Texas A&M announces 7-member search committee, timeline to find next athletics director
Texas A&M has named R.C. Slocum as interim director of athletics at Texas A&M. Now the Aggies have established a 7-member search committee to find the permanent AD.
Dave Dunlap, who graduated in 1983 and is a past chair of the 12th Man Foundation Board of Trustees, will chair the search committee.
The Aggies said they hope to identify the next AD within 4 to 6 weeks after former AD Ross Bjork was introduced last week at Ohio State. Bjork will join Ohio State on July 1, but will begin to attend games and tournaments starting on March 1.
The committee will recommend finalists to Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III. The school will also use Turnkey, an executive search firm, in the initial recruitment and screening process.
Along with supervising coaches and fundraising, the job of the AD at A&M includes overseeing 600 athletes across 20 varsity sports, 300-plus full-time staff and a $165 million-plus budget.
Additional committee members include:
- Joe Fields, deputy athletics director for administration and student-athlete experience
- Jim Schlossnagle, baseball head coach
- Joni Taylor, women’s basketball head coach
- Chris Cooper ’89, former student and past chair of the 12th Man Foundation Board of Trustees
- Paul Batista, J.D., associate professor of kinesiology and sport management, and faculty athletics representative
- Susan Ballabina, Ph.D., chief of staff, Office of the President