Claflin University

Introduction

At Claflin University, success isn’t measured only by championships. It’s built through the work happening behind the scenes every day.

With 13 athletic programs, approximately 145 student-athletes, and a small administrative staff supporting it all, every process matters. Recruiting, compliance, roster management, and coach communication all compete for the same limited time and resources. For Senior Associate Athletic Director, Dionne McCullum, finding ways to streamline those responsibilities became just as important as completing them.

Now entering its third academic year with Spry, Claflin brought many of those day-to-day operations into one connected platform, giving coaches greater visibility, reducing administrative back-and-forth, and creating workflows that are easier for everyone to manage.

The Challenge: Learning on the Fly

When Dionne joined Claflin, her responsibilities quickly expanded. At the same time, she was learning the department’s existing technology, institutional processes, and campus policies. In a small athletics department where every staff member supports multiple areas, that learning curve added unnecessary complexity to an already demanding role. It wasn’t just about learning a new system, it was about building confidence while balancing new responsibilities.

As the department evaluated its next steps, it wasn’t simply looking for new software. It wanted a partner that would provide guidance, responsive support, and a smoother experience from day one.

A Transition Designed Around Claflin

Spry began delivering on that expectation from the very start of the partnership. Rather than a one-size-fits-all implementation, the onboarding process was tailored to Claflin’s needs. Training began with one-on-one sessions between Dionne and Claflin’s Customer Success Manager before expanding to Senior Administrators and Coaches. Each session was designed around the department’s existing workflows, helping every group learn the platform in the context of how they actually worked.

For me, I thought it was very personal, very catered to our university and what we had. It was really a smooth transition.

– Dionne McCullum

The transition didn’t end after implementation. Each year, the department revisits training before the start of the academic year, ensuring coaches begin every season confident in the platform and any new functionality.

One Platform for Daily Work

Three years into the partnership, Spry has become the center of Claflin’s daily operations. Every coach submits CARA logs through the platform. Rosters, recruiting documentation, recruiting trips, and professional development all live in one connected system. Rather than moving between separate tools and paper processes, coaches and administrators work from a shared source of information.

For Dionne, the biggest impact has come from combining recruiting workflows and CARA management into one place. Recruiting moves quickly throughout the year, and having recruiting events connected with compliance documentation keeps coaches organized while ensuring required approvals happen over time.

Just as importantly, coaches can see exactly where requests stand.

They can see where things stand. They can even come and say, ‘Hey I submitted this 72 hours ago and you haven’t checked it yet.’ So they’re able to see where we are, rather than a paperwork chain.

– Dionne McCullum

That visibility has helped change the rhythm of the department. Instead of tracking paperwork or answering status questions, everyone works from the same information, making communication faster and reducing unnecessary follow-up.

Designed for Every Coach

Introducing new technology often raises concerns about adoption, especially among coaches who don’t consider themselves particularly tech-savvy. At Claflin, those concerns quickly faded.

One coach needed a few additional training sessions before feeling comfortable with the platform. Once he understood the workflow, he was able to manage practices and workouts independently using Spry’s intuitive, color-coded interface.

Once he got it, it was so straightforward, to the point that somebody who’s not tech-savvy can still navigate it easily.

– Dionne McCullum

That experience reinforced something Dionne has seen across the department: when technology is simple to use, adoption follows naturally. Today, every coach uses Spry as part of their daily workflow.

Support That Feels Like an Extension of the Team

For Dionne, one of the biggest differences has been the responsiveness of the people behind the platform. Questions are typically answered within minutes, often with step-by-step guides that prevent future questions before they arise. Even during planned absences, Spry’s Customer Success team ensures someone is always available to help.

If I have to call or email the Spry team, they’re very, very responsive. It might be expected to take 24 to 48 hours, but it feels like only a couple of hours before you get a response.

– Dionne McCullum

Spry’s responsive support has done more than solve problems, it has given the department confidence that help is always within reach.

A Partner, Not Just a Platform

Technology alone wasn’t what changed Claflin’s experience.

Throughout the partnership, Dionne has watched Spry treat feedback as the beginning of a conversation rather than the end of one. Ideas shared by the department are met with open communication and thoughtful collaboration. It’s a level of responsiveness that has made the relationship feel less like working with a software vendor and more like working alongside a true partner.

For Dionne, that ongoing collaboration has created confidence that Claflin’s needs aren’t just being heard—they’re helping shape a platform built for athletic departments like hers. The relationship extends well beyond answering support tickets; it’s rooted in listening, adapting, and continually improving together.

I think it’s the human aspect. Spry gives you a personal aspect, and it’s authentic. It’s not one of those relationships that you know is just transactional. We work well together, we build together, we grow together. Spry has come in and blended right into our family.

– Dionne McCullum

For a department built on close relationships, the sense of partnership has become just as valuable as the platform itself.

Results and Looking Ahead

Three years into the partnership, Claflin’s day-to-day operations look fundamentally different. CARA logs, recruiting documentation, rosters, and approvals all happen within one connected platform. Coaches no longer wonder where paperwork stands, recruiting workflows move more efficiently, and staff spend less time chasing administrative tasks.

Perhaps the clearest measure of success is adoption. Every coach uses the platform, including those who were initially hesitant about new technology. As confidence in the platform has grown, so has the department’s reliance on it.

That momentum continues today as Claflin continues to add additional cross campus processes to Spry. By consolidating operations onto one platform, the department is creating a more connected experience for coaches, staff, and student-athletes alike.

For Dionne and her team, that’s the real impact of the partnership. The work hasn’t changed, but the time, communication, and effort required to accomplish it has.