Cal athletic director search committee named; Interim A.D. Mike Williams interested in job

UPDATE: Interim athletic director Mike Williams is interested in a permanent position, via the Chronicle.

Interim Athletic Director Mike Williams is not on the search committee. Even though he’s previously stated he is not interested in the job on a long-term basis, Williams said he would consider the job if the committee names him as a potential candidate.

"If the search committee thinks that I’m the best candidate I’d certainly be willing to have that conversation," Williams said. "I see a lot of the things that need to be done, and I think that I can do them."

Chancellor Nicholas Dirks will be getting plenty of help in finding the new athletic director for the California Golden Bears. Today a search committee was named that will come up with a final list of candidates for the job.

Here are the names on the committee!

Bob Jacobsen, Cal physics professor. Faculty Athletic Representative and Interim Dean of Undergraduate Studies, College of Letters and Science. He likes a lot of cool space physics stuff like dark matter!

Kathleen Correia, UC Berkeley Foundation Trustee. She graduated from Cal in 1976 and founded and sold her own company (Accounting Solutions, a national consulting firm supplying organizations with professionals in accounting, human resources, management information, financial analysis and computer systems).

Margaret Conkey, Professor Emerita of Anthropology and Academic-Athletics Task Force Chair. More on Conkey!

Professor Conkey was one of the first archaeologists to introduce feminist theory into archaeology, and is thus a pioneering figure in the subfields of gender archaeology and feminist archaeology.^[1] Her other recent field research includes an interpretive analysis of Paleolithic art of southern France dating to between 40,000 and 15,000 years ago. She has challenged the theory that cave art was primarily a male practice whose purpose was sympathetic magic to ensure success in big game hunting.

Solomon Hughes, Cal Basketball Student-Athlete Alumnus and current Undergraduate Advisor for Student-Athletes, Stanford University. Blast from the past! Hughes was a prime Ben Braun big man. Could to see him getting involved in academia. Hughes also received his MA in Education from Cal in 2007 and his PhD in Higher Education from the University of Georgia in 2013.

Teri McKeever, Cal women's swimming and diving coach. If you don't know Teri, she is a legend. She's right up there with Jack Clark in terms of Cal coaching greats, and has already coached in one Olympics.

Here is the official announcement from Cal Athletics.

Dear Cal Athletics Community,

The University of California, Berkeley, announced today that a search committee has been formed to advise Chancellor Nicholas Dirks on naming a new Athletic Director. The search committee will be comprised of UC Berkeley administrators, faculty, and alumni, along with a current coach and former student athlete.

Charged with identifying up to three potential candidates for Chancellor Dirks to consider, the committee will begin its work this month with a goal of finalizing candidates by the middle of Spring 2015.

The search committee will be co-chaired by Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Claude Steele and Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance John Wilton. UC Berkeley will also retain Spencer Stuart, a national search firm to assist with recruitment.

Other members on the search committee include:

• Bob Jacobsen, Faculty Athletic Representative and Interim Dean of Undergraduate Studies, College of Letters and Science
• Kathleen Correia, UC Berkeley Foundation Trustee
• Meg Conkey, Professor Emerita of Anthropology and Academic-Athletics Task Force Chair
• Solomon Hughes, Cal Basketball Student-Athlete Alumnus and current Undergraduate Advisor for Student-Athletes, Stanford University
• Teri McKeever, Head Coach for Cal Women’s Swimming and Diving.

In addition, Chancellor Dirks will be assembling an advisory group of faculty, staff, students, and alumni to work with the search committee to specify the requirements and expectations for the University’s next Athletic Director.