When I arrived at Ryerson University in 2008, I went from being a soccer coach to director of athletics at an institution with over 40,000 students and a reputation as one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial in Canada. I became overnight in charge of a department of 40 staff and a budget of $3 million. In the first year alone, I faced enormous challenges: learning the ropes of a senior administrative role, restructuring the department, raising the profile of athletics on campus and leading a student referendum to buy and renovate the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens into an industry-leading athletic facility. A special letter that I read over and over again that year helped me stay self-confident about my new role.

Read more at from original Huffington Post article.