In this week's edition of his video blog, Northeastern athletic director Peter Roby is joined by men's basketball head coach Bill Coen to discuss the state of the men's basketball program.

In a wide-ranging conversation, and with the start of this year's NCAA Tournament as a backdrop, Roby and Coen talk about the progress of the Northeastern program and its future direction. Of the NCAA Tournament, Coen states clearly: "That's our goal and that's our administration's goal."

The two discuss the achievements of this year's freshman class and the prospect of much of this year's squad returning for next season. Coen talks about the high level of play in the CAA, saying "it's where you want to be if you're a competitor." He notes that Northeastern is among elite company as one of just five CAA schools to finish with a .500 or better conference record in five of the last six seasons.

Roby and Coen also discuss facilities, university support, fan engagement, and next year's non-conference schedule. Among the teams slated to visit Matthews Arena next season are Boston University, Massachusetts, Vermont, La Salle and UNC Asheville.

The two also talk candidly about the continued growth of the Northeastern program. Coen notes that the trajectory of the basketball program is much like the trajectory of the university as a whole. "When you look at where Northeastern was, where it is now, and where it's going, it's off the charts—maybe the highest trajectory in the country from an institution stand-point. I feel that same way about our program," he says. "From where we were six years ago to where we are now is vastly different and vastly improved. But we're not satisfied. … We want to be counted as excellent."

Viewers are encouraged to submit questions, provide feedback, and offer topic suggestions for future blog posts.

Visit GoNU.com for future updates and send your comments, questions and topic suggestions to NortheasternAthletics@neu.edu, or use #GoNU on Twitter.

Follow Northeastern Athletics (@NUAthletics) and Peter Roby (@ADRoby) on Twitter.

In the latest installment of his weekly video blog, Northeastern athletic director Peter Roby discusses the revenue generated by the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and the distribution of those funds.

Roby talks about the vast size of the NCAA and the number of students participating across the association's three divisions. He notes that in addition to Division I men's basketball, 88 other championships are sponsored by the NCAA across all divisions. He explains that the NCAA membership is composed of 449 schools at the Division III level, 302 schools at the Division II level, and 344 member institutions at the Division I level, and that across all divisions, 444,000 students participate on 18,000 teams.

While the vast majority of NCAA revenue is generated through the Division I men's basketball championship, Roby comments that 96 percent of all money generated by the NCAA is returned to member schools in all three divisions. Only 4 percent of total revenue goes to the NCAA administrative office.

Viewers are encouraged to submit questions, provide feedback, and offer topic suggestions for future blog posts.

Visit GoNU.com for future updates and send your comments, questions and topic suggestions to NortheasternAthletics@neu.edu, or use #GoNU on Twitter.

Follow Northeastern Athletics (@NUAthletics) and Peter Roby (@ADRoby) on Twitter.

In the 10th installment of his weekly video blog, Northeastern athletic director Peter Roby addresses questions about his decision to speak out regarding the recent controversy surrounding Barstool Sports. He also answers viewers' questions about salary equity within the athletic department. 

In response to feedback from last week's blog, Roby discusses his decision to lend his voice to the discussion surrounding Barstool Sports and its treatment of Northeastern students who object to the site's dangerous objectification of women.

He then addresses questions about salary decisions within the department and debunks the notion that a blind pursuit of equity, rather than performance and market value, drive contract negotiations and salary structure.

Viewers are encouraged to submit questions, provide feedback, and offer topic suggestions for future blog posts.

Visit GoNU.com for future updates and send your comments, questions and topic suggestions to NortheasternAthletics@neu.edu, or use #GoNU on Twitter.

Follow Northeastern Athletics (@NUAthletics) and Peter Roby (@ADRoby) on Twitter.

In the ninth installment of his weekly video blog, Northeastern athletic director Peter Roby congratulates the women's ice hockey team on its recent Beanpot championship. The Huskies captured their 15th Beanpot title with a thrilling come-from-behind overtime victory against rival Boston University.

Roby then delivers a strong rebuke to Barstool Sports for its response to Northeastern students regarding Barstool's Blackout Tour and its dangerous objectification of women. He talks about the recent tour stop in Boston and commends the Northeastern students who took an active role in speaking out against the tour. He addresses the reaction by Barstool and its followers to the protests, saying they demonized many of the student activists and that "there's a precedent for demonizing people who don't agree with you, and it never results in good things for our society."

Roby stresses the importance of understanding the link between the types of messages perpetrated by Barstool and the resulting psychological and physical abuse against women. "It's something that many of us who understand the things that contribute to men's violence against women take very seriously," he cautions. "All of us that have women in our lives that we care deeply about should be offended."

Viewers are encouraged to submit questions, provide feedback, and offer topic suggestions for future blog posts.

Follow Northeastern Athletics (@NUAthletics) and Peter Roby (@ADRoby) on Twitter.

Visit GoNU.com for future updates and send your comments, questions and topic suggestions to NortheasternAthletics@neu.edu, or use #GoNU on Twitter.

In the eighth installment of his weekly video blog, Northeastern athletic director Peter Roby discusses the landmark gender equity legislation Title IX.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, more commonly known simply as Title IX. The law, enacted on June 23, 1972, states that: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..."

Roby celebrates the growth of women's athletics, but also looks critically at lingering gaps in media coverage and participation opportunities. He cites the many benefits--both to the individual and to society at large--of women's athletics. And, he discusses the important work that still remains in achieving gender equity in academic and athletic arenas.

Viewers are encouraged to submit questions, provide feedback, and offer topic suggestions for future blog posts.

Visit GoNU.com for future updates and send your comments, questions and topic suggestions to NortheasternAthletics@neu.edu, or use #GoNU on Twitter.

Follow Northeastern Athletics (@NUAthletics) and Peter Roby (@ADRoby) on Twitter.

In this week's video blog, Northeastern athletic director Peter Roby addresses two timely societal issues and responds to a question frequently asked by alumni and fans.

Roby talks about the disappointing news out of San Francisco that 49ers player Kyle Williams received death threats as a result of last week's playoff loss to the New York Giants.

The Northeastern AD also discusses the unfortunate byproduct of the hype and popularity of the Super Bowl, which is a dramatic spike in reported domestic violence incidents. Northeastern joined forces with its Beanpot counterparts, Jane Doe Inc., the lieutenant governor, and the district attorneys of Suffolk and Middlesex counties recently to take a stand against such violence.

And finally, Roby address a frequently asked question about the department's hiring process for coaches and administrative staff.

Viewers are encouraged to submit questions, provide feedback, and offer topic suggestions for future blog posts.

Visit GoNU.com for future updates and send your comments, questions and topic suggestions to NortheasternAthletics@neu.edu, or use #GoNU on Twitter.

Follow Northeastern Athletics (@NUAthletics) and Peter Roby (@ADRoby) on Twitter.

After a brief holiday hiatus, the athletic director's video blog returns this week for its sixth installment. In this week's post, Northeastern Director of Athletics and Recreation Peter Roby talks about the emotional toll of losing. He also discusses the importance of community service and the negative message that is sent when community service is used as a sentence in criminal trials. Roby concludes this week's message with heartfelt remarks about late Northeastern professor and friend of athletics Bruce Wallin, who died recently after a short battle with cancer.

Viewers are encouraged to submit questions, provide feedback, and offer topic suggestions for future blog posts.

Visit GoNU.com for future updates and send your comments, questions and topic suggestions to northeasternathletics@neu.edu, or use #GoNU on Twitter.

Follow Northeastern Athletics (@NUAthletics) and Peter Roby (@ADRoby) on Twitter.