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Finalists named for Athletic Director role

February 27, 2013
By Staff Report

Three individuals have been identified as finalists for the role of Nevada Wolf Pack director of athletics. They will visit the University of Nevada, Reno March 4-6 for a day-long series of interviews to allow athletics' coaches and staff, faculty, staff, students and community representatives to meet them. The schedule includes an open forum in the Auditorium of Legacy Hall with each finalist candidate.

The finalists and the open forum schedule are as follows:

• Timothy Leonard, senior associate athletic director for external affairs at Southern Methodist University where he also served as interim director of athletics last year, and former assistant vice president for athletics development at University of Central Florida. Leonard's open forum will be Monday, March 4, 3-3:45 p.m.
• John Johnson, senior associate director of athletics at Washington State University and former director of intercollegiate athletics at Weber State University. Johnson's open forum will be Tuesday, March 5, 3-3:45 p.m.
• Doug Knuth, senior associate athletic director for external affairs at University of Utah and formerly assistant athletic director/director of major gifts at Michigan State University. Knuth's open forum will be Wednesday, March 6, 3-3:45 p.m.

A national search for the position was launched in December 2012 following the decision of current director of athletics, Cary Groth, to retire from her position. A search committee chaired by Bruce Shively, associate vice president for planning, budget and analysis, and coordinated by Janet Sanderson, assistant to the University president, identified the semi-finalists following interviews with a diverse pool of highly qualified candidates.

Joining Shively on the search committee are David Carter, head coach, men's basketball; Dave Croasdell, associate professor, accounting and information systems; Matthew Eck, associate athletic director, strength and conditioning; Shelly Germann, associate athletic director, sports medicine; Alex Hayes, student-athlete and president of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; Ann Larson, director, Lawlor Events Center; Nancy Markee, associate professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences; Maureen Marshall, director, athletics compliance services; Rhonda Lundin Bennett, associate athletic director, administration; Andrea Pearson, executive assistant; and Shantel Twigg, head coach, women's track and field.

The recommended candidate for the position will be forwarded by University President Marc Johnson to the Board of Regents for their consideration at a special meeting to be scheduled in the coming weeks.

"Wolf Pack Athletics is a significant enterprise and a point of pride, with a storied history and a strong connection to our communities, both on and off campus," Johnson said when announcing the search in December. "The opportunity to identify the University's next director of athletics marks an important time for the program."

Topic: Athletics