University administrators and faculty met Monday afternoon to present, discuss and review possible candidates for the men’s athletics director position.
Steve Yussen, men’s athletics director search committee chairman and college of education and human development dean, presented several candidates to Vice President and Chief of Staff Tonya Moten Brown, while the committee members discussed their thoughts and impressions of those presented.
Yussen was unable to specify how many candidates were presented or who the candidates are.
“We’ve talked to a handful of people on the telephone and we’ve talked to several people in person,” Yussen said.
The men’s athletics director position was vacated on Dec. 6 when former director Mark Dienhart resigned.
Dienhart resigned after University President Mark Yudof said Dienhart’s contract, along with Vice President for Student Development and Athletics McKinley Boston’s, would not be renewed amid the men’s basketball athletic scandal. Interim director Tom Moe took over the position immediately.
Yussen said Tuesday afternoon that Brown and other University administrators have not decided whether they should stick with the candidates they have or look further.
“We had a meeting and no decisions were made,” Yussen said. “It’s going to be a little while.”
Further discussions will take place within the University before any decisions are made, he added.
Formed late last spring, the 14-member search committee is composed of representatives from the men’s and women’s athletics departments, general counsel’s office, University faculty and students, along with a consultant from a private search firm.
While Yussen would not provide any specifics on the candidates, he did say the process was going well.
“I think we’ve had some really quality people step forward who are seriously interested in (the position),” he said.

Patrick Hayes covers administration and welcomes comments at [email protected].