ODU hires consultant to assess sports department

Before beginning the search for its first new athletic director in 40 years, Old Dominion is taking stock of the department, hiring a consultant to conduct an assessment of everything from facilities to finances, the school announced Tuesday.

"This is routine procedure for any key position with the university," vice president Alonzo Brandon said. "No different than when president (Roseann) Runte left and we hired a consultant to do an assessment of the university."

Athletic director Jim Jarrett, on the job since 1970, will retire next June. A screening committee, led by Brandon and former president James Koch, has been formed to hire his replacement.

First, though, Carr Sports Associates will conduct its review of the department. The firm, based in Florida, was formed in 1997 by Bill Carr, a former AD at Florida and Houston. Richmond, George Mason, Illinois and Clemson are among its recent clients.

"I believe it is essential before we embark on a search for a new athletic director that we obtain an objective and thorough third-party assessment of our entire program," ODU president John Broderick said in a statement. "We have been blessed with Jim Jarrett's outstanding leadership for many years, but we owe it to our search process and interested candidates to have a comprehensive report outlining our strengths, opportunities and challenges."

The study is expected to be completed in late fall. The job will be advertised after the study is finished.

In addition to Koch and Brandon, committee members will come from the Board of Visitors, the Intercollegiate Foundation board, the faculty, and the athletic and human resources departments. A student representative and a former athlete will also be added.

The goal is to hire a new AD before Jarrett leaves.

"This shows our consistency in taking the right steps to get the right AD in," Brandon said.

Ed Miller, (757) 446-2372, ed.miller@pilotonline.com