On Tuesday, the state Board of Regents named Stan Albrecht as USU's 15th president.

"I care deeply about this university and its mission," he said in a statement. "It has the potential to remain one of the outstanding teaching, research and outreach universities in this country."

Albrecht will take over Feb. 1, replacing Kermit Hall, who is leaving to head the State University of New York in Albany.

"Stan fully understands the ambitions, the resources and the people - both inside and outside the institution and, as a result, he will provide superb leadership," Hall said in a statement.

The regents opted not to launch a nationwide search for a new USU leader because Albrecht enjoyed overwhelming support for the position.

"It is reassuring to know that the person we were looking for is already providing leadership at Utah State," Regents Chairman Nolan Karras said. "It is important to continue the momentum of progress at the university and therefore [we] wanted an experienced person at the helm."

Albrecht, a sociologist, earned his doctoral and master's degrees from Washington State University after getting a bachelor's from Brigham Young University. Besides his stint at USU provost, Albrecht was dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at the Logan school. He also has been an administrator and professor at the University of Florida and BYU.

Albrecht's appointment leaves the regents searching for three more permanent college presidents - at Salt Lake Community College, Dixie State College and the Utah College of Applied Technology.