Clayton State Athletics Wishes President Hynes a Happy Retirement

I’m sure I speak for everyone in our department when I say Dr. Hynes will be sorely missed around campus. Our student-athletes always appreciated the time he invested in getting to know them and the support he provided. Personally, I’ve enjoyed working for Dr. Hynes over the last three years and grateful for the opportunity he gave me to lead Clayton State Athletics.

I’ve enjoyed our conversations and always appreciated the support and confidence he placed in me. We will miss his leadership, support and most of all, his kind and witty personality. We wish him a happy retirement and hope he will return to campus to cheer on the Lakers next season.

I would like to thank Dr. Hynes for his support through all of the years here at Clayton State. He was a great president, a great person and it was always nice seeing him around asking about the players and my myself or receiving an email after games, whether it's a win or loss.

I will always appreciate him for what he has done for our program and athletics overall. I wish him the best in his retirement and I hope he comes back to see us soon!

From day one, Dr. Hynes has been a great supporter of the Clayton State women's basketball program and the Athletics Department. His enthusiastic spirit will truly be missed.

President Hynes has been somebody that has supported us physically over the years. He never turns down an invite to an event and he's always been in our corner for us. He had the best interests for our athletics program and I wish him the best.

Being a runner, I know he's always had some extra interests in our running programs here. I know presidents of any stature at any university may not be aware of the inner workings of athletics, but Dr. Hynes has always made it a point to come out and support or just stop by just to see how things are going with us.

President Hynes is one of the sharpest persons I have ever met. I've always enjoyed our banter about the world, the Oscars, sports and literature. He was so refreshing and engaging, more than most people I have met. I know I'll miss that. Anytime he comes through the Athletics Center, he pops in my office and we'll just gab for three, five, 10 or 20 minutes. Even though he is the president, he treats everyone the same, which I really respect.

He supported the men's soccer program and has supported our Athletic Directors over the years while trying to make the experience for the student-athletes as best as possible.

I wish him all the best with his next chapter of life and I hope he pops in every now and then!

President Tim Hynes of Clayton State University is a rare breed. To have the academic mind of a great professor and combine that with leadership qualities to lead a successful university is unusual, but evident from his successes. When you meet Tim and experience the personality that is a mix of humor and confidence you know you have met a special person.

Then attend a sporting event on the campus of Clayton State and you feel like you are sitting next to either a real fan of the sport or a student thinking they are a part of the game. Put all of this together and it is truly rare and for those of us that call him our friend, it has been a treat. I only hope that now that his calendar will be more open that he will continue to save me a seat at the next Lakers game!

Dr. Hynes is one of the most down to earth and caring leaders I have ever met. From taking the time out of his busy schedule to teach a public speaking course to eating lunch with students in the dining hall on a daily basis, Dr. Hynes made sure he knew his students and that they knew him.

I was fortunate enough to be taught by Dr. Hynes my freshman year. His Public Speaking class will always be one of my academic highlights. His passion for education, rhetoric and athletics will always been an inspiration. Clayton State won’t be the same without Dr. Hynes, but I wish him the best retirement and hope he’ll continue running laps of the lake for many years to come!