UConn announced that interim athletic director Paul Pendergast asked UConn president Susan Herbst to take his name out of consideration for the permanent athletic director position.

UConn will begin the process of finding its next athletic director with the help of Parker Executive Search, Inc. of Atlanta. A new AD is expected to be announced in the next three months.

“This is one of the most important positions at the university, given our tremendously successful athletic programs and the challenges ahead in college sports,” Herbst said in a statement. “We seek an extraordinary leader who will shape the future of our program, emphasizing above all else – academic performance, transparency and integrity.  Our new athletic director will build upon the strength of our programs and will be welcomed into this highly ambitious Husky family.  I expect our new leader to maintain the excellence we already have, but to also forge new paths, so that UConn can lead the nation in both winning and student-athlete academic success.  We have such wonderful young men and women in our program, across so many highly competitive sports and I expect our athletic director to be a role model to them and to our entire student body.”

Pendergast will remain at the university, working with the UConn Foundation, and focusing on fundraising for the UConn Health Center and the Division of Athletics. Pendergast will also manage UConn’s outreach efforts and relations with the business community, alumni, partners, donors and fans. 

The Athletic Director Search Committee members are:

Paul Pendergast, Committee Co-Chair, Interim Athletic Director

Carol Polifroni, Committee Co-Chair, Professor of Nursing, and Chair of the President’s Advisory Committee for Athletics.  

Andy Bessette ‘75, Executive Vice President and CAO, The Travelers Companies, Former men’s track All-American and Olympian

Scott Brown, Professor of Educational Psychology, NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative

Andrea Dennis-LaVigne ’03, Former UConn Board of Trustees member, Owner, Bloomfield (Conn.) Animal Hospital

Jim Penders ’94, ‘98, Head Baseball Coach, Former Baseball Student-Athlete

Tom Ritter, ’77 Law, Vice Chairman, UConn Board of Trustees; Partner, Brown Rudnick, LLP

Rachel Rubin ‘77, Chief of Staff, Office of the President