UCI Athletic Director Candidate Withdraws

Tom Beckett, one of six finalists for the UC Irvine athletic director’s job, has withdrawn from consideration, he said Monday.

Beckett’s withdrawal leaves five candidates who sources confirm have been interviewed: UC San Diego associate athletic director Earl Edwards, Big West Conference associate commissioner Dennis Farrell, former Houston athletic director Tom Ford, Cal State Dominguez Hills athletic director Dan Guerrero and former Detroit Lions coach Darryl Rogers.

Beckett, associate athletic director at Stanford, said he called Henry Pontell, chairman of Irvine’s 15-member search committee, to ask that he no longer be considered Monday after meeting with Andy Geiger, Stanford athletic director.

“I had a chance to think about my situation, and at this time it would be very difficult to leave Stanford,” Beckett said. “I think the opportunity at UC Irvine is an outstanding one. It’s a fantastic school and the future is very bright. All things considered, at this time it’s best for me to stay at Stanford.”

The search committee met Monday to forward between two and four names to Horace Mitchell, acting athletic director and vice chancellor for student affairs. Beckett withdrew before the names were sent to Mitchell.

Mitchell said he will consider the short list and make a decision in consultation with Chancellor Jack W. Peltason and Chang-Lin Tien, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

“My guess is that we’ll be all done by the end of the week or early next week,” Mitchell said. He would not disclose the names forwarded to him by the committee.