By Robert Weiler
Three days after filling one vacancy in the BYU athletic department, the university is ready to start searching for someone to fill another opening, the athletic director.
BYU advancement vice president Fred Skousen announced the beginning of the hiring process on Thursday, Dec. 16, for the athletic director position in a small gathering of media representatives, a process he said he anticipates completing by March 2005.
?This is the next step in part of the overall plan,? Skousen said. ?The objective is to develop an exceptional program aligned with the mission of the university and its values.?
The plan of restructuring the athletic department and consolidating the men?s and women?s programs under one roof began last September when BYU fired Val Hale and Elaine Michaelis and introduced a transitional leadership team to oversee the first wave of changes.
?It?s not easy to make a merger, and I pay tribute to our transition team for helping us to take this next step,? Skousen said.
The four-member team of Tom Holmoe, Peter Pilling, Brian Santiago and Janie Penfield will be high on the list of possible candidates. Skousen said the university will invite others to apply, but the position is open to anyone qualified.
?There are three elements to this job,? he said. ?First is the direction of the student athletes. Second is being true to the values of this institution. Third is winning. Winning with character, sportsmanship and being competitive in the conference and at the national level.?
Applications for the athletic director position will be accepted until Jan. 15.