A Team Effort

Alex Perdikis, '97, a former Richmond football student-athlete, remembers well the time he spent in the Spider Team Meeting Room. 

From hosting team huddles the night before a home game to presentations from guest speakers, the room became a shared space to support team camaraderie and belonging. “It’s always been a special place – a sacred place,” he said.

Located in the Robins Center, the Spider Team Meeting Room serves as a hub for more than 400 Richmond Athletics student-athletes, coaches, and administrative staff. Coaches hold most team meetings in this space; the football team utilizes it multiple times a week during the season for educational programming and to watch film. Student-athletes also use the space to study, hold group meetings, and relax.

After years of heavy use, the meeting room needed a fresh, modern look. When Perdikis heard about the need last year, he rallied former teammates Connor Marsden, ’99, Samuel Kaufman, ’99, Cary Goodwin, ’98, and other alumni to make a gift to the cause. The group generously funded space enhance-ments including new furniture and carpeting, a custom podium, state-of-the-art technology, and updated design and graphics.

“It’s one of the first places that new recruits see when they tour campus, so we wanted to make this a space that you’re excited to walk into,” Perdikis said. “All of the athletics facilities are so amazing; we felt that updating the room would be the perfect touch. No matter the amount people were willing to give, it all made a difference.”

“The newly updated meeting room has been a great addition to the already impressive facilities offered for our student-athletes,” said Russ Huesman, head coach of the football program. “We are grateful to everyone involved in making it happen.”

The alumni dedicated their gift to Jim Reid, who served as head coach of the Spider football program from 1993 to 2004. The renovated meeting room was unveiled in his honor at a special gathering of alumni, coaches, and athletics staff last November that also marked the 25th anniversary of the Class of 1998 football team. That year, the team achieved a 9–3 record, an Atlantic 10 championship, and a trip to the NCAA playoffs.

“Coach Reid was and continues to be an instrumental part of my life and in the lives of every player he’s worked with,” Perdikis said. “He’s an unbelievable mentor, coach, advisor, and leader on and off the field. It was important for us to recognize him with this gift and recognize the importance of great coaching.”

The gathering was especially meaningful for Winston October, ’99, captain of the 1998 team who recently served as the football program’s offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. “It was a special day to celebrate a season where our motto, ‘Quest to be the best,’ was achieved,” he said. “It was an honor to stand together again in remembrance.”