Lance Haney provides an opportunity for connection
For Lance Haney, recreation means more than swimming a few laps in the pool or playing a game of basketball.
As associate director of programs for the Department of Recreational Sports, he is committed to the Division of Student Affairs’ holistic approach to student wellness.
“I strongly believe that physical activity and exercise can help people manage and balance their lives, and by working and helping others achieve that, I’m able to live out my beliefs and help others do the same,” Haney said.
The mental aspect of exercise is just as important as the physical one, and Haney says perhaps the most important thing participants get out of his programs is the connections and community they build among each other.
Haney knows from personal experience how valuable recreation programs can be in that regard: While attending Texas A&M, he fell in love with rock climbing, and the sport connected him to people he would never have met otherwise.
“I’ve always really enjoyed how recreation and sports and play break down a lot of the barriers between me and other people,” he said, “and it’s allowed me to connect with other people that I might not have naturally connected with otherwise.”
That passion led to a job running the Outdoor Adventures Program for the University of Alabama’s Campus Recreation Department, and Haney came to the University of Georgia in 2012 looking for an opportunity to work on a similar (and larger) program. After a few years in that position, he was appointed to his current position, in charge of the department’s programs.
“Simply put, if I can sign up for recreational sports, that’s within my area of responsibility,” he said.
From left, student staff members Madalyn Franz and Rachel Smith talk with Lance Haney at the reception desk of the Ramsey Student Center (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)
Haney helps oversee intramural sports, club sports and outdoor adventure programs. He meets regularly with leaders in these areas to identify issues and discuss future plans. During peak times, between 5,000 and 8,000 people use the Ramsey Student Center per day, making communication even more critical when maintaining equipment and facilities and running classes and programs.
In his 12 years working in recreational sports, Haney has seen the sector evolve, and he and his team make a concerted effort to stay on top of trends. For example, the department now has 18 pickleball courts, the most of any university, Haney said. They also regularly evaluate their programs and adjust as needed, offering a variety of virtual options during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, some of which are still available today. To stay on top of that, data collection and reporting are part of Haney’s responsibilities and are used to inform decision-making.
“We really think we’re in the business of creating opportunities to make fun memories,” he said.
Haney enjoys the variety and unpredictability of her job — one day she might be working in the fitness studio or on the field, and the next at the front desk with the member services team — and she also values being a mentor and support system for staff.
Haney considers himself a “recreation butterfly” who enjoys rock climbing, pickleball and other sports, as well as hunting, fishing and caring for the chickens, pigs and other animals on the small farm he runs with his wife and two sons.
Haney recognizes the value of physical activity in his own life and points out that recreational sports and the Ramsey Student Center are also beneficial for faculty and staff.
“Everyone is welcome here and we try to offer something for everyone,” he said. “Ram Fam is a place that is open to everyone.”
