AA seeks new Academic Services director

The Athletic Association is in the midst of a search for its second new Academic Services Director in as many years.

Col. Jim Stevens left the position earlier this semester. He was hired in summer 2003 to replace Carole Moore, who left the position after 11 athletes, including 10 football players, were declared academically ineligible.

According to Director of Athletics Dave Braine, Stevens ' departure was a personal decision.

" He had retired from the Air Force . and he came here and did a very good job, " Braine said. " But I think he found out that he really wanted to completely retire and spend some time with his family. " Braine announced that Stevens retired in the Athletic Association ' s Feb. 24 Board of Directors meeting.

The news of the AA ' s search for a replacement director of Academic Services comes on the heels of the release three weeks ago of the NCAA ' s Academic Progress Rate (APR) report, which scored Tech above average among Division I schools and among public universities. Tech ' s overall score was exactly at the ACC average.

Braine said Stevens ' departure was in no way related to Tech ' s self-reported NCAA violations last fall, which occurred between the years of 2000 and 2003, before changes in the Academic Services office, which included hiring Stevens as director.

The Athletic Association is paying Stevens his normal salary through the end of the year.

" Because he was on a contract, we did allow him to retire because of circumstances and he will be paid through the end of June, " Braine said, noting the circumstances dealt with Stevens ' personal life and his ultimate retirement decision.

" He did a good job and it felt like we owed him that, " Braine said.

Interviews are currently being conducted to find a replacement for Stevens. Braine said the association has specific qualities in mind for candidates.

" We are looking for a person that has a great deal of experience running an academic advising unit at a Division I institution, " Braine said.

" We ' ve talked to quite a few people who look promising, " Braine said. Nonetheless, he added, " Until we ' ve got it narrowed down, I can ' t say anything more on that. "

Braine said the hiring process for the position is an important one. " To me, it ' s like hiring a head coach. "

He said any candidate for the position needs to have a good track record at the schools for which he or she has worked.

Braine said such indicators would include student-athletes performing well academically, good graduation rates and " tremendous recommendations. "

Braine said the job will be a difficult one due to the academic rigor of Tech.

" This is one of the toughest places to go to in the country because of academics and our curriculum, " he said. " To me, this person is a coach. They ' re the academic coach, and it ' s the same situation. It ' s very difficult. "

Troy Peace, an academic advisor at the Athletic Association, assumed the role of interim director of Academic Services at the beginning of February, performing the job in addition to his normal duties.

Peace is paid $1,000 a month in addition to his normal salary to fill both roles.

" I ' ve been very busy, " Peace wrote in an email.

" I am still the advisor for [men ' s basketball and women ' s basketball] and the cheerleaders, but I think that I ' m managing it well, " he wrote.

He added that others in the department have been a big help. " My colleagues have been great and have gone to great effort to assist me in the transition, " he wrote.

With Peace at the helm, Braine said he would not have to feel as rushed in hiring a new director.

" I ' m willing to assist in the role as long as [Braine] needs me to or until the new director is in place, " Peace wrote.

Braine said he does not think the transition period will cause Tech any difficulty with regards to keeping student-athletes eligible.

Peace agreed. " I think that we ' re in good shape, " he wrote.

" We have a staff that works well together and with the continued support of our coaches and administration I think that we should be alright . We all try to do what ' s right on a daily basis and if you ' re not sure, the Compliance Office is there to answer questions. "

Stevens could not be reached for comment.