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June 16, 2014
MENLO COLLEGE
Menlo Athletic Director Keith Spataro was voted by his peers as the Cal Pac’s AD of the Year following another year of success and growth in the Oaks athletic department. In his sixth year at the helm, Spataro led the department to a winning percentage of 55% or better for the second-straight season, saw two teams and eight individuals qualify for national postseason tournaments, and reaped the rewards of continued success in the classroom with several 14 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete award winners, seven Capital One Academic All-District selections and three Capital One Academic All-Americans.
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Saturday Jeff Metcalfe, of azcentral sports reported that College of Charleston head baseball coach Monte Lee would interview Wednesday for the Arizona State baseball coaching opening. However, sources tell College AD that Monte Lee is actually interviewing today in Tempe.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
NDSU sources have confirmed to Valley News Live that Athletics Director Gene Taylor is stepping down after 13 years to become the deputy director for the intercollegiate athletics program at the University of Iowa. Under Taylor, NDSU has produced 64 CoSIDA Academic All-America® awards, three NCAA Woman of the Year nominees, and 18 NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship winners. He also guided NDSU through the transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I. Taylor will remain the athletic director at North Dakota State through the month of July.
LEARFIELD SPORTS
Learfield Sports announced today that it has entered an agreement to acquire Licensing Resource Group (LRG), adding an array of licensing, merchandising and brand marketing services to its portfolio of college businesses. LRG primarily provides schools with a suite of licensing services, including trademark and brand management. LRG has a demonstrated track record in driving higher retail sales. Learfield will not be making any employee changes, and the terms of the transaction will remain confidential.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Southern Miss seeks an assistant director of digital marketing and creative services to oversee the updating/maintenance of the Athletics department’s website and serve as the primary Athletics department graphic designer. The position will be open until it is filled. Apply here.
MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY
Morehead State University seeks an athletics video coordinator to serve as the day-to-day contact for all aspects of the athletic department’s video operation, outside of any coaching film breakdown. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. Apply here.
June 15, 2014
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock seeks a ticket manager/assistant business manager to manage the day-to-day operations for the Athletic Ticket Office. The position will be open until it is filled. For more information on applying, contact Mindy Wirges.
WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Western Illinois seeks a Head Cross Country/Track Coach to be responsible for the duties and responsibilities associated with leading and coaching a competitive NCAA Division I men’s and women’s cross country & track and field program. Screening will begin on June 26, 2014 and continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the search may be directed to: Matt Tanney.
GEORGIA TECH
Georgia Tech seeks an assistant athletic director for communications and public relations to be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the athletic communications and public relations unit. For more information on applying, contact [email protected].
June 14, 2014
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
Robert Morris seeks a Director of Athletic Ticket Sales to market and sell tickets for Division I ticketed sports. The position will be open until it is filled. Apply here.
ELMIRA COLLEGE
Elmira seeks an assistant women’s softball coach. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For more information on applying, contact Senior Associate AD Jen Bozek.
SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA
Saint Mary’s College of California seeks an athletic marketing and promotions coordinator to be responsible for designing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive athletic promotions plan. Apply here by July 13th.
June 13, 2014
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE
Head football coach Mark Hudspeth will make $950,000 in combined base salary and “contingent premium benefits” this year, plus incentives and supplemental income, according to terms of his newly extended contract. With other raises written into the extension, Hudspeth will average $1.075 million over the length of the now six-year, $6.45 million deal. Buyout terms of the contract were extensively renegotiated as well. -Tim Buckley-
FAULKNER UNIVERSITY
Faulkner head football coach and athletic director Brent Barker resigned Thursday, having accepted the athletic director’s position for the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District just north of Fort Worth in his home state of Texas. “The chance to continue my career with a wonderful school district back home was just too much to pass up”, says Barker. In his new position, Barker will oversee athletics for three high schools, five middle schools, and 17 elementary schools.
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Head baseball coach Tim Tadlock has been named the 2014 National College Baseball Hall of Fame Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year, the organization announced this morning. Tadlock led his alma mater to the College Baseball World Series for the first time in school history while the Red Raiders have posted a 45-19 overall record this season. The award is given annually to the top collegiate baseball coach from any level, including NCAA D-I, II, III, NAIA or Junior College.
