A Culture of Character: Derek Galvin Honored with Endowed Scholarship

If anyone knows what it means to be a Tar Heel, Derek Galvin knows. He competed as a student-athlete in the early 1970's before leading the program for nearly 40 seasons before retiring in June of this year. Thirty-nine to be exact.

His Tar Heel teams earned 441 victories, won five East Atlantic Gymnastics League titles and advanced to NCAA regional competition 12 times in the last 19 seasons.

"I am very grateful to the Carolina community, to the many Tar Heel coaches and staff who have supported and befriended our gymnastics program and me, the administrators who have guided me and the student-athletes who shared their college experiences with me," said Galvin.

Academically, the Tar Heels excelled at the highest level, earning numerous Phi Beta Kappa honors, nearly 160 National Association of College Gymnastics Coaches' Scholastic All-America honors and two Academic All-America awards. In 2003, Natalie Halbach became the first female student-athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference to receive a Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship, the NCAA's most prestigious academic award.

Inducted in the USA Gymnastics Region 8 Hall of Fame in 2017, Galvin led the Carolina Gymnastics program to an Academic Progress Rate in the top-10 percent in the country in 10 of his last 11 seasons.

But behind all of the victories and academic accolades, Galvin built an unbreakable culture -- one that fostered relationships and a resembled family-like bond -- and alumni decided to honor the one that has laid the foundation for the program forever.

"When Debra and I returned to Chapel Hill in the summer of 1981 to join the athletic department and accept responsibility for guiding the Carolina gymnastics program, we both knew that we had been granted an incredible opportunity to share our love for this place with the student-athletes I would be coaching," said Galvin.

Galvin cites a familiar face around Chapel Hill as an inspiration for the Carolina Gymnastics culture, the late Dean Smith.

"Coach Dean Smith had set a standard for how you should treat your student-athletes, and all the people around you. He inspired me and many other coaches at Carolina to regard every aspect of our relationship with our team members as an important part of their college experience and their lives after Carolina," said Galvin. "He showed that if you build the right culture, clearly express expectations and then provide the resources and guidance the student-athletes need to meet those expectations, then you can foster a great college experience for them."

The culture of Carolina gymnastics is something that Galvin is extremely proud of.

"The culture of the program was the foundation for me as a coach and as a member of the campus community. I believe that the culture of the program provided me with the inspiration and the sense of responsibility necessary to be a better coach, a better colleague, a better friend, a better father, a better grandfather, and a better husband. Although Debra, our children, and our grandchildren would have to be the ones to verify that last part," Galvin stated.

The Dublin, Ireland native was immensely successful immediately into his tenure at North Carolina creating the Carolina Gymnastics Family.

What started out as typical spring day in Asheville, N.C., in April of 2019, quickly turned into something much, much for more Tammy Goldfisher, Galvin's first recruit.

Goldfisher visits the North Carolina mountains annually with a small group of teammates as a retreat, but last year turned into a brainstorming session on how to honor the then 38-year head coach.

"It was in Asheville that it struck me that we needed to do something for Derek, knowing that he was going to be retiring in the next few years. We needed to figure out something to honor his legacy," said Goldfisher. "We decided on a scholarship because it is something that lives in perpetuity. It will connect him and his wife to the program forever, which was important to us."

What came of the April day is something that will do exactly what Goldfisher and teammates intended- live on forever. On Thursday, the University of North Carolina Athletic Department announced the Derek and Debra Galvin Gymnastics Scholarship, an endowed scholarship that is part of the FORevHER Tar Heels women's initiative.

Lily Dean, a senior studying at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media who competes on the vault, balance beam and floor exercise for the Tar Heels, is the first Derek and Debra Galvin Gymnastics Scholarship recipient.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to a team leader who embodies the Galvin's character, values and beliefs.

"I am so honored to be the first recipient of the Derek and Debra Galvin Gymnastics Scholarship because Derek has brought so much to not only Carolina gymnastics, but to the whole Carolina Athletics program," said Dean. "Derek really does educate and inspire through athletics. I feel he has taught me and my teammates so many valuable life lessons that will forever be engrained in us."

The respect for Galvin isn't limited to members of his program- his legacy has a vast reach.

Sue Walsh, arguably the greatest swimmer in Carolina history and now Associate Executive Director of the Ram's Club, understands the impact of Galvin's legacy and is elated to see him be honored in this way.

"As a former student-athlete, what I have admired most about Derek Galvin is his positivity and loyalty -- two things around which the culture of his program revolves," said Walsh. "Not once did I ever see Derek without a smile on his face. I am sure there were times when that must have been difficult, but he simply seemed thankful for all the opportunities he had been given and it showed.

