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WCU Athletic Director Announces His Retirement

University to begin search for new head of athletics

By Carey Phillips



Larry Travis

Western Carolina Athletic Director Larry Travis has announced plans to retire in June. Chancellor John Bardo said the process to find a new director will begin next week.

"I have been thinking about retiring for some time," Travis said. "The end of the academic year seemed an appropriate time. By announcing my plans now, it will provide an opportunity for continuity since a search can be conducted and completed before I leave the department.

"I have been involved in the fast pace of Division I athletics for more than 35 years, so retirement will take some adjustment," the 58-year-old Travis said.

Travis came to WCU in 1992 after serving as associate athletic director at Navy. He also was athletic director at Kansas State and associate AD at Georgia Tech in addition to being an assistant football coach at Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, Louisville and Georgia Tech.

"My years at Western have been good years," Travis said. "Folks in athletic programs at universities the size of Western work very hard and go the extra mile to get everything possible from the resources they have. We've been blessed with good people at Western, and I'm proud of our accomplishments."

"I appreciate Larry Travis' work and enthusiasm on behalf of Western Carolina University athletics over the past seven and a half years," Bardo said. "During my five-year tenure at Western, I have worked closely with Larry, both in developing our program at Western and in the development of the Southern Conference. Larry leaves this program with a balanced budget, and he has created a base from which the university can build.

"He has been a significant leader in assisting the Southern Conference in reworking its bylaws and helped focus attention on the need for professional development for the league's officials," the chancellor said.

Travis has made numerous high profile hirings in his tenure, including two head coaches for men's basketball and baseball and one for football.

One of his best received moves was the hiring of Wyoming Coach Benny Dees to head the men's basketball program prior to the 1993-94 season. Although he stayed only two years, Dees laid the foundation for Phil Hopkins to guide the Catamounts to the Southern Conference championship and NCAA Tournament in 1996.

During 1999, several employees have left the athletic department for other jobs. They include associate athletic director for women's sports Marcy Girton, sports information directors Craig Wells and Diana Koval, equipment manager Brian Moore, tennis coach Fred Weinman and baseball coach Rodney Hennon.

Travis said the departures were not related to each other in any way and represented employees moving up to better positions elsewhere. Others said at least some of the moves were triggered by unhappiness with how the athletic department was being run.

Earlier this year, Bardo appointed a task force to conduct a comprehensive review of WCU's intercollegiate athletic program. Notably absent from the group was Travis.

An outside consultant was hired to help conduct the review. Interviews have been conducted with all coaches and Travis.

The task force will hold an open forum at 4 p.m. today (Thursday) in the Grandroom of Hinds University Center. All WCU students, faculty and staff as well as members of the community are encouraged to participate.

Back to Archive: 10-14-99.