NCAA
A group of college professors is working to introduce in Congress a third bill calling for federal laws to rein in what they believe is an out-of-control college athletics system. “The NCAA is incapable of reforming itself,” said Donna Lopiano, former women’s athletics director at the University of Texas and one of the paper’s authors. The group’s proposed legislation calls for dismantling the NCAA’s governance model, from a representative hierarchy of members to a group of independent directors … not currently employed by any member institution. -John Shipley-
GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Georgia State will use Parker Executive Search to handle the hunt for its next athletic director. The two sides agreed to work together on June 10, according to a copy of the letter of understanding between the two parties obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution through an Open Records Request. Georgia State will pay $70,000 to use Parker. Athletic director Cheryl Levick announced earlier this month that she will transition to a new role as special assistant to President Mark Becker on July 1.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
Oregon seeks an assistant director of ticket operations to assist with the day to day operations in the Athletic Ticket Office, specifically the Matthew Knight Arena Box Office. The position will be open until it is filled. Apply here.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
About 60 Hawaii scholarship athletes were delayed nine days in receiving their summer funds, prompting some to sleep in a locker room while waiting for checks totaling about $92,000, university athletics officials said. Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay told The Associated Press yesterday that clerical problems delayed processing of the scholarship funds from both the athletics department and the university’s financial aid department. The problem affected less than one-fifth of the 332 athletes in 21 programs who are on full or partial scholarships. –Oskar Garcia-
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
UMass Lowell seeks an Athletics Ticketing Intern to assist the Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Promotions with all services related to the athletics ticket and sales operation for the University’s ticketed sports. Contact Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Promotions – Scott Donnelly by June 30 for full consideration.
DARTON COLLEGE
Darton State College is seeking a head softball coach to be responsible for coaching and administration of the softball program. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Apply here.
June 12, 2014
PIERCE COLLEGE
Director of Athletics Duncan Stevenson was recognized at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Hall of Fame Banquet last week for going the extra mile on behalf of the organization. For the second time in his career, NWAACC presented him with the Dutch Triebwasser Award for outstanding service as an athletic director. Stevenson was the first winner of the award when it was established in 1990.
GANNON UNIVERSITY
Gannon University has announced that Mark Richard, athletics director for the past five years, will leave the University next month to become athletics director at the University of Montevallo. University officials said that a decision will be made soon about the appointment of an interim director of athletics, and as the search for Richard’s successor begins. We will keep you updated as we hear more on the search.
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Salt Lake Community College has named Kevin M. Dustin as the College’s new director of athletics, overseeing the College’s nationally competitive five-sport program. Dustin will replace Norma Carr, who announced her retirement in early March after 25 years at the helm of the program.
NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
After leading Northwest Christian University to one of the top athletic years in school history, Beacons athletic director Corey Anderson has been named Cascade Conference Athletic Director of the Year, the conference office announced today. Anderson, in his ninth year as AD at NCU, helped the Beacon coaches earn a record 23 All-Cascade Conference selections, as well as a record three All-American selections. The Beacons had the highest student-athlete population in four years.
OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE
Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner Beth DeBauche announced the hiring of Bryce Robinson for the newly created position of Director of Compliance and Digital Media on Thursday. Robinson, who spent the past school year as an intern with the OVC, officially begins his duties towards the end of June.
WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON COLLEGE
Director of Athletics Bill Dukett has announced his plans to retire as of June 30. Dukett has been with the W&J since 1982 as a football coach, track & field coach, golf coach, development officer and most recently, director of athletics since 2006. As the associate head coach on the Presidents’ football staff from 1982-1998, Dukett helped lead W&J to a record of 137-37-2, including 14 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships and two appearances in the Stagg Bowl.
LONG BEACH STATE UNIVERSITY
Long Beach State announced that Sara Cerulle has been hired as the Assistant Athletic Director of Development. Cerulle has a strong history of local fundraising, heading up the private school’s efforts as the Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Orange Lutheran High SChool for the last nine years. There, Cerulle was a partner in an effort to secure over $10.5 million dollars in pledges for the Visions & Values Campaign, a capital improvements master plan for the school.
