A search has begun for a permanent director of intercollegiate athletics for the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder, according to Chancellor Richard L. Byyny. The position currently is held on an interim basis by Dick Tharp.
Tharp became interim athletic director in August 1996 following the resignation of former Director Bill Marolt.
Regent Jerry Rutledge of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Springs serves as chair of the 16-member search committee. Members include Bob Alexander, president of Alexander/Lucy of Denver; Karen Bever, assistant dean of arts and sciences; Steve Clarke, Staff Council representative; Eddie Crowder, former athletic director; Peter Dietze, Regent emeritus; Sonny Flowers, Denver attorney; and Glenn George, ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ associate vice president for human relations and risk management.
Other members are Sally Hansen, tri-executive of the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Student Union; Ken Kriz, president of Mountain Mobile Home Park in Glenwood Springs; Jerry McMorris, chairman, president and CEO of Nationsway Transport Services, Inc. and ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Rockies Baseball Club; Ric Porreca, director of budget and planning; Mike Preston, professor of English and chair of the Boulder Faculty Assembly Subcommittee on Intercollegiate Athletics; physicist Joe Romig, a former ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ All-American football player; Peter Spear, dean of arts and sciences; and Stuart Takeuchi, ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ vice president for administration.
Shari Robertson, director of human resources, will serve in an ex-officio capacity.
"ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder aspires to have athletic and academic programs of the highest caliber," Byyny said. "I expect the search to attract widespread interest from a large number of highly qualified applicants and nominees. For this position, we are seeking a leader and administrator capable of moving the program into the top tier of public institutions with excellent athletic and academic accomplishments."
The athletic director, who reports to the chancellor of the Boulder campus, is responsible for managing the 17 men's and women's intercollegiate sports offered at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder. Sports programs include men's football, basketball, golf, skiing, tennis, cross country, indoor track and outdoor track; and women's basketball, volleyball, golf, skiing, tennis, cross country, indoor track, outdoor track and soccer.
The director serves as a university representative to regional and national organizations such as the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA.
The department, which includes a staff of about 130 employees, manages a budget of more than $20 million. Athletics-related facilities include the Dal Ward Center, Balch Fieldhouse, Folsom Field, Potts Field, Prentup Field, the football practice facility and the Coors Events/Conference Center.
The position will be posted immediately. Nominations and applications may be submitted to Jerry Rutledge, chair, Search Committee for Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder, Campus Box 475, Boulder, CO 80309-0475. The committee is expected to begin formal evaluation of applications in March.