Bowlsby to leave for Stanford
By the Press-Citizen
The man who has headed up the University of Iowa’s athletic department for nearly 15 years is leaving to become the athletic director at Stanford.
Stanford announced today that it has hired Bob Bowlsby to take over its athletic program, one of the most distinguished all-around programs in the country.
Bowlsby leaves quite a legacy at Iowa. He hired Kirk Ferentz to replace Hayden Fry, Steve Alford to replace Tom Davis, Jim Zalesky to replace Dan Gable and Tom Brands to replace Zalesky. He also spearheaded the soon-to-be-complete $90 million renovation of Kinnick Stadium.
Most of his time at Iowa was spent as the men’s athletic director. The men’s and women’s department merged with the retirement of women’s director Christine Grant, and Bowlsby took over all athletic programs.
Bowlsby has a national reputation as an athletic director, known among other things for his sound financial management of the Iowa program, which remains one of a minority of major athletic programs to not operate with a budget deficit.
At one point, Duke University expressed interest in Bowlsby. He didn’t take the job and ended up with a big pay raise. UI pays him a salary of just more than $366,000, making him one of the university’s most highly paid employees. Stanford hasn’t revealed his new salary, but did say he will start in his new job in July.
The press release from Stanford University:
University of Iowa Director of Athletics Bob Bowlsby has been selected as Stanford University’s next athletic director, President John Hennessy announced Tuesday. He will begin work in July.
Bowlsby has gained a national reputation for his skill and integrity in running one of the country’s most ambitious and successful Division I-A athletics programs. At Stanford, he will succeed Ted Leland, who left at the beginning of the year to become vice president for university advancement at the University of the Pacific. Former football coach Bill Walsh has been director of the department on an interim basis since Jan. 1.
As Iowa’s athletic director for nearly 15 years, Bowlsby has piloted a program that has excelled at football, men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling and many other sports while providing oversight for a department that includes 24 varsity sports and managing a budget of $56 million.
“Bob Bowlsby represents the best professional and personal values when it comes to student-athletes, “said Provost John Etchemendy, chair of the search committee. “He understands that the success of an athletics program is not simply measured in wins and losses, but in the academic achievements and character of the young women and men who work so hard on the field and in the classroom. Members of the search committee were very enthusiastic about his selection and are delighted he has accepted our offer.”
Bowlsby said he was honored by the search committee’s decision.
“I look forward to devoting my full energies to the continuation and enhancement of the great achievements that have been the hallmarks of Stanford’s academic and athletics histories, “he said. “Stanford challenges each student-athlete to be the best they can be, both academically and athletically, and I welcome the opportunity to participate actively in all phases of their experiences at the university. I have tremendous respect for Ted Leland and I am enthusiastic about building on the wonderful work he has accomplished.”
Leland stepped down after a 14-year tenure that included 11 Directors’ Cups, 50 national team championships and noteworthy improvements in fundraising and athletic facilities.
In addition to the athletic success of his program, Bowlsby is known for his superb management skills. He has excelled in the recruitment of a top-notch coaching staff, facilities development and fundraising. He is currently overseeing a $90 million renovation of Kinnick Stadium and construction of a $12 million tennis facility. Prior to being appointed athletic director at Iowa, he served in the same role at the University of Northern Iowa.
Bowlsby was named Central Region Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 2001-02, and Sports Business Journal selected him from the four regional award winners as the National Athletics Director of the Year. The award highlights the efforts of athletic directors for their commitment and positive contributions to campuses and their surrounding communities. He has served on numerous NCAA committees. He also has served as an executive committee member of both the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association and was president of the I-A Directors’ group in 2002-03.
Bowlsby, 54, is a board member of the Iowa Scholarship Fund Inc. and the Honda Awards program, which recognizes the nation’s top female collegiate athletes each year. He and his wife, Candice, have four children.
“This is a lifetime opportunity for Candice and me, “he said. “We are very excited about becoming members of the Stanford community.”
Members of Stanford’s athletic director search committee were: John Bravman (Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education); Mariann Byerwalter (University Trustee, Chairman of Board of Stanford Hospital); Patrick Dunkley (General Counsel’s office); John Etchemendy (Provost, search committee chair); Dick Gould (former men’s tennis coach); Pat Jones (Vice Provost for Faculty Development, former chair of Committee on Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation); Tony Meier (alumnus, member of the Athletics Board); Larry Mohr (alumnus, member of the DAPER Investment Board); Nji Nnamani (student, women’s volleyball player); Jerry Porras (emeritus professor of management, former Faculty Athletics Representative); Krista Rappahahn (student, women’s basketball player); Tim Warner (Vice Provost for Budgets and Auxiliaries); Howard Wolf (Vice President for Alumni Affairs and President of the Stanford Alumni Association).
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