Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 5, 1993 TAG: 9311050019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: OVERLAND PARK, KAN. LENGTH: Medium
Dempsey was chosen by a search committee that narrowed a list of 250 candidates to Dempsey and three others. He would become the third executive director in the Dempsey history of the college governing body.
He was selected over Judith Sweet, athletic director at the University of California-San Diego, and William Cobey, a former secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources.
R. Gerald Turner, chancellor of the University of Mississippi, was thought to be the front-runner among the four finalists until he withdrew his name after being interviewed Monday.
An official announcement was scheduled for 3 p.m. today at the NCAA's headquarters.
Dempsey would not comment on the report, said Butch Henry, an assistant athletic director at Arizona.
The finalists were interviewed Monday and Tuesday, and Dempsey's name was recommended to the Presidents Commission, sources who asked not to be identified told the AP.
The Presidents Commission, which has spearheaded reform efforts in the NCAA in recent years, was expected to approve the recommendation but does have veto power.
NCAA president Joseph Crowley, the head of the search committee, was not available and was referring calls to the NCAA, said a secretary reached at his office at the University of Nevada.
Dempsey would succeed Dick Schultz, who was pressured to resign amid allegations that interest-free loans were made to athletes at Virginia while he was athletic director there. Schultz has denied knowing about the loans.
Dempsey was athletic director at Houston from 1979-82. Violations of NCAA rules, including cash payments from coaches to players, were committed during his tenure and resulted in two years' probation in 1988. Dempsey was neither accused nor implicated in any illegal payments.
Dempsey has been secretary-treasurer of the NCAA since January and has served on numerous NCAA committees, including the Division I basketball committee and the football TV committee.
by CNB