Editor’s Note: Montana State president Waded Cruzado sent the following letter to Montana State faculty and students about the ongoing search for a new Montana State athletic director. Peter Fields, MSU’s AD since 2002, will not have his contract renewed upon its expiration on June 30.
Dear MSU Community:
Today, I am announcing the start of the search process for the new Montana State University (MSU) Athletic Director. As you know, this is a very important position for MSU.
We have been fortunate to have Peter Fields serving in this capacity for the past 14 years. During his tenure, Peter elevated the academic stature and performance of our student athletes, hired and retained extraordinary coaches, improved many of our athletic facilities and provided a financially sound foundation for our college sports. We are thankful to Peter for his many years of devoted service to our Bobcats and to Montana State University.
In order to maximize participation and ensure an efficient search process, we have formed two groups: a Search Committee and an Advisory Group to the Search Committee. I have asked Terry Leist, MSU Vice President for Administration and Finance, to provide leadership to the search process. As you may know, Terry joined us 10 years ago as the Budget Director for Athletics. Terry understands the operations of the department well and, in addition, he is an avid Bobcat; both attributes qualifying him well to lead this search process.
The Search Committee members are:
Terry Leist, MSU Vice President of Administration and Finance
Camie Bechtoldt, MSU Senior Associate Athletic Director
Brett Forder, President, Bobcat Club
George Haynes, MSU Faculty Athletic Representative
Ellen Kreighbaum, Former MSU Athletic Director
Chris Kukulski, Bozeman City Manager
Bob Mokwa, Member, MSU University Athletic Committee
Chad Newell, Bobcat Student Athlete
Riley Nordgaard, Bobcat Student Athlete
Cory Pulfrey, Chairman, MSU Alumni Foundation Board
Melanie Stocks, Director, MSU Sports Facilities
The following supporters have been invited to join the Advisory Group to the Search Committee:
Terry Leist, MSU Vice President of Administration and Finance
Ginny Hunt, MSU Fastbreak Club
Kirk Keller, Bobcat Track and Field Association (BTFA)
Larry Kirkpatrick, MSU Bobcat Volleyball
Sue Schmitt, MSU Bobcat Golf
Steve Sparks, MSU 6th Man Club
Rick Vancleeve, MSU Quarterback Club
We are in the final stages of identifying a national search firm that can assist MSU in attracting a strong pool of candidates for the position. We plan to invite a group of finalists to campus before the end of the semester and to have the new Athletic Director ready to start no later than July 1, 2016.
I am counting on everybody who cares about Bobcat Athletics to participate during the different stages of this search process. The Search Committee will announce a Calendar of Events and Timeline in the next few weeks.
I look forward to working with the Search Committee, the Advisory Group and with our many Bobcat supporters in this endeavor.
Waded Cruzado
President
