The University of New Mexico has announced the following three finalists for the position of Director of Athletics: Rick Hartzell, Athletics Director, Northern Iowa University; Paul Krebs, Assistant Vice President / Athletics Director, Bowling Green State University; and Jim Schaus, Athletics Director, Wichita State University.
Interviews will be conducted in Albuquerque between March 3-7 by a broad-based list of constituents: alumni, Board of Regents, university faculty and staff, Lobo Club members, coaches and media.
Krebs' press conference will take place Friday, March 3 at Embassy Suites; Hartzell's is scheduled for Monday, March 6; and Schaus is slated for Tuesday, March 7. The press conferences for Krebs and Schaus will be held at the Embassy Suites, while Hartzell's will be held at the Hilton Hotel. All three press conferences are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Faculty and staff are welcomed to attend.
After the interviews have been completed, David Harris, acting president of the University of New Mexico, and the University of New Mexico Board of Regents, will select the Lobos' 12th athletics director.
"We've been very pleased with the hiring process," said Dr. Breda Bova, senior advisor to the UNM President. "We feel we have identified three candidates who are very qualified to lead the school's athletics department. We want to thank John Kasser for his guidance and consultation during the process. We also appreciate the time and diligence of the search committee for reviewing all of the applicants. We look forward to the upcoming interviews."
The University of New Mexico is seeking an athletics director to replace Rudy Davalos, who announced his retirement Oct. 11 after more than 13 years of service.
Rick Hartzell, Athletics Director, Northern Iowa University
Athletics Director at Northern Iowa since Aug. 9, 1999
Academics
* Northern Iowa student-athletes combined for 3.08 grade-point-average following the 2004 spring semester and the department’s most recent graduation rate is the best in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)...Hartzell helped guide the university through a successful NCAA certification process
Fundraising/Facilities
* Construction is near completion on the McLeod Center, a new arena that will house the men's and women's basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams...the UNI-Dome and future McLeod Center will also be venues for concerts and special events to help generate revenue for the program
* Construction begins April 15 on a $9 million Human Performance Center
* Constructed a new football locker room and weight room, plus enhancements to the Mark Messersmith Outdoor track and field complex
Sports / Competition
* The Northern Iowa football team has claimed three conference titles in the past five years
* The UNI men's basketball team is ranked tied for 25th in the most recent Associated Press poll...UNI is 22-7 overall and 11-6 in the MVC...the Panthers qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and ‘05
* The women's volleyball team has won six of the past eight MVC titles, and advanced to the Sweet 16 three times since 2000...the men's indoor track team has won six straight league championships
General
* Current vice-president of the Missouri Valley Conference administrators and chair of the MVC Sportsmanship and Officiating Committee
* NCAA men's basketball official since 1986
* Director of Athletics, Bucknell, 1988-99
* Director of Athletics and Chairman of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, 1985-88
* A 1974 graduate of Northern Iowa with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and English, and a member of the football and baseball teams...master's degree from UNI in 1977 in Educational Administration...completed all but his doctoral dissertation in Higher Education Administration from the University of Iowa
* Wife (Jill), son (Nate, 24) and daughter (Amanda, 22)
Paul Krebs, Assistant Vice President / Athletics Director, Bowling Green State University
Athletics Director at Bowling Green since March 15, 1999
Academic
* A 76% graduation rate in the latest NCAA report is the highest in school history and the highest in the Mid-American Conference (MAC)
Fundraising / Facilities
* BGSU is in the middle of an $18 million capital campaign for athletics as part of an overall university capital campaign targeted at $110 million
* Krebs acquired a $3.5 million gift, the single highest donation ever given to the BGSU athletics department
* Currently building an $8.7 million student-athlete center with a weight room and training room for all student-athletes, plus team meeting rooms and coaches offices for football
Sports / Competition
* The BGSU football program has enjoyed its most successful five-year period in school history, compiling a 43-17 record from 2001-05...BGSU won consecutive bowl games (2003-04) for only the second time in school history and was ranked No. 16 in the nation during the 2003 season
* A total of 12 BGSU football games were nationally televised (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2) between 2003-05
* Through games of Feb. 22, the BGSU women's basketball team was 23-2, ranked 25th in the nation in the coaches' poll and has clinched the MAC East Division title with a 14-0 record
* The BGSU women's soccer team has won consecutive MAC titles
General
* A member of the NCAA Baseball Committee
* Senior Associate Athletics Director, The Ohio State University, 1993-99
* Ticket Director, University of Oklahoma, 1983-85
* A 1978 graduate of Bowling Green with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration
* Master's degree in Athletic Administration from Ohio State in 1981
* Wife (Marjori), a daughter (Taylor, 16) and a son (Jacob, 12)
Jim Schaus (rhymes with house), Athletics Director, Wichita State University
Athletics Director at Wichita State since July 1, 1999
Academics
* An 88% graduation rate in the latest NCAA report...this rate is based on student-athletes that have completed their eligibility at WSU...student-athletes at WSU have combined for a 3.0 grade-point-average every semester of his tenure there
Fundraising/Facilities
* Secured private funding for the $25 million Roundhouse Renaissance project, addressing the primary facility needs for the WSU athletics department...the facility includes an arena for basketball and volleyball, locker rooms, weight room, training room, student services building, academic center and athletic department offices
* WSU has established all-time records in all revenue areas, including $2.2 million in annual giving...Schaus orchestrated nearly $35 million in new facilities construction and secured the largest outright gift in university history ($6 million)
Sports / Competition
* Wichita State won the Missouri Valley Conference all-sports trophy in 2003-04 and 2004-05...WSU was 7th in Schaus' first season
* The men's basketball team is currently 22-7 overall and leading the MVC with a 13-4 record...the team has had 14 sellouts this year
* Four programs are nationally ranked in attendance
General
* A member of the NCAA Committee for Academic Performance
* Previous athletic administration positions at Oregon, Cincinnati, UTEP and Northern Illinois
* Director of Marketing, Washington Redskins, 1983-86
* A 1983 graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism and Public Relations
* Master's degree in Athletic Administration from West Virginia University in 1987
* Son of Fred Schaus, former head men's basketball coach at Purdue and West Virginia, and former head coach and vice-president of the Los Angeles Lakers...was also athletics director at West Virginia
* Wife (Priscilla), son (Kevin, 18) and daughters (Diane, 16, and Laura, 14)
Contact: Greg Remington, (505) 925-5525; e-mail: gregrem@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at February 24, 2006 04:45 PM