Halvaks Named Big West Assistant Commissioner

Rob Halvaks, associate executive director of the Orange County Sports Assn. for the last three years, has been named assistant commissioner of the Big West Conference, Commissioner Dennis Farrell announced Thursday.

Halvaks, who was responsible for event management and marketing of the Freedom Bowl and Pigskin Classic football games and the $5 - million OCSA budget, will handle similar responsibilities for the Big West, as well as assist with compliance and eligibility.

“With television revenues dwindling at both the professional and collegiate athletic levels, I think it’s imperative that we, as a conference, generate additional monies through the corporate communities,” Farrell said in a Big West release. “Rob brings experience, expertise and a proven track record that will tremendously benefit the Big West.”

Halvaks, who fills the vacancy left by Farrell when Farrell took the commissioner’s job this past summer, is no stranger to the Big West. The 1975 Michigan graduate filled a variety of roles at UC Irvine from 1979-89, including senior associate athletic director (1987-89), senior women’s administrator (1983-89), business manager (1981-83) and sports information director (1979-81).