"He is also very loyal, not only to this University and its Athletics Department, but to all the young women who he mentored the last four decades. His athletes, past and present, respect him without question."

The mission of FORevHER Tar Heels is to champion and empower our women student-athletes through scholarships, capital facilities, additional leadership development and career networking and mentoring programming.

In Walsh's mind, the scholarship was a perfect way to honor Galvin and the FORevHER campaign.

"An endowed scholarship is a gift that remains intact in perpetuity. In volatile times such as what we are currently experiencing, it provides a stable source of funding for what I consider our most important asset, our student-athletes," said Walsh. "The principal remains intact allowing it to grow and hopefully provide an even larger distribution in the future, thus closing the scholarship gap and taking pressure off of our Annual Fund. It also moves us that much closer to our $100 million FORevHER Tar Heels goal."

As someone that has been around the program for over 30 years, Senior Associate Athletic Director Martina Ballen is not surprised in the generosity of the friends, family and alumni of the program.

Last season, Ballen witnessed Morgan Lane, a gymnastics alumna, attend to small details around the gym before a meet with a positive attitude. To Ballen, it was a perfect depiction of what Galvin created- a long-standing tradition of respect and togetherness. Lane did not have to attend, but she used her free time to give back to the program that gave her so much.

"This is what Derek Galvin has created at Carolina," said Ballen. "During his stewardship of the program, he's woven a tapestry that connects the generations of Tar Heel gymnasts. Each one benefiting from those who came before, growing with their contemporaries and leaving with a strong desire to give something back. Simply, he has created a family, bonded in (Tar Heel) blue blood. Derek always seemed to have this calming effect. His approach (always) emphasizes the power of togetherness."

It has not been just Galvin who made his mark at UNC- his wife Debra has been by his side since they met at UNC.

"Derek and Debra are just great role models for a life well-lived. Their dedication to each other, their family and the Carolina Gymnastics family is remarkable," said Goldfisher. "They are always there for all of us every year. They will always be a fixture in my life. Together, in unison, they have developed this supe power to care for others."

Having his wife honored with him makes the scholarship unique and it's something that he is extremely proud of as both are Tar Heel alumni.

"The fact that it honors Debra and I together is the best part about it. To be linked to an endowed athletic scholarship for a member of the gymnastics team at the university we attended and where I competed and coached is such an incredible honor," said Galvin.

The story isn't over here. In fact, it is just beginning.

After Galvin's retirement early this year, Marie Denick was named the interim head coach of the program.Galvin believes that Denick has the making of an incredible leader and coach.

"Marie has done an exceptional job during her tenure as a one of our gymnastics team coaches. She has displayed an impressive ability to effectively handle every task with poise and thoughtful action," said Galvin. "She believes in only doing things the right way, the honorable way. She is committed to guiding each team member through their college experience in a manner that enables them to become the best version of themselves.

"She knows what it takes to be a successful student, a high level college gymnast, and she understands the importance of a positive team culture."

Before coming to Carolina in August in 2017, Denick served as an assistant coach at Bowling Green State University.

Being named an interim head coach is a monumental event for one's life. Both in and out of the gym, Denick is thankful for the confidence Galvin has in her ability to lead a storied program.

"The Chapel Hill community is so special and made the transition to North Carolina so easy. The Carolina Gymnastics family has been such an amazing support system," said Denick. "Our family is something so much bigger than the four-to-five years you are here on campus. Any woman that has had the opportunity to be a part of this program knows and has experienced the support of all their sisters beyond their years in Chapel Hill.

"The Carolina Family is something that I take a lot of pride in. Even though I wasn't a student-athlete here, I feel the support from everyone within the program. I want this family to continue to be strong, loving and supportive of each other."

Galvin isn't the only one to have confidence in Denick. Ballen has saw Denick work and is excited about what she has to offer to the program.

"Coach Marie Denick understands our culture, what it means to represent Carolina and what it means to be successful. I am delighted that she has the opportunity to build upon what she has learned under Coach Galvin's stewardship, to take Carolina Gymnastics to new heights," said Ballen.

Galvin has no doubt that the Carolina Gymnastics Family will continue as a tight-knit, motivated and supportive group.

The emotion of hearing of the support and scholarship might not wear off for a while either.

"To have the people we care about so dearly about something like this for Debra and me just fills our hearts," said Galvin.

"The elation of that moment may not wear off for quite some time."

A Culture of Character: Derek Galvin Honored with Endowed Scholarship

Players Mentioned

Lily Dean

Morgan Lane

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