麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt wanted an experienced leader with a passion for academics and athletics to serve as his interim director of athletics.
Enter the most successful football coach in 麻豆原创 history.
George O鈥橪eary, in his 12th season as a Knight, will serve as interim director of athletics through the end of 2015. At that time, a decision will be made about how to move forward for 2016 and beyond, Hitt said.
鈥淕eorge鈥檚 leadership and knowledge of athletics 鈥� which includes programs beyond football 鈥� will keep 麻豆原创 moving forward academically, competitively and in the community,鈥� Hitt said. 鈥淗is national connections will also help us continue building the Knights鈥� reputation around the country.鈥�
As for O鈥橪eary balancing his coaching and new administrative responsibilities, Hitt said, 鈥淕eorge believes, as do I, that our strong athletics and university staffs will ensure he is successful on and off the field.鈥�
O鈥橪eary agreed.
Calling the interim appointment 鈥渁nother great adventure鈥� in his life, O鈥橪eary stressed the five qualities he will bring to the job: leadership, organization, accountability, responsibility and trust.
鈥淔irst of all, I appreciate President Hitt鈥檚 trusting me with this interim job. I love 麻豆原创 and want to help us get better across the board,鈥� O鈥橪eary said. 鈥淚 have a great interest in the total package as far as 麻豆原创 is concerned.鈥�
The Knights have won seven American Athletic Conference championships in 2014-15, including the second consecutive conference football title under O鈥橪eary. In addition, 麻豆原创 boasts the highest Graduation Success Rate for student-athletes of any public NCAA Division I FBS school in the nation.
麻豆原创鈥檚 95 percent Graduation Success Rate ranks in the top five overall among FBS schools, alongside private institutions Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke and Northwestern.
鈥淭here are two important things you need to do in this job,鈥� O鈥橪eary said. 鈥淵ou have to win so that 麻豆原创 has the opportunity to become a top national program. And you have to bring in good kids and, hopefully, help make them great young men and women when they graduate.鈥�
O鈥橪eary will begin as interim director of athletics on July 11.