The West Virginia University Athletic Department is "a matter of days rather than weeks" away from hiring a new associate athletic director for administration and finance, said Athletic Director Oliver Luck.
The position, essentially the Athletic Department's chief financial officer, has been vacant since the death of Russ Sharp in mid-March.
Luck and his search committee have received resumes from several candidates since the position's opening. Next week, Luck expects to have candidates on campus for interviews. He said he plans to have someone fill the position permanently by the end of the month.
"When we came in (Athletic Director Emeritus) Eddie (Pastilong) told me the search was his number one priority," Luck said. "I asked him what I needed to jump on immediately and he said I need to get Russ' replacement on board."
The associate athletic director for administration and finance is responsible for assessing the financial impact of every decision made by the Athletic Department. This includes preparing yearly budgets managing the $60 million the Athletic Deptartment receives, as well as long-term planning for several projects WVU has waiting in the wings.
Luck outlined a list of improvements that will need to be made in the near future. The list is headed by finishing the new basketball practice facility, then developing a modest building to accompany the new women's soccer practice field, followed by addressing locker room problems with men's soccer and baseball. After that, Luck lists improving the outdoor track, which was ineligible to host a meet last year due to poor condition.
"We're looking for someone who understands numbers, understands budgeting and understands short and long-term fiscal management," Luck said. "And if there's one additional thing, I would say we are looking for someone who understands infrastructure."
New infrastructure is also a key part of WVU's future plans. Eventually, Luck hopes to build a parking facility close to the Coliseum and a pedestrian bridge crossing Patteson Drive from the Creative Arts Center, but notes those plans require a lot of cooperation with the University.
"We need to make sure that 25 years from now our facilities are still wowing recruits," Luck said.
All of the projects Luck mentioned, except for the new basketball practice facility, remain in the preliminary stages of planning. The athletic department currently has no set timetable for completion of these projects.
Even before Oliver Luck became WVU's Athletic Director, Sharp was researching what it would take to finance these projects. That work has since been taken over by Associate Athletic Director Mike Parsons and staff.
Though the new hire will be taking over most of Sharp's former duties, he or she will not be assuming all of them. Sharp, a former athletic trainer, also met with athletic coaches on a regular basis and assisted with football game day operations – something the newcomer will not be asked to do.
"Russ was a supremely talented individual," Luck said. "Replacing him is something that is not going to be possible. But we need to find someone who can move the University forward and continue his good work."
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