Collegiate Sports Associates Leading Athletic Director Search for Boise State University

December 22, 2020 – Collegiate Sports AssociatesĀ hasĀ been called in by Boise State University to assist in finding its next director of athletics. Curt Apsey recently stepped down from the role he has held since 2015 to transition to a job in university-level fundraising.

“I am excited that our search will include Collegiate Sports Associates,” said Marlene Tromp, president of Boise State. “Boise State is nationally recognized for our outstanding athletics programs. We will identify a dynamic leader to complement our talented coaches, staff and student-athletes and work collaboratively to elevate all we do academically and athletically. Bronco Athletics embodies the characteristics that define our institution ā€” creativity, innovation, grit, character, and our famous blue-collar work ethic. We are proud that Bronco Athletics represents our institution, our community and the state of Idaho, and we’re excited to move forward with this search.”

“We are pleased to partner with Collegiate Sports Associates in this national search for our next director of athletics,” said Randy Hales, chair of the search committee and vice president of Boise State’s Foundation board. “I’m confident that Collegiate Sports Associates will provide an invaluable service to Boise State and the search committee in our advisory role to president Tromp.”

Dr. Tromp, the search committee and university and community stakeholders collaborated to develop a list of candidate characteristics that will be targeted in the recruitment effort. With Collegiate Sports Associates’ engagement, a similar collaborative effort will be undertaken to develop a set of candidate qualifications.

Candidate characteristics include:

  • Character and demonstrated integrity.
  • Academically focused.
  • Ability to develop and engage campus and community partnerships.
  • Fiscally responsible; ability to lead revenue generating initiatives.
  • Strong, blue collar work ethic and practices.
  • Ability to prioritize, plan, partner and problem solve.
  • Collaborative, inclusive and visionary team builder.
  • Track record of developing, promoting and expanding a culture of both inspirational and servant leadership.

The search process is anticipated to proceed over the next eight to 10 weeks. Boise State is targeting March 2021 to announce the new director of athletics.

Serving Universities

Collegiate Sports Associates helps recruit talent for athletics programs at NCAA Division I universities and conferences across the U.S. The firmā€™s network of associates includes current and former Division I athletics directors and other senior university and conference officials, including commissioners, presidents, faculty athletics representatives, coaches and associate athletics directors.


Collegiate Sports Associates Finds AD for Ole Miss
Todd Turner ofĀ Collegiate Sports AssociatesĀ has helped the University of Mississippi in the appointment of internal candidate Keith Carter as the schoolā€™s new athletic director. Ole Miss Chancellor Glenn BoyceĀ said the search firm, which provided a deep and diverse pool of candidates, ā€œdeveloped a criterion for us based on the input that we received and theirĀ experience in conducting many athletics director searches.ā€


The search firm is led by former longtime athletic director Todd Turner, who has recruited professionals for a number of top university athletics programs. These include: University of Missouri, Kansas State University,Ā Longwood University, University of Missouri, University of New Mexico, Northern Illinois University, University of Oklahoma, Old Dominion University, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest University andĀ Winthrop University.

Athletic Directors

Athletic directors are playing an increasingly vital role at colleges and universities across the country. With the expansion of athletic departments and, for the larger schools, the infusion of big dollars for sports, more schools have turned to search firms when such positions become open. Too much is at stake, they feel, to go it alone. Whatā€™s more, the AD job has come to demand greater business and management skills than the typical academic search.

ā€œThe AD today is the CEO of athletic operations at a college,ā€ said John Lahey, current president at Quinnipiac University. ā€œThirty to 40 years ago, you were more likely to see former coaches and athletes promoted into those roles as a way of rewarding success or longevity, but now you need a business person who is able to lead people, generate revenue and understand how the marketing and brand of athletics can impact the entire university.ā€

Bill Lennox, president at St. Leo University in Florida, said schools must make sure that the AD is a senior member of the entire university staff. ā€œWe moved the AD to the equivalent level of a vice president, so he sat in all of the meetings and in the decision-making process with the rest of the VPs of the university,ā€ he said.

The modern AD position oversees finances, marketing, human resources, student-athlete wellness, media contracts, and of course overall performance ā€“ all while salaries head well into seven figures and beyond.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief;Ā Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor;Ā and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor ā€“Ā Hunt Scanlon Media

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