The hire of Arkansas State athletic director Dean Lee as associate vice chancellor in the school’s University Advancement division isn’t expected to stop talks of a possible 2013 football meeting between his school and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
UAPB athletic director Lonza Hardy said Tuesday both schools are close to finalizing a deal that will pit them against teach other on the football field for the first time ever, but they are not in the finalizing stages.
“We’re close,” Hardy said. “I would think that might not halt the process, but I’m not really sure. It depends on what that situation (at A-State) will be in light of the fact the AD has stepped down.”
A-State on Tuesday announced Lee’s hire and named senior associate AD Doug Abel interim AD. Tim Hudson, chancellor of A-State’s Jonesboro campus, has asked A-State system president Chuck Welch to head a national search for Lee’s successor, although a timeline for a new hire has not been specified.
“We expect to move quickly to hire a new AD, “ Welch said in a news release. “We will be looking for an individual who understands the business of athletics and is poised to further the momentum ASU is currently experiencing. We expect to attract high-caliber candidates who bring with them the leadership expertise to take ASU’s athletic programs to the next level.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Lee became athletic director in July 2002 and his department has enjoyed much progress since. The Red Wolves football team won 10 games for the first time since 1986 and clinched its second Sun Belt Conference championship this past season, and the women’s bowling team has become a regular at the NCAA tournament.
Lee’s most notable hire came in December, when Gus Malzahn was named head football coach after a stint as Auburn’s offensive coordinator.
Lee confirmed talks of a game between the Golden Lions and Red Wolves during a May visit to Harbor Oaks.
“We have had dialogue in the past, and that’s something we would look at,” Lee told The Commercial then. “We want to be a good neighbor. We have played the University of Central Arkansas last year. If the opportunity comes up with UAPB, we would entertain that.”
UAPB coach Monte Coleman’s son Kyle plays at A-State as a wide receiver.