The board voted unanimously Wednesday in favor of President Lou Anna K. Simon’s suggestion to appoint Hollis, former associate athletics director for external relations, as MSU’s 18th director of intercollegiate athletics.

“There was no tugging or pushing or shoving,” Foster said. “We really came to this as a consensus and the future certainly looks very positive.”

Hollis accepts the role after his predecessor, Ron Mason, announced his retirement for June 30, 2008 after six years on the post. Hollis, a 1985 MSU alumnus, was officially named athletics director-designate for the remainder of the calendar year. He will then be named director of intercollegiate athletics, effective Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2013.

So what’s next? Hollis didn’t say if he had plans to break any more world records, but he did give a few general goals.

“Academics and athletics can and will work successfully together at Michigan State University,” he said.

“We celebrate national championships, we celebrate conference championships. We will put our coaches and student athletes in positions where they can be successful and be more successful practice after practice, day after day.”

He also made one specific promise.

“On my part, there will be no rest until it is the norm that the football season will open and will end with the paint of roses on our cleats.”

But it’s his focus on non-revenue sports that students are concerned about.

“I’d like to see other sports get more attention,” secondary education sophomore Gerry Cohoon said. “All we ever hear about is basketball, football and hockey. We have some other good teams that don’t get recognized … baseball, wrestling. They need to be more high profile.”

After graduation, Hollis left to work as an administrative assistant for former MSU Athletics Director Joe Kearney and was eventually promoted to assistant commissioner for the conference. Then he spent two years at the University of Pittsburgh before returning to East Lansing.

Since coming back to MSU in 1995, Hollis has compiled an impressive resume. He is responsible for two attendance world records – one in basketball and one in hockey. In 2001, 74,554 fans witnessed the “Cold War” hockey game between MSU and Michigan. Later, in 2003, Hollis brought “The Basketbowl” basketball game to Ford Field between MSU and Kentucky, where 78,129 attended.

“In addition to the fact that he is an extremely innovative and talented individual, Mark always has had a love for Michigan State as an institution,” said Jeff Hurd, senior associate commissioner for the Western Athletic Conference.

With his family at his side and dressed in green at the board meeting, Hollis accepted the position and did his best to keep his composure.

“Given the formal nature of this forum, I will reserve myself,” he said. “But I’m so excited right now, I just want to reach out and hug everyone.”

Later, at a press conference, Hollis allowed his emotions to come out. In between two standing ovations from coaches, players and faculty of the athletics department, he thanked his co-workers, predecessors, the board and his family.

“I want to thank my wife, Nancy, and my three kids,” he said. “I might be home a little late for dinner for the next 10 to 15 years.”

At the conference, Hollis stressed the importance of the student-athletes.

“Our student-athletes are front and center to all that we do,” he said. “We’re in the business of young people and we have to keep that focus. We provide them with athletic, academic and social support on campus.”