I would definitely want to hit people. I would probably want to be on the offensive line, but I would need to get some girth. I would need to put a little weight on. Honestly, I would love to play football. I’d be like Mike Singletary. That’s who I would want to be. His eyes, he’s so intense.

11. Talk about some of the things a student-athlete needs to do in order to be successful in the classroom.

They need to go to class. That would help tremendously. Time management skills are one of the biggest things they need to have. They need to also have communication skills, in terms of communicating with their professors and asking for help when they need help. They need to utilize the resources that we provide, such as the LARC (Learning Assistance Resource Center) and the Gadway Academic Center, in terms of tutoring.

12. Who is the most impressive person that you know?

My husband, Brian Daley. I just feel very fortunate to have him in my life. He’s the most impressive because he works full-time, he’s a full-time dad, and a full-time husband, and he completely supports me as his partner. Not just as his wife, but as his friend and his partner. He’s also the funniest person I know.

13. What are some of the things you like to do when you are away from the office?

Wakeboarding and snowboarding. We wakeboard every single weekend in the summer. We go everywhere. We probably go to 20 different lakes. Also, running, camping, backpacking. I love the outdoors. I love gardening, too. I’m a very busy person. Honestly, I’ll try anything. I’ll try any sport. That makes me the happiest, is when I’m being physical outside, doing something.

14. What has been the favorite place you have visited out of town?

I would say Whistler, Canada. The best snowboarding place I have ever been to. It was gorgeous, and a fun place to be. That, or Costa Rica.

15. What would be your dream vacation spot?

I would love to go to Denali National Park in Alaska, and snowboard down Mount Valdez. It’s supposed to be incredible. That would be like a dream. Mount Valdez is supposed to be an epic place for snowboarding.

16. What has been your most memorable moment in athletics?

I coached for over 11 years at the high school level, and the first long jumper that beat my personal best, was one of the best moments, because I realized that I really became a coach at that moment. The day that she jumped better than I had ever jumped, I realized not that I was doing my job, but that I was doing my job successfully as a coach.

17. What are your plans for the holidays?

I’m going to visit family and friends, and spend every waking moment with my 19-month-old daughter, Mackenzie.

18. If you could be on any reality television show, which one would it be?

Survivor! I could totally do it. It would be Survivor. I think I would have difficulty with the manipulation part of the game. I’m not good at that, but I could win physical challenges, and I could easily form alliances.

19. Do you have a favorite place in the Bay Area? In San Jose?

I would say it’s the Marin Headlands. It’s right on the coast, right outside of San Francisco, and it has great hiking and beautiful views. That, or Mount Tamalpais. That’s a nice place, too. It’s in Marin.

For my favorite place in San Jose, I would say at a Spartan athletic event, with my daughter on my back in her backpack, with her holding her blue and gold pom-poms.

20. Do you have a favorite place to shop at?

I’m the most frugal shopper ever, so it would be anywhere with a clearance sale. Everybody knows that about me. Anywhere with a clearance sale or a clearance rack.

This week’s 20 Questions was brought to you by The Grill On The Alley.

Past 2007-08 20 Questions
August 22 - Colleen Burke, Women's Volleyball
September 12 - Nick Cukar, Men's Soccer
September 26 - Amber Silverstone, Women's Tennis
October 17 - Jillene Golez, Women's Swimming
October 24 - Kelly Crow, Volleyball
October 31 - Heather Oranje, Women's Soccer
November 14 - Richard Mann, Men's Soccer
November 21 - Amanda Carr, Women's Swimming
November 28 - Pam DeCosta, Women's Basketball
December 12 - Eileen Daley, Academic Services