Document text
28 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, December 4, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 27, 2004 Speasl to serve as interim athletic director at SOU ASHLAND — Southern Oregon University Vice President Diane Brimmer has tapped Dan Speasl to serve as interim Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports starting Dec. 1, 2004 until a permanent replacement is selected. Speasl, a longtime coach and athletics director at Crater High, succeeds Phil Pifer, who leaves SOU after 24 years of service, including four years as Athletics Director, to become an athletic trainer at North Medford High. Speasl is no stranger to SOU. The University’s first three-time wrestling All-American as a 126-pound competitor from 1970-74, the Lebanon native received a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Southern in 1974 as well as a master’s in Education in ‘79. A career-long academic advisor and adult education coordinator, Speasl went on to coach wrestling and cross country at Crater High over the course of almost 20 years. He served as the school’s Athletic Director from 1998 until last spring when he retired. "We are fortunate and grateful to Dan for sharing his talents and expertise as we search for a replacement for Phil," SOU President Elisabeth Zinser said. "He is well-known for his highly successful coaching and administrative career, his creativity in garnering and using resources in tight budget conditions, and his ability to work with people and organizations for maximum performance. He will do a tremendous job leading Raider Athletics in the coming few months." Advertisement Instrumental in the construction of the Crater Sports Park and the co-founder of the Comet Scholarship Foundation, Speasl gained national recognition for building Crater’s wrestling program into a powerhouse in the 1970s and 80s. His prep program produced 10 state champions, 71 state placers and 75 district champions between 1974 and ‘88, and he was selected the 1981 Oregon coach-of-the-year. As a Raider wrestler, Speasl was a three-time Evergreen Conference champion who finished fifth at the NAIA meet in 1971, third in 1973 and sixth in 1974. He has since been inducted in the SOU, NAIA District II and National Wrestling Halls of Fame. Speasl began this season as SOU’s assistant wrestling coach on a voluntary basis. "The University has had a profound and positive impact on so many lives, including mine," Speasl said. "This is a great opportunity to give back to the school for what it helped me accomplish. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and doing whatever I can." Brimmer and Zinser indicated that a national search for a permanent AD will begin in the coming week or two. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities