To the editor:

After 21 years of service to the Kansas Union Jaybowl and the Kansas University men’s and women’s bowling teams, Mike Fine will be leaving KU at the end of this academic year.

During his tenure, Fine has overseen the transformation of the Jaybowl into a bright and popular student recreation center. From his very early days at KU, Fine’s dream was to renovate the Jaybowl with 12 new lanes, new automatic scoring, seating, gutters and modern interior design. All of these improvements have happened under his leadership.

Fine also had a strong desire to build his bowling program into a national powerhouse that would compete for the Intercollegiate Bowling Championship’s title every year. Under his leadership, the men’s team won its first national championship in 2004, and the women’s team has advanced to the national championships several times. His coaching, organization, and knowledge of the sport have put KU bowling in the national spotlight.

But what we’ll miss most about Mike is his leadership and mentoring to the students of KU. In my years as a KU student and athlete, I have never seen someone affect students’ lives in a positive manner as much as Mike Fine. While his coaching and mentoring abilities have turned some of his athletes into fantastic bowlers, his leadership qualities and skills have made so many students into great human beings. I only wish I had learned as much about the game of bowling from Mike as I learned about being a good person.

Jeff Ussery,

Lawrence