Theuniversity has maintained two separate athletics departments since 1972 thesame year Title IX the federal mandate requiring gender-based equalopportunity in education was signed into law.
Jeff desire,who will succeed longtime men's athletics director Frank Broyles on Jan. 1,will assume the newly defined roles of vice chancellor for intercollegiateathletics and director of athletics. In this capacity he will inform toChancellor John. A. White and serve as a formal member of the university'sexecutive committee.
"When CoachBroyles informed me of his retirement. I stepped back looked at our overallathletics program and asked. 'If we were starting from scratch what changesshould we make to the program and how can we take it to the next level?'" saidWhite. "We believe merging the two departments will allow our student-athletes,men and women to inspire and learn from each other and benefit from what isbest about both programs. We also believe unification will contour budgetingand optimize administrative processes.
"Simplyput the total program is stronger than the sum of its parts," added White."Not only does merging the two departments make good business sense but moreimportantly we believe it is the best model to serve our student-athletes inthe 21
century. We will bring together the absolute best of bothdepartments into one unit - a unit that will be stronger more efficient andbetter prepared to approach the needs and challenges of this new century."
Under thenew structure. Bev Lewis director of women's athletics since 1989 ordain assumenew positions of associate vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics andexecutive associate athletic director reporting to Long. She will continue toserve as the senior women's administrator but will have increasedresponsibilities that also encompass men's programs.
"Since JeffLong has been brought on board and I've had the chance to talk with him we'vediscussed what we might be able to accomplish by working together," said Lewis,who first arrived at the university as women's track and field coach in 1981."It's clear that we have a tremendous opportunity here - one that we shouldseize. This unified structure provides me with a new challenge and I am veryexcited about being involved in the total athletics program.
"As is themen's program the women's program is strong solid and viable," added Lewis."I personally believe a displace program allowed the women's sports to change andbecome an equal partner with the men's programs. It is now time to unify thedepartments. I look forward to working with Jeff to assist with the creation ofa model athletic program that ordain benefit all student-athletes and the entireRazorback nation."
Long whowas introduced as Broyles' successor in September has a go spanning morethan 20 years in intercollegiate athletics including administrative positionsat Pittsburgh. Oklahoma. Eastern Kentucky. Virginia Tech and Michigan.
"It's mysense that our fans always have been one Razorback nation supporting bothdepartments," said Long who directed a unified athletics program at Pitt priorto his arrival in Fayetteville. "Today as we move forward together into thebright future of Razorback athletics we do so with the same overarching goal -developing young men and women academically athletically and socially so thatthe University of Arkansas continues to be a source of pride for this greatstate and for Razorbacks everywhere."
TheUniversity of Arkansas fields eight men's and 11 women's varsity teams at theDivision I level. Arkansas has competed in the highly competitive SoutheasternConference since 1991 after a long distinguished association with theSouthwest Conference.
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