SSU down to three AD finalists

By Noell Barnidge
Created 2008-05-01

Savannah State University has narrowed its search for an athletic director to three finalists, all of whom are scheduled to visit campus early next week.

SSU's finalists are:

Bart Bellairs, Virginia Military Institute assistant AD for operations and marketing, who will visit Monday.

Keshia Campbell, NCAA assistant director of championships, who will visit Tuesday.

Leonard Clark, Wichita State assistant AD for corporate relations, who will visit Wednesday.

SSU vice president for administration Claud Flythe, who oversees the athletic department, said he hopes to reach a decision by May 9 and announce a hire May 10.

To remain impartial, Flythe said he is not serving on the screening committee, which he said is co-chaired by SSU administrators Irvin Clark and Larry Stokes. Flythe said he hopes to submit the committee's recommendation to SSU President Earl Yarbrough soon.

"Once the screening committee gives me its recommendation, I will sit down with Dr. Yarbrough and we'll hopefully be able to make a decision by next Friday," Flythe said.

The three finalists are attempting to fill the void left by Robert "Tony" O'Neal, who on Oct. 4, 2007, unexpectedly resigned as athletic director, a position he held for three years. That same day, Flythe appointed Paula Jackson as interim AD.

Jackson, who applied for the job, is not a finalist. If she decides to remain at SSU, she will return to her role as the senior woman administrator and the assistant AD for compliance, Flythe said. Jackson has worked at SSU since 2005. She is the first woman to serve as the school's AD on an interim basis.

"When I appointed Ms. Jackson as the interim athletic director, I told her that if she did not get the job then she would have the opportunity to return to her position as the assistant athletic director for compliance if she chose to do so," Flythe said.

Administration's vision

Flythe is clear about what he wants in SSU's 15th athletic director.

"It's important that we get the right type of leadership," he said. "I'm looking for a person who has knowledge of how to run a Division I program. I want someone who has experience improving facilities and knowledge of fundraising, someone who buys into the philosophy of the administration."

Bellairs, Campbell and Clark appear to hold the credentials that Flythe desires.

Bellairs, 51, is in his third season as VMI's assistant AD for operations and marketing. According to VMI's Web site, his duties include overseeing much of the daily operation of the department, as well as generating corporate partnerships, providing in-game promotions and coordinating efforts in managing Big South Conference marketing contracts.

Since Bellairs began, VMI's marketing department has seen its revenue double over the past two fiscal years, an increase in promotional and community outreach programs, and a significant increase in licensing revenue.

Bellairs, the winningest basketball coach in VMI history, compiled a 116-191 record in 11 years. He was fired Feb. 28, 2005, after the Keydets' seventh consecutive losing season, and was reassigned to his current position. He has worked as a basketball assistant coach at Maryland, Massachusetts and James Madison.

Bellairs earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and social work in 1979 from Warren Wilson College, where he played basketball and baseball. He earned a master's degree in athletic administration from Western Illinois in 1981.

"I think it's a great fit," Bellairs said of SSU. "I'm interested in going to a school that has a vision. I think the timing is so right. The potential is incredible, and I'm not just talking about athletically, I'm talking about academically, to develop young people to their fullest extent in all areas of their life.

"I'm also impressed with Dr. Yarbrough's vision for Savannah State. That's part of the reason I'm attracted to the job. There's great leadership and vision already in place. I'm very excited to come and talk with them."

Finalists share ideals

Campbell, 38, said she, too, is intrigued by SSU's new administration.

"It's a great institution, and with the new leadership under Dr. Yarbrough it definitely sparked my interest there," Campbell said. "But that's not to say anything negative about the previous administration under Carlton Brown."

Campbell, according to the NCAA's Web site, was named assistant director of championships last year. She was a member of the NCAA's inaugural Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Females.

Prior to joining the NCAA, Campbell was an assistant AD and the senior woman administrator at Hampton University for three years. At Hampton, she was responsible for the daily operation of the department and supervised several sports.

Before arriving at Hampton, Campbell was the women's head basketball coach at South Carolina State for seven years.

Campbell earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1991 and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling in 2003, both at South Carolina State.

Clark was contacted on his Wichita State office phone at 11:10 a.m. and at 2:50 p.m. Thursday. He did not return messages that were left on his voicemail.

According to Wichita State's Web site, Clark is in his fifth year as assistant AD for corporate relations. He also is the executive director of the Wichita State Varsity Club.

Clark coordinates and assists with special event fundraising projects, planned giving, general annual giving fundraising activities, sport management, develops community relations, and is the department's liaison for internship recruitment programs.

Clark previously worked in Wichita State's administration office, where he was director of equal employment opportunity from 1998-2002. He assumed duties as assistant general counsel in 2002.

Clark lettered in football three times, and in track, baseball and basketball one season each at Wichita State. He earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1965. Clark graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 1973.

http://savannahnow.com//node/490716

I wish the Tigers the best of the best in their decision.

I'm hoping they go with Keshia Campbell...she is already very familiar with the MEAC as this is where she matriculated and continued her administrative career!

Not to mention she's a Carolina girl, and a Bulldog to top it all off!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by SCSUDog4Life:
I'm hoping they go with Keshia Campbell...she is already very familiar with the MEAC as this is where she matriculated and continued her administrative career!

Not to mention she's a Carolina girl, and a Bulldog to top it all off!!!!

campbell got any fundraising skills?