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AD search narrows to 4 finalists
By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor
The search for a director of athletics to lead UB's Division I-A athletics programs is down to four finalists.
The candidates, all of whom are being interviewed on campus this week, are Tom Burman, director of intercollegiate athletics, Portland State University; Warde Manuel, associate athletic director, University of Michigan; Frank Pergolizzi, director of athletics, Southeastern Louisiana University; and Peter Pilling, senior associate athletic director, Brigham Young University.
The athletics director at UB reports directly to the president and has overall responsibility for all athletic, recreation and intramural programs, and the basic (non-degree) physical-education instruction, including the administration of UB's Division I-A intercollegiate athletics program.
One of the new athletic director's first tasks will be to work with the university's Intercollegiate Athletics Board, the faculty athletics representative, and coaches and staff in the Division of Athletics to develop a plan to implement the recommendations of the report prepared by nationally recognized consultant Gene Corrigan. President John B. Simpson hired Corrigan as a consultant in January and charged him with developing recommendations on the steps necessary for UB's athletics teams to be successful in the Mid American Conference (MAC).
Among Corrigan's recommendations were that UB support a select few key sports at the championship level, including football and men's and women's basketball; consider reducing the number of sports and focusing on sports with the best opportunities for success; consider adding sports that have potential for success due to UB location, facilities or expertise, such as ice hockey and lacrosse; identify and provide additional financial support, including private support and support from student fees; and be concerned about academics, improve academic support for student-athletes and address NCAA academic success standards
Simpson also has charged the new athletic director with leading a review of the appropriate size and focus for UB's intercollegiate sports program.
Burman has served as director of intercollegiate athletics at Portland State University since 2000. Prior to that, he worked at the University of Wyoming—first as associate athletics director for development, then as associate athletics director for external relations. He also worked as director of marketing and promotions for the University of Idaho's Department of Athletics.
Burman earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wyoming and an MBA with an emphasis in sports marketing/management from Robert Morris University.
Manuel has held several positions at the University of Michigan, including coordinator of the Wade H. McCree Jr. Incentive Scholars Program, executive staff assistant, assistant athletic director and, since 2000, associate athletic director.
He also is an alumnus of the University of Michigan, earning a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in social work and an MBA from the institution.
Pergolizzi's professional experience includes stints as a high school and college football coach, as well as an athletics administrator.
On the collegiate level, he served as assistant coach at Delaware State College, Dover; Elmhurst College, Dover; and Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Mich., and as head coach at St. Francis College, Loretto, Pa.
While at St. Francis, he also served as assistant director and director of athletics, and was director of athletics at East Tennessee State University before assuming his current post as athletics director at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Pergolizzi earned a bachelor's degree in American civilization from Williamstown College, Williamstown, Mass., and a master's degree in physical education and sports administration from Western Michigan University.
Senior associate athletic director at Brigham Young since 2002, Pilling also has served as associate athletic director for external operations at Villanova University, the University of Wyoming and St. Bonaventure University, and assistant athletic director at Morehead State University, Morehead, Ky.
He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Brigham Young and a master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University.