Two things suddenly occurred to me several hours ago while deleting some emails when I came across a certain name in an old, though not too old, Miami University sports news release.

Brad Bates was one of the best things ever to happen to Miami’s athletic department. And I miss him.

The former RedHawks athletic director who now does his directing at Boston College, has a long list of achievements from his more than 3,500 days in Oxford.

Some of them were on the field of play, though I tend to give more credit to the coaches and players for things like the unprecedented 2010 turnaround in football, the back-to-back Frozen Four appearances in ice hockey in 2009 and ‘10, and all of those national championships in synchronized skating.

The true gift that Bates left with Miami was his “Culture of Champions” vision that extended far beyond Yager Stadium, Millett Hall and Goggin Ice Center, far beyond winning percentages and championships. It extended to new and renovated facilities and even more to the classroom, where Miami’s graduation rates among athletes have flown off the charts.

But even those accomplishments are not what I will remember most about the man.

Many men and women in positions of leadership have the gift of sounding not just polite, not just friendly, not just sincere in their interaction with other human beings, but enthusiastically polite, friendly and sincere. Because it’s part of their job description.

I met Bates when he was hired in November of 2002 and as I grew to know him, it occurred to me that he wasn’t playing a role. He actually was all of those things. When you talked to Bates and he sounded interested in what you were saying, it was because he really was interested.

Which might explain why Bates stayed at Miami for 10 years.

After his first couple years it had become obvious that Bates was destined for the big time. Three or four years, I told myself. Five, tops. Then he will be moving on. He would not have been the first administrator or coach to use Miami as a stepping stone. The university isn’t the Cradle of Coaches for nothing. Miami athletic leaders announcing their retirement at Miami rather than their departure to a new, more prolific job opportunity — athletic directors like Richard Shrider and coaches like Charlie Coles — are the exception and not the rule.

It’s obvious that Oxford and Miami really did become a real, much loved home to Bates and his wife, Michele.

Brad Bates is a good man, as sincere as Linus’ pumpkin patch, and that’s why he will be missed.