SDSU President Day Selects Committee of Seven to Search for Permanent AD

San Diego State President Thomas Day has selected a seven-person committee to begin the search for a permanent director of athletics, it was announced Friday.

Committee chairman is Ron Fowler, president of Liquid Investments. Other committee members are Bill Earley, SDSU Associated Students president; Dr. Ernie Griffin, professor and chairman of SDSU’s department of geography; Bob McCray, Aztec Athletic Foundation president; Carol Plunkett, SDSU women’s tennis coach; Ballard Smith, Padre president; and Vinnie Vinson, chairman of the Holiday Bowl team selection committee.

Fowler said the committee is seeking someone with the ability to represent the athletic program in the community and relate to students, coaches and faculty at SDSU. Applications will be accepted through the end of October when interviews begin, according to Fowler.

“Our intent is to have a number of recommendations for Tom Day in the next six to eight weeks,” Fowler said. “During that time, we will be somewhat noncommunicative. The confidentiality is essential to attract the type of person we want in that position. It will be a broad-based search, a national search.”

Robert Rinehart, the acting athletic director, will be a candidate if he desires, Fowler said. Rinehart took over for Mary Alice Hill when she was fired Aug. 22.