NCAA
Despite talk of a separate division for the 65 wealthiest athletic departments, NCAA president Mark Emmert is confident the whole situation will work out. The NCAA steering committee drafted a proposal last month calling for a two-thirds supermajority for autonomous votes to pass, plus simple-majority approval from four of the five conferences. Though Emmert understands that “some people wouldn’t mind exploring” the so-called Division 4, the focus instead remains an autonomous structure for those schools that would allow voting independence over a range of specific issues. -Dan Wolken-
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA’S COLLEGE AT WISE
UVa-Wise hires Brandi Owens as the new assistant sports information director. Owens comes to the College after spending the last year working for Bristol Motor Speedway, where she worked to increase attendance at all events hosted by the speedway.. In her career, Owens assisted with coordinating media information for the nationally recognized Arby’s Basketball Tournament, while having also spent time working in the sports information department at UVa-Wise for two years.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
Southeast Missouri State University seeks a head athletic trainer to supervise the daily operation of the athletic training room. The position will remain open until it is filled. Apply here.
CALVIN COLLEGE
Calvin College seeks a head men’s baseball coach to be responsible for directing, leading and mentoring men’s baseball in a variety of activities related to the successful operation of the athletic team and program and contributing to the Kinesiology department in a secondary role. The position will remain open until it is filled. For more information on applying, contact Deirdre Honner.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
Southeast Missouri State University seeks a head women’s softball coach to plan, direct and administer all aspects of the women’s softball program. The position will remain open until it is filled. Apply here.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Athletic Director Jay Jacobs says a decision on whether Auburn will claim more national championships could come soon. A committee is currently reviewing if Auburn should recognize national championships for the 1910, 1913, 1914, 1958, 1983, 1993 and 2004 seasons in addition to the titles in 1957 and 2010 that the university already recognizes. Jacobs said he has asked that the committee give him a decision before the start of the season, and that a decision could come in the next few weeks.
June 11, 2014
RED RIVER RIVALRY
Texas and Oklahoma will play annually at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl until 2025. The previous agreement had gone through 2020, contingent on the city making since-completed upgrades to the stadium. Each school has received payments of $500,000 for playing in Dallas, along with a split of ticket sales, which are distributed evenly to both sides. -Jake Trotter-
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall has expressed interested in joining the Big 12, but the conference is content with its size of 10 teams. Mendenhall believes that this addition would bring a huge market in with them. However, WVU Athletic Director Oliver Luck is happy with the size, stating “I don’t think we can find a partner who’s available right now to stay at the value we have (per school) or let alone increase what we have. That’s the consensus we have (staying at 10).”
ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY
Head Baseball Coach Ron Bradley announced his retirement on Friday morning. Bradley is retiring from collegiate coaching and returning home to Northwest Arkansas to coach high school baseball at Har-Ber High School in Springdale, Arkansas. Bradley has served at the helm of the Diamond Cats since the program’s inception in 2005. He laid the foundation for athletics at RSU when he introduced club sports to the campus as physical education director in 2004. The search for his replacement has begun and is ongoing.
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
For the second consecutive year, Oklahoma Baptist University earned recognition as the nation’s top NAIA athletics program. OBU completed a set of Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup trophy case bookends Tuesday with the award being announced Tuesday morning. OBU is the fourth school in the NAIA to win back-to-back honors.
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Baseball coach Jim Morris has been a fixture in Coral Gables for more than two decades and now, it seems he’ll be staying with the Hurricanes for at least a few more seasons. Miami has opted to give Morris a three-year contract extension that would keep the 64-year-old coach at the school through the 2018 season, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported late last night.
ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE
Conference Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade announced yesterday the appointment of Mike Vest as the new Associate Commissioner for External Affairs. Vest comes to the Atlantic 10 from IMG College where he served as Director of Digital Assets & University Partnerships since February of 2013. Prior to his stint with IMG, Vest spent over five years at the Big 10 Network, as the Communications Manager and most recently as its Director of Social Media & University Development from 2011-2013.
RHODES COLLEGE
Rhodes seeks a head men’s and women’s tennis coach/athletic events manager to be one with outstanding leadership skills who can recruit, mentor, motivate and teach student-athletes. The position will be open until it is filled. Apply here.
