One of Anton Goff’s first memories as a child came with seven words he will never forget, “You’re the man of the house now.”
At the age of four, he was at his own father’s funeral and reality hit him harder than a bus. With no older siblings
to help them, it was just him and his mother, “us against the world,” he said.
According to Goff, ever since that day in 1973, he has carried himself with resilience and dedication in everything he does for his family, and especially for his mother and father.
The walls of University of Hartford Athletics Director Anton Goff’s office are brand new, just like him. As the
blinding sun escapes through the blinds of his office, shining onto his bald head, he speaks with reverence and passion about his life and his family.
“I try all the time to achieve at a high level, I think that’s what helped shape me,” he said.
Goff was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1969, as an only child. At the age of two, his parents got divorced, just
two years before his father passed away.
“It’s just been me and my mom, my entire life,” he said.
With a tragedy like that occurring so early in his life, he realized early that he had to work hard for himself, and not take anything for granted.
Goff said that his mother is an intrepid person for raising him by herself. Losing her husband and having to
support herself as well as her son is not an easy feat. His mother Alfreeda has worked in college athletics for
the majority of her professional career and has helped him in life and professionally.
Goff played college football at Bowling Green State University where he became very passionate about college athletics.
However, he didn’t start off in that field immediately following graduation. His first job was working for the Governor of the state of Virginia.
One day, his career path completely changed. He received a call from Kent State University, asking him if he wanted to get into college athletics. He hasn’t looked back since.
Goff then traversed from school to school in college athletics. He went from Kent State, to the University of
Maryland, to Michigan State University and then to Bowie State University to work as their athletics director. He worked there until he decided to come to the University of Hartford in 2014.
University of Hartford President Walter Harrison introduced Goff as the University’s newest athletics director on May 2, 2014. Harrison presented him with a crimson and pearl colored Hartford Hawks jersey.
One of the University of Hartford’s oldest traditions is Midnight Mania, which is essentially a huge pep rally
in which all of the winter sports teams come and pump up the students for their upcoming season. Goff was there as Howie the Hawk, the school’s mascot.
Leah Pedrani, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences said, “I thought it was really
cool that he came out as Howie. He really pumped up the students.”
According to Evan Levy, former assistant athletics director, Goff is motivated in everything that he does.
“He’s a very passionate guy,” Levy said.
Junior Nielcen Saint-Jean said when Goff danced as Howie the Hawk, the crowd at Midnight Mania “roared” with an intensity that the Chase Family Arena had not heard in years.
Jennifer Rizzotti is the head coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of Hartford, and a member of the women’s basketball hall of fame. She was on the committee that was in charge of selecting the next athletic director at the University of Hartford.
In an interview with the Hartford Courant, Rizzotti said Goff had “energy and passion,” and that, “he had backed it up with a vision, plan and fundamental experiences.”
Goff’s slogan, and now the University’s, is “Hawk Nation Domination.” He came up with the slogan during an interview with Mike Anthony from the Hartford Courant, right on the spot. Anthony told him “You might want to use that.” And so he did.
He used the slogan for the first time in his introductory press conference, asking the crowd to say “Hawk Nation Domination on three!”
Over a year later, “Hawk Nation Domination” is so instilled in Hartford Athletics, that it has been used as a hashtag over 1,900 times on Instagram. On Twitter, the hashtag has been used thousands of times, and has made over 350,000 impressions (Keyhole.com).
Can your AD bench press 285? @AD_Goff_UHart can. #HawkNationDomination #HawksLiftOff pic.twitter.com/lK4bfAghrk
— Hartford Hawks (@HartfordHawks) February 1, 2016
According to students like Saint-Jean and Pedrani, Goff has had a huge effect on the University in a very short period
of time. Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams both earned post-season berths, and the University has been completely re-branded.
Students are hopeful to see what else the University has in store both athletically and aesthetically. Pedrani also said the University has undergone another improvement.
She said, “UHart has had a sudden resurgence in school spirit. It’s awesome.”
Regardless of where the school has been, and even where it is now, Goff has a vision for the University of Hartford that many proclaim as promising. He often tells people that “Hawk Nation Domination” isn’t just for athletics, but for every aspect of the University. Regarding both athletics and academics, Goff has utilized strong language to portray his passion for success.
“I don’t just want to win,” he said, “I want to dominate the competition.”