A Culture Built on Tradition; Focused on The Future

Ask any Hawk: At St. Joe’s, it’s more than just basketball. It’s where the Hawk Hill community comes together, whether in Hagan or on ESPN. It’s where the “Hawk Will Never Die” spirit manifests on the hardwood. It’s where the general public connects with Saint Joseph’s University on the national stage. It’s where the best mascot in college sports never stops flapping.

With an ambitious strategy, Director of Athletics Jill Bodensteiner is driving the department toward further excellence within the new world order of collegiate athletics with a focus on the people, culture and resources. By touring a recent renovation to the men’s basketball locker rooms, Hawk fans get a view into all three. Designed by Head Coach Billy Lange, the locker room is an imperative piece of infrastructure (resources) to recruit the next generation of Hawks (people) and serves as a visual representation of the program’s operating principles and philosophy (culture).

Lange personally oversaw the renovations, along with Director of Basketball Operations Amanda Casale and Associate Athletics Director for Business Operations and Facilities Amanda Hall. The result shows Lange’s personal and professional spin on the strong culture he inherited and the foundation for the next chapter in Hawks hoops – what he calls “The Story.” Each team is a chapter in the story of St. Joe’s basketball. It’s the history, the present and the future of the program.

The renovations were made possible by fundraising in the fall of 2019. “It was important as we were building this, so that anyone who contributed felt like ‘we got it,’” Lange said. “That we understood how special St. Joe’s is. That we did it in a way that was practical and made sense.”

With each decision, Lange sought to connect his student-athletes to Saint Joseph’s University. “I want them to know how special the University is. It enhances their performance on the court when they are connected to the fans in the stands, the campus and their experience here at St. Joe’s.”

Built on History

Billy Lange made it clear when he arrived on Hawk Hill – he was inheriting a great tradition and an honored history. The men’s basketball locker room first greets student-athletes with a reminder of that heritage with black and white photos of historical Hawk moments lining the entrance hallway.

“The history of our program, I would put up against anybody,” Lange says. “Each team is a separate chapter in that story.”

Further into the space, a sepia mural of Barbelin Hall, the campus’ most iconic landmark, takes up the better part of an entire wall.

“St. Joe’s is one of the few places left in college basketball at our level that can grab you and make you feel like you’re a part of something. And it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your individuality,” Lange says. “But Barbelin is the highest point on campus. So whether they are crossing from Lapsley or from Campion or the Arena, they are going to see Barbelin. I want them to say, ‘That means something to me.’”

Health and Wellness Focused

From the lounge that supports recovery and down time, to the training room down the hall, the new space is designed to support the entire student-athlete experience, starting with maximizing their health and wellness.

A screen in the lounge scrolls through nutrition, training and other health information. Labels in the refrigerator guide student-athletes to the right fuel at the right time – from recovery, to weight management, to hydration.

Lange also hopes that the lounge will serve as the program’s living room. One oversized table and games are designed to encourage the team to spend more time together.

His future plans for the lounge include simple photography that makes the space feel like home. “I want them to feel like they are part of a family here,” Lange says.

Iron Sharpens Iron

At once a personal motto and the team’s cultural mantra, “Iron Sharpens Iron” features heavily in Lange’s philosophy to building men with and for others. It’s about being there for one another as a teammate, colleague, fellow Hawk, and human.

“We recognize that you are iron. Your uniqueness here is valuable to us and the team. Whatever your strengths are, be there and sharpen the other guy,” says Lange. “On the flip side, let their uniqueness and value sharpen you as well.”

It also applies to all of the Hawks who went before and will come after. Lange plans to customize each of the eight letters to represent different eras of Hawk basketball. Players from each of those eras will be invited to sign the brushed stainless letters.

Hawk Hill, Philadelphia

To Lange and his student-athletes, Hawk Hill isn’t just a nickname for the St. Joe’s campus, it’s a destination and a part of the fabric of Philadelphia.

“I wanted our players and recruits to know that not only do we play in Philadelphia, but Hawk Hill in and of itself is also a community,” says Lange. “We have an opportunity to represent Hawk Hill and Philadelphia. They are a part of something bigger than themselves.”

Integration with and service to community are important parts of Lange’s approach to team-building.

Wrap Around

Communication and connection. You’ll hear it from Lange often during practice, and it’s what inspired the curved row of lockers.

“I didn’t want people split up. They can all see each other and that’s important,” said Lange. “Everybody has coaching mantras. But you have to think about the operating system that puts the mantra into practice every day. This curved locker room is how we put connection into practice.”

Lange admits that for as familiar as he was with St. Joe’s, he was still surprised by the passion of Hawk Hill. “Everything I thought it was, it’s 100 fold. And I mean that in the most complimentary way,” Lange says. “If you let it, this place will grab hold of you.” In other words, Hawks are born here.

Inside each locker is a childhood photo of each student-athlete, hand selected by their family or a person who is close to them. “I always want there to be a childlike wonder and joy in playing basketball. Because basketball gets a lot more serious now.”

Respect, Elevate, Serve.

At the end of one hallway, players have a daily reminder in neon letters over a crimson wall – a checklist for living both on the court and off. “It's simple, a chance to audit yourself when you walk in. Am I living these values out and where are the next opportunities for me to do that?”

Lange asks all of his players and staff to live by these three words. “Respect others and respect the opportunity they have here at Saint Joseph’s. Elevate. How do I pick you up today? And also, how we hold each other accountable. We’d rather have friction in our program than frustration. So, elevate by lifting each other up. Serve. What can we do for other people?”

A Hawk is.

Within the training room, immediately adjacent to the locker suite, Lange’s team will get taped up or rolled out before a game. Here, he wanted them to be reminded of his basketball-specific expectations.

Three things make a St. Joe’s basketball player: “A Hawk is Fundamental” demands that student-athletes be committed to perfecting the fundamentals and drills, particularly on offense. “A Hawk is Detailed” requires attention to the little things that add up in the “w” column. “A Hawk Attacks” speaks to the expected defensive mindset of the team on the court.

“We will judge ourselves on these three things. Were we fundamental? Were we detailed? And did we attack?” Lange says.

The Hawk Will Never Die.

No caption necessary. #THWND.