VASSAR COLLEGE
Vassar seeks an assistant sports information director/summer facilities director to be responsible for assisting the Sports Information Director with the publicity, promotion and game coverage of 23 NCAA Division III intercollegiate teams and four club teams that fall under the Department of Athletics & Physical Education during the Academic Year and to provide oversight of the Athletics and Fitness Center from approximately June 15th -August 15th under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Athletics for Facilities. The position will be open until it is filled. Apply here.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK
The university seeks a head baseball coach to manage a Division I Baseball program as Head Coach, in accordance with NCAA, Sun Belt Conference and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock regulations. The position will be open until it is filled. For more information on applying, contact Mindy Wirges
June 10, 2014
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Director of Athletics Stephanie Helgeson announced this afternoon the addition of Steve Gust as head baseball coach for the Golden Eagles. Gust spent the past six seasons as the head coach at Dakota Wesleyan University. Gust has accumulated over 150 wins in his six seasons. His time at Dakota Wesleyan was highlighted by his first two seasons at the helm in which he posted records of 35-18 and 32-21.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
The winner of the 2013-14 Division I Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings has already been determined with Stanford claimed its unprecedented 20th consecutive award as the top intercollegiate athletic department in the nation. Honors were announced during the annual National Association of Collegiate Directors of America conference in Orlando, Fla. Stanford elected to have a student-athlete accept the 20th award on behalf of the University. Lexie Ross, a senior human biology major and member of Stanford’s NCAA national champion women’s water polo team, accepted the Cup and spoke at the awards luncheon. Ross is the first student-athlete to represent her school during the awards lunch.
MILLSAPS COLLEGE
Georgia is set to lose one of its top young athletic administrators. Josh Brooks, associate athletic director for internal operations, is expected to be announced as the new athletic director at Millsaps College. Athletic director Greg McGarity has called Brooks a “rising star in athletic administration.” Brooks was a finalist last year for the AD job at Louisiana-Monroe. Georgia promoted Brooks from director of football operations to assistant athletic director and then later to associate athletic director. -Marc Weiszer-
BREVARD COLLEGE
Sources tell College AD, Randall Stewart will become the next Athletic Media Relations Director at Brevard College. He most recently served as a Graduate Assistant at King University after spending the spring of 2013 as an Athletic Communications intern at Newberry College in South Carolina.
UNLV
UNLV seeks a director of marketing to provide direction, supervision, and day-to-day management for sports marketing, promotions, game entertainment, and graphic design/brand development for the UNLV Athletics Department. review of candidates’ materials will begin on June 23. Materials should be addressed to Darryl Seibel, Search Committee Chair. Apply online here.
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY
Jeff Bovee has been hired as the director of track & field/cross country as announced by Director of Athletics Larry Lyons. Bovee has 18 years of collegiate coaching experience, including eight at Illinois State.
ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
St. Cloud State athletics unveiled a new Huskies logo. The new look of the Husky is a secondary logo and maintains a visual connection to the “St. C” logo. It replaces the Husky head logo that has existed since the 1999-2000 school year.
KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Kyle Weiser is Kansas Wesleyan’s new Assistant Athletic Director, replacing Taylor McFarland, who served in the same position from October 2012 until leaving KWU in March.
June 9, 2014
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Tim Esmay, who has one year remaining on his contract, resigned Monday after a meeting with Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson. Esmay will not return for a sixth season despite a 201-94-1 record, the highest winning percentage (.680) among active Pac-12 coaches.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY
UMBC Director of Athletics Tim Hall has been elected as the chairman of the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics for the fall of 2014, the committee announced last month at their meetings in Orlando, Fla. Hall, who has served on the 15-member, multi-divisional committee since 2011, replaces current CWA chair Marilyn Moniz-Kaho’ohanohano of the University of Hawaii. He had previously chaired the CWA/MOIC (Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee) Disability Subcommittee from 2012-14.
NCAA
Nearly five years after it was filed on behalf of former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon, a class-action antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA is scheduled to go to trial Monday before U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken in Oakland. The case potentially has huge implications for the future of college sports. Follow @JonSolomonCBS for updates throughout.
