Friday, July 12, 2013

ANCHORAGE, AK — The University of Alaska Anchorage has launched a search for its new Director of Athletics (AD), with the assistance of Eastman & Beaudine, one of the nation’s top search firms for recruiting college athletic directors and coaches.

The process, which is expected to take five to seven weeks, will remain confidential in order to attract the best and most-qualified candidates. The public can participate in the process by attending an open forum on July 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the UAA/APU Consortium Library, room 307.

The community is encouraged to share their ideas with the search committee about qualities they’d like to see in UAA’s next AD. Due to the confidentiality requirements of the search, the names of the finalists will not be made public.

“This is a critical hire for the university and our timeline is aggressive,” said Dr. Bill Spindle. “We are committed to finding the right leader for a program that has brought much pride and honor to UAA. I’m confident that working with an extremely well-respected search firm will result in the hiring of a dynamic leader who will continue to move our program positively forward.”

The search committee will be comprised of co-chair and interim UAA athletic director Tim McDiffett, co-chair and UAA vice chancellor for Administrative Services Dr. Bill Spindle; longtime UAA sponsor with Alaska Airlines and Seawolf Hall of Fame member Bill MacKay; NCAA faculty athletic representative and UAA professor of mathematics Dr. Deborah Narang; former student-athlete and 4-year hockey letterwinner from 1994-98 Jeff Edwards; and longtime athletics donor and former Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout chair Bobbi Olson.

The AD position posting is currently open on UAKjobs.com, and applications will be accepted until July 24. The university hopes to have the new AD selected by early this fall.