USC’s Shumard Becomes Director at CS Fullerton : Administration: Former assistant AD for Trojans takes over a troubled program.

Bill Shumard, an assistant athletic director at USC for the last three years who worked for the Dodgers for 13 years before that, became athletic director at Cal State Fullerton Friday.

Shumard, 40, takes over a troubled athletic program. His predecessor, Ed Carroll, cited job stress in resigning this spring to become an assistant athletic director at rival UC Irvine, and the future of the school’s football program is in question even as a 10,000-seat stadium is being built on campus.

“I think there are a tremendous amount of positive things happening or about to happen in regard to this university,” said Shumard, who said being a major college athletic director has been his lifelong professional goal.

“I recognize that there has been a financial battle, an identity battle. Knowing that they’re on the verge of completion of the sports complex that will give us excellent facilities in all sports, that’s a tremendous plus.”

Fullerton was on the verge of dropping football because of a budget crisis earlier this spring, and was dealt another blow to its Division I-A future when football power Fresno State left the Big West Conference this week.

Shumard, who left a job as the Dodgers’ director of community services and special events in 1988 to coordinate USC’s centennial celebration of its athletics heritage, was one of five candidates interviewed by a 13-member search committee. He was appointed by University President Milton A. Gordon.

USC Athletic Director Mike McGee said Shumard will be missed.

“We hate to lose him, but it’s such a great opportunity for him,” McGee said. “He’s done an excellent job here at USC. I’m sure the people at Cal State Fullerton will come to appreciate him as we have. He’s a high-energy, personable administrator and just an outstanding person.”

A 1972 graduate of Cal State Long Beach, Shumard began his career as sports information director at Long Beach and later Cal State Los Angeles.