UNC Asheville Announces Formation of Athletic Director Search Committee; UNCA’s Tom Cochran to Provide Interim Leadership

UNC Asheville Chancellor James Mullen announced today the formation of a 17-member Athletic Director Search Committee to seek a replacement for current Athletic Director Tom Hunnicutt, who retires April 15th. Tom Cochran, UNCA dean of faculty and special assistant to the chancellor for athletics, will provide interim leadership for the athletic department following Hunnicutt’s departure.

"We believe we have put together an outstanding committee of faculty, staff, student-athletes and community members," Mullen said. The Athletic Director Search Committee will be chaired by James Pitts, UNCA vice chancellor for academic affairs. Pitts is a former college basketball player at Northwestern University and was an Academic All-American.

In addition to Pitts, the members of the Athletic Director Search Committee are: Tom Byers, UNCA special assistant to the chancellor; Chappell Carter, UNCA Board of Trustees member; Tom Crouch, Young Transportation vice president and UNCA Bulldog Club president; Dr. Chuck DePaolo, Asheville orthopedic surgeon; Doug Haldane, retired Asheville banker and UNCA athletic department volunteer; Dave Hart, retired Southern Conference commissioner and consultant to the UNCA athletic department; Eric Iovacchini, UNCA vice chancellor for student affairs; Keith Krumpe, UNCA associate professor of chemistry; Pam Laughon, UNCA associate professor of psychology and former athletic department senior women's administrator; Dolly Mullen, UNCA assistant professor of political science and interim director of minority and diversity affairs; Phil Murphy, Massasoit of N.C. president and Bulldog Club vice president; Gary Nallan, UNCA associate professor of psychology and faculty athleticrepresentative; Tom Outlaw, Ingles Markets vice president of sales; Kelly Ratterman, UNCA senior and women's soccer player; Jason Ronai, UNCA junior and baseball player; and Maggie Smith, UNCA recreation director.

The chancellor will charge the A.D. Search Committee at its first meeting at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, in the private dining room, UNCA dining hall. The meeting is open to the public.

Cochran, who holds a doctorate in psychology from Kent State University, has served in teaching, administrative and athletic capacities since joining UNCA in 1975. Now dean of faculty, Cochran has served as assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs and interim vice chancellor for academic affairs. In 1996, Cochran was appointed by former UNCA Chancellor Patsy Reed as special assistant to the chancellor for athletics, a position he still holds. He served as interim athletic director in 1992-93 and coached women’s basketball in the mid-70s.

"Tom Cochran is an experienced academic administrator who also brings experience as a coach and athletic administrator," said Mullen. "He provides an important continuity between academics and athletics. I am confident he will provide strong leadership."

Mullen expects Cochran to provide interim leadership for several months. "We hope to have a new athletic director on campus by the end of the academic year or shortly after that, but our emphasis will be finding the best person," Mullen said. "We want to hire someone who will build on what Tom Hunnicutt has accomplished during his time here and take us to the next level of excellence in NCAA Division I."

Media Contacts:

• Mike Gore, UNCA Sports Information Director, 828/251-6923
• Merianne Epstein, UNCA Public Information Director, 828/251-6526