TULANE UNIVERSITY
Sam Houston State baseball coach David Pierce, who led the Bearkats to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances the last three seasons, has been named Tulane baseball coach, Green Wave athletic director Rick Dickson announced. Pierce was the choice over several candidates, including Tulane interim coach Jake Gautreau and Southeastern Louisiana University coach Matt Riser.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
A kickoff dinner Saturday night for Oregon’s Women in Flight program, designed to raise awareness and funding to support UO female athletics, was punctuated by the announcement of a major gift toward construction of a new softball facility. Director of Athletics Rob Mullens announced the donation of $10 million by Robert Sanders to construction of a facility to replace Howe Field. The evening also included an auction and membership drive that raised nearly $110,000 for Women in Flight. Back in February, College AD covered the launch of the “Women In Flight” program. Check it out.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
OSU is looking for an Associate Director, Event Management is a member of the event management team that is accountable for providing a safe and welcoming environment for all OSU game day participants and fans. Apply here. For more information contact Kristine Mullins at 614-292-9675
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY
High Point is looking for an Assistant Director for Marketing to work directly with the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing to create a distinct gameday experience while strengthening the High Point University brand. For questions please contact Dan Clark, Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing at dclark0@highpointedu.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
For the first time since 2008, Georgia will be increasing football ticket prices, likely effective for the 2015 season. A specific number has not yet been announced as to how much prices will be increased. Athletic Director Greg McGarity said however that fans should expect a “modest increase” in prices, saying that he doesn’t “want to get tagged with a number, but it’s something that will make sense.”
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
David Cohen is leaving a job working on sales for the Minnesota Vikings new stadium to become an ASU senior associate athletic director. Cohen will work with ASU Olympic sports as well as help with marketing, branding, advertising, promotions and ticket sales.
June 6, 2014
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Former NFL player Scottie Graham has been named Senior Associate Athletics Director for Sun Devil Athletics, Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson announced today. Graham, who has served as the Director of Player Engagement since 2010 and as a Regional Director from 1998-2010 for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), will provide support in all areas of student athlete development and welfare. Additionally, he will work directly with designated sports to provide assistance with operations and program development.
MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY
Murray State University director of athletics Allen Ward announced the school has extended the contracts of football coach Chris Hatcher and men’s basketball coach Steve Prohm. Additionally, Ward’s contract was also extended one year by the University. The extensions mean all three men have four years on their contracts with Hatcher’s running through Dec. 31, 2017 and Prohm through May 31, 2018. Allen Ward’s contract now runs through June 30, 2018.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
The Texas athletic department unveiled a new student ticketing system that is being branded as “The Big Ticket.” The Big Ticket will replace the old LASP ticketing system. The biggest difference with the new system is the price. The Big Ticket is listed at $175 but the list price does not include the additional $20 transaction fee, bringing the final price to $195. The most notable change to the system is that students no longer have to buy a football season ticket to ensure reserved seating. A reserved seat is included with The Big Ticket and students can form seating groups. The Big Ticket allows students to scan their student identification cards to get into all other sport events. The new system goes into effect for the 2014-2015 academic year.
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari, who led the Wildcats to the school’s 16th NCAA Final Four appearance last season, has been rewarded with a new seven-year contract, UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart announced. He will make $6.5 Million on the first year of his contract and that figure goes up considerably. Check out the actual contract.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The AAC is looking for a Compliance Assistant. The American Athletic Conference is accepting applications for the position of Compliance Assistant for an 11-month period beginning July 1, 2014, and ending May 30, 2014. The position serves in a support capacity in the Compliance Department. Contact Ellen Ferris Associate Commissioner for Governance and Compliance [email protected]
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY BILLINGS
Evan O’Kelly has been named Director of Communications for the Montana State University Billings department of athletics, announced. O’Kelly previously served as the media relations and sports information assistant at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference office, where he coordinated media coverage for the conference’s sports and championship events.
MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY
Monmouth University is looking for a Director of Ticket Operations and Sponsorship. The position close June 12th. Apply here.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
The University of South Florida has named Irele Oderinde to the position of Director of Athletic Performance for USF Athletics. He assumes his duties immediately overseeing the strength and conditioning programs for all 19 USF sport programs and directly guiding the training program for Bulls’ football. Oderinde spent the previous year as the coordinator of strength and conditioning for the football program at West Virginia.