Once again, a coach is expected to assume the position of athletics director at MSU.

MSU President M. Peter McPherson will recommend to the Board of Trustees on Feb. 13 that Ron Mason, the all-time winningest collegiate hockey coach, be the university’s next athletics director.

MSU’s hockey coach is expected to announce at today’s press conference his intention to step down as head coach at the end of the season.

Mason will succeed athletics director Clarence Underwood, who will retire when his contract expires on June 30.

If Mason takes the job, he will become the third coach in the past 20 years to fill the position. Doug Weaver (1980-89) and George Perles (1990-92) were the other two.

Weaver was an assistant football coach from 1956-57 under Duffy Daugherty and Perles was MSU’s head football coach from 1982 to 1994.

Trustee Joel Ferguson said the responsibilities of the coach and athletics director are basically the same.

“Coaches have an understanding of academics and athletics,” Ferguson said. “And coaches manage a lot of people.”

Ferguson said Underwood has done an outstanding job, and with respect to the other athletics directors, he has found coaches to excel in the position.

“To me Doug Weaver and George Perles were two of the best - they understood the coaches entirely and they understood what was going on.”

In 1992, Perles was removed from the position by the trustees, which left MSU facing NCAA sanctions.

Trustee Robert Weiss, along with Ferguson, was a trustee when Perles was athletics director, said past experiences were not an issue when Mason’s name became available.

Weiss said Mason has always been a candidate, and his record and knowledge speak for themselves.

“He’s always been my top choice, but he’s never been interested until now,” Weiss said.

“I think Ron has been successful at everything he’s done, and I think this is just another feather in his cap.”

Perles said the most demanding part of being athletics director and coach was balancing the time.

He said he had to work a little harder to find the time needed.

“Sometimes you have to sacrifice the vacation time and leisure time to work,” Perles said.

Perles said Mason will have an easier time if he decides to step down as coach and concentrate on the one position.

“A big advantage is that it was announced four months ahead of time,” Perles said. “He can go into the A.D. office and see what goes on day to day - that’s a big advantage.”

Perles said coaches have an advantage because they’re already use to directing players, adding Mason already directs 30 players on a daily basis.

He said he expects Mason to fulfill all his duties and become a top-notch athletics director.