The University of Utah has retained a national firm to assist in finding a replacement for retiring athletic director Chris Hill with hopes of completing the search by the end of June.
On Monday, the U. announced it had retained Ventura Partners, a California-based talent management firm that specializes in collegiate athletics, to assist in finding the school’s next athletic director. Additionally, university president Ruth Watkins has named a 14-person search committee.
That committee will make recommendations to Watkins, who will ultimately choose the new director.
“Our new athletic director will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the future direction and vitality of our university,” Watkins said in a statement. “I’m grateful to everyone on the committee for their time and willingness to participate in the search. Each member brings a unique perspective and I know each will bring valuable insight to the selection process.”
The U.’s search committee will be co-chaired by Utah chief strategy officer Pattie Ross and Utah athletics’ associate director for development Manny Hendrix.
The other members of the committee are:
• Elizabeth Abel, associate athletic director.
• Lisa Eccles, community member and philanthropist.
• Christian Gardner, university trustee.
• Jeff Herring, chief human resources officer.
• Harriet Hopf, interim associate vice president for faculty affairs and professor of anesthesiology.
• Nate Orchard, former U. athlete.
• Karen Paisley, associate dean, College of Health.
• David Parkin, university trustee.
• Robert Payne, associate general counsel.
• Robert Pendleton, associate professor of medicine and chief medical quality officer.
• Lynne Roberts, head coach, women’s basketball.
• Gordon Wilson, associate vice president for administrative services.
Hill has been the university’s athletic director since 1987. In March, he announced he would retire this spring, ending his 31-year run as the head of Ute athletics.
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