The committee to select LSU’s next athletic director has composed a preliminary list of candidates to be discussed at Friday’s meeting. Jack Weiss, LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center chancellor and committee chairman, released the list Wednesday but said additional candidates may be added before Friday’s meeting. The most notable candidates on the 16-person list include: Verge Ausberry, LSU senior associate athletic director; Greg McGarity, University of Florida executive associate athletic director; Thomas “Tom” Bowen, San Jose State athletic director; and Michael McNeely, former Indiana University athletic director. Current Athletic Director Skip Bertman resigns from his post June 30. He will then assume an athletic director emeritus role with an emphasis on fundraising. Ausberry said he contacted Dan Parker of Atlanta’s Parker Executive Search firm in January. LSU paid the firm $75,000 to facilitate its search. “When I found out this job was definitely becoming open, I told them I would be very interested,” Ausberry said. “I’ve been at LSU for quite some time and know this program inside and out.”
Ausberry, a former LSU football player, started as an academic advisor in 1992. Since then, he has served as assistant director of development for the Tiger Athletic Foundation and as LSU’s assistant athletic director before moving to his senior role in 2006. Ausberry said working under Bertman has prepared him to continue LSU’s athletic prominence. He said once he decided to pursue the position, he informed Bertman of his plans. “He didn’t say he was supporting me over anybody else,” Ausberry said. “I’m always loyal to my boss. I didn’t want it to look like I was trying to apply for a job if there are any chance he was going to remain in the position.” Ausberry said he has “not yet contemplated” his future at LSU if he does not become the next athletic director.LSU Senior Associate Athletic Director Herb Vincent is rumored to be a candidate but told The Daily Reveille on Wednesday he has not yet filed an application. McGarity joined Florida’s staff in 1992. Before then, he served as an assistant athletic director for the University of Georgia. McGarity oversees tennis and swimming and diving while helping Florida’s athletic director supervise football and men’s basketball. Bowen, San Jose State’s athletic director, served as director of community affairs for the San Francisco 49ers prior joining San Jose State in 2004. McNeely served as Indiana University athletic director from 2001-2002. Before assuming his position at Indiana, he was vice president and CEO of the San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001. Since 2003 McNeely has worked as an attorney for sports administrators, coaches and search committees. In addition to McGarity and Ausberry, another candidate has Southeastern Conference experience. Jeff Barber served as South Carolina’s senior associate athletic director from 1999-2006 prior taking the athletic director position at Liberty University.
—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]