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56 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, May 7, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 4, 2005 Raiders introduce new AD By JENNIFER SQUIRES for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Dennis Francois has it all: a Ph.D. in sports administration, experience as a wrestler and a wrestling coach and, now, the keys to McNeal Pavilion. Southern Oregon University’s new director of athletics and recreational sports visited the campus Tuesday to meet with media, coaches and school administrators. Francois, 38, a professor at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M., was appointed April 25. He starts work June 1. "I think we’re really lucky getting someone of the caliber of Dennis to come," said Dan Speasl, who has served as interim AD at SOU since December. SOU President Elisabeth Zinser said a strength of Francois’ will be his ability to connect with and build partnerships with other university departments and the community. Advertisement "I am really excited about this juncture in our development," Zinser said. "We are emerging as a highly recognized public liberal arts university. There is great value added by making an intentional move to develop our intercollegiate and recreational activities." Francois hiring marked the end of a two-month search to replace former AD Phil Pifer, who retired at the end of November. Francois taught exercise and sports sciences at Highlands, directed the university’s wellness program, fitness center and the graduate program in sports administration, and served as interim AD in 2002-03. He also holds a doctorate in sports administration from the University of New Mexico, served on the faculty senate at Highlands for two years and has wrestling experience. His resume "is really balanced as far as what we’re looking for," Zinser said. "We’re ready to be challenged by this man." In his year at the helm at Highlands, fund raising increased dramatically, a budget deficit was turned around and he hired three head coaches and personnel in sports information and development. "We’ve got to have a can-do attitude," Francois said. "We go out there and portray ourselves as a place where people want to be." SOU needs new head coaches for football and women’s basketball and will have to replace outgoing softball coach Larry Binney. But Francois is encouraged by the overall state of the athletic department. "I look across all of our programs and none of them are weak," said Francois. Once the hires are complete, Francois said he plans to build on the "rich tradition" of Raider athletics. He would like to see the athletics staff focus on creating a long-term plan that looks three to five years into the future, recruit athletes and supporters, develop business and corporate sponsors that can bolster the cash-strapped department and figure out what to do about the football team’s independent status. "Really, the fruits of my labors are not going to be seen next year," Francois said. "The fruits of my labors will be seen two to three years down the line." Jennifer Squires is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach her at 482-3456. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Paris Hilton Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s