FIELD OF THE YEAR COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SportsField Management ( SFM ): Congratulations on the Field of the Year win . What are you most proud of with this win , and / or what do you think stands out most about the winning field ? Ian Christie , CSFM : This year was probably the most challenging schedule we have had . To have three games in 12 days by itself was very demanding , but I believe our staff performed and was able to provide a surface that was incredible . The field had great wear tolerance and aesthetics , as our color was phenomenal . We take great pride in being the best and producing excellence all across the board at Duke . We met the challenge and winning Field of the Year is a great honor .
SFM : What attracted you to a career in sports field management , and what has been your career path through the industry ?
Christie : I always loved being outside , and I loved taking care of our high school field . I enjoyed creating fields and having people enjoy them . Being able to impact kids and fans by being a part of their experience is very rewarding .
My path is somewhat unorthodox . I graduated from Johns Hopkins with a degree in computer engineering . However , I loved the game of baseball and loved being outdoors . My girlfriend ( now wife ) pushed me to pursue my passion in the turf industry . I went on and graduated with a master ’ s in Sport Management and a certificate in Turfgrass . I have volunteered and worked in all levels of baseball and collegiate sports . I spent five intermittent years at Georgia Southern University , and one and a half years with the Bowie Baysox under award-winning groundskeeper Matt Parrott . After my second stint with Georgia Southern , I then made the move to Duke University and have called it home since 2013 .
14 SportsField Management | July 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com