UM search committee seeking experienced athletic director

ORONO – Substantial experience in directing an athletics program and with NCAA compliance are among the qualities a search committee will seek in the University of Maine’s next athletic director, it was announced Wednesday.

University of Maine President Frederick Hutchinson named a 16-member committee to seek and evaluate candidates for the position vacated last month by Michael Ploszek following a series of NCAA eligibility violations involving several teams.

The committee will be chaired by Charles Rauch, vice president for business and finance, and will conduct a national search.

Other committee members from the university are: James Gilbert, incoming president of the Faculty Senate; student aid director Peggy Crawford; field hockey coach Theresa Kix; associate AD Margaret Zillioux; Robert Holmes, vice president for University Development; Athletics Advisory Board chair Sandra Caron; George Jacobson, faculty representative to the NCAA; men’s basketball coach Rudy Keeling; assistant admissions director Jemal Williamson; student government representative Steve Van Dolman; and student-athletes Seana Dionne and Joe Robinson.

Community representatives are Getchell Brothers president Willard Farnham; Webber Energy Fuels president Larry Mahaney; and social worker Maria Baeza.

Hutchinson said he had told Rauch that the committee should move quickly but not set any deadlines. “The creation of a strong pool of candidates is the overriding consideration,” said Hutchinson.