By Mary Margaret Colliver

"Carr Sports Associates, Inc. presented an impressive assessment and strategy proposal for the athletics director search process. The strategy included starting the search immediately in order to expedite the search process. In addition, the firm offered the most cost effective proposal."

-- Lee T. Todd Jr.,
president,
University of Kentucky

May 14, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. announced today that the university has signed a contract with a national search firm, Carr Sports Associates, Inc., to serve as a consultant in the search for a new UK athletics director.

Carr Sports Associates, Inc., specializes in intercollegiate athletic searches and management consulting, and the company is located in Gainesville, Fla. The president is William C. (Bill) Carr III, who has 10 years experience in this work. Carr served a four-year term as athletics director at the University of Houston. While he was at Houston, he was elected to serve on the NCAA Management Council and was instrumental in the creation of Conference USA.

A University of Florida graduate, Carr was named director of athletics at Florida at the age of 33, at the time the youngest AD in the country. His associate, Gene Corrigan, was the former commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference and president of the NCAA. A graduate of Duke University, Corrigan also served as director of athletics for the University of Virginia and Notre Dame University.

The firm was selected following the university's review of seven national search firms' proposals. Three firms were in the final round for selection.

"Carr (Sports Associates) was selected because of its experience in athletics director searches for several schools across the country," said Todd.

Carr's AD searches included North Carolina State University, Iowa State University, University of Evansville, Montana State University, South Florida University, Washington State University, Tulane University, California State/Sacramento University, University of Toledo, North Texas University, University of Southwest Louisiana. The firm also has assisted in searches for the commissioner of the Mid-American Conference and for head coaches for football and women's basketball at the University of Maryland.

"Carr Sports Associates, Inc. presented an impressive assessment and strategy proposal for the athletics director search process," said Todd. "The strategy included starting the search immediately in order to expedite the search process. In addition, the firm offered the most cost effective proposal."

The contract between UK and Carr Sports Associates, Inc. is a fixed fee contract for $45,000 plus expenses.

The firm's search for UK's athletics director is expected to be completed by the end of July. Following the identification of candidates by the firm, and after receiving input from the UK Athletics Director Advisory Group, Todd anticipates making a final decision by early August.