KU begins athletics director search; Hemenway, Jennings take the lead

LAWRENCE -- Chancellor Robert Hemenway and interim athletics director Drue Jennings will comprise the search team to select the next athletics director at the University of Kansas. Hemenway made that announcement today and said he hopes to name the next athletics director before July 1.

Hemenway and Jennings already have begun to identify potential candidates to become the school's 14th athletics director.

Hemenway, who serves as chair of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, and Jennings will consult with head coaches and staff in the KU athletics department. They also will seek recommendations from athletic administrators, faculty and campus leaders throughout the NCAA as they pursue potential candidates for the position.

"My goal is to use the coming weeks to identify the best candidates, both internally and nationally, and then narrow our list from there," said Hemenway. "We will involve the KU Athletics Corporation Board in the process. My hope is that we can have a new athletics director selected no later than July 1."

Hemenway added that it will be important to maintain the confidentiality of candidates as much as possible during the search.

"We will not release the names of potential candidates," he said. "The best people from other universities won't want to be considered here if they think it will damage their position at home."

Jennings will continue in the role of interim athletics director until a permanent director is named.