The revolving door to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has been spitting out athletics directors faster than President M. Peter McPherson can feed in new ones.
So while MSU’s next athletics director will face gender equity issues and predecessors’ lackluster performances, his or her most difficult task may be staying in office for more than a few years.
Clarence Underwood, who took over the department in April 1999 after Merritt Norvell resigned mid-contract, plans to retire in June. National search firm Spencer Stuart has been hired to find MSU’s new athletics director - the fifth person to lead the department since 1990.
We hope the newest athletics director comes without baggage, because he or she will have plenty to pack away left behind from years of turmoil in MSU’s sports programs.
Former head football coach George Perles was fired after he served in the position from 1990-92, and NCAA violations under his watch left the university facing sanctions. The university hired Merrily Dean Baker to replace Perles at the helm, but she resigned from the post two years later.
Norvell’s term in the office was little more than lackluster - with highs that included the opening of the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center and lows such as giving the ax to men’s lacrosse and fencing as varsity sports.
Underwood, too, has had his moments. Shortly after taking over as interim athletics director, he told The State News, “Women don’t usually go out for sports because they love the sport. Men go out for football, for example, because they love the game. Women go out for sports because of a scholarship.”
He later apologized and said his statements were taken out of context, but such words reflect poorly on the department no matter how they were meant. It’s not surprising Underwood has seemed to publicly take the back seat in running the department.
But this university needs a strong leader who can rise above past disasters and be the voice for a diverse and proud athletics program.
We need someone, regardless of race or gender, who sees the importance of Title IX rules about gender equality and emphasizes academics with athletics. This person needs to be a voice who can rise above the majesty of individual sports programs and unify men’s and women’s sports under one department.
Top-notch coaches have helped bring several of MSU’s sports programs into the top tier nationally. Now we need an athletics director who can raise the rest of the department to the same level.
