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Cartwright steps down as AD By Tim Trower ASHLAND � Athletic administration wasn�t Monty Cartwright�s lifelong passion. It was, however, a challenge. Over the past six years, he met the challenge as Southern Oregon University�s athletic director, overseeing a department that underwent intense introspection, grew by several sports and succeeded at an unprecedented clip on the playing fields and courts. So it�s with satisfaction that Cartwright walks away. He announced Wednesday he will step down on July 1 and revisit his real passion, teaching. He�ll again be an associate professor in health and physical education. Cartwright, 56, will be replaced by Phil Pifer, SOU�s head trainer for 20 years who this year was also assistant athletic director. Cartwright landed the job in August 1995, winning out over finalists Pifer and then-football coach Jim Palazzolo, with the idea it wouldn�t be his final destination. He told then-president Dr. Stephen Reno he�d keep the position at least five years. "It�s been a great ride, it�s been enjoyable," says Cartwright, "but I never saw myself riding out into the sunset as athletic director." "One of my goals was to see if we could make a difference. I never really considered myself an administrator, but I wanted the opportunity to see if we could get things going in a positive direction for the students, staff and university." He�s proud that SOU teams have won 62 percent of their games over the past six years, leading to 11 conference titles and the recent wrestling national championship. Also on his watch, three women�s programs � tennis, soccer and softball � were either resurrected or begun anew, and numerous facility improvements were made. Notably, Cartwright spearheaded the acquisition of state building improvement funds to put down a state-of-the-art basketball court in McNeal Hall, doubled the size of the campus fitness center to 9,000 square feet and started the ball rolling on a wrestling-only facility to be built soon. When he was named athletic director, a hot topic � and one Cartwright says will forever be close to the front burner � was at which level SOU would compete. The school studied the possibility of going NCAA Division II and III before realizing it was best suited to the NAIA. The big reason a change wasn�t viable, he says, was there would be no conference to be affiliated with, thereby making it nearly impossible to schedule contests, thereby making it difficult to run an athletic department. "We have a well-balanced program that fits our needs," Cartwright says, "and we�re competing at the level we should be." Cartwright says his philosophy is not to let the fear of failure prevent him from trying things. One thing he tried was to hire Ashland High football coach Jim Nagel to replace Palazzolo, even though Nagel wouldn�t assume the job for nearly two years. In the interim, Jeff Olson coached the Raiders. However, Nagel chose to remain at Ashland and Olson was named the head coach. "It bothered a lot of other people more than me," says Cartwright. "That would be an example that you have to try things. Jim did what was best for him and what happened to us was very good with Jeff Olson." Now, something good is happening for Cartwright, who was first hired in 1984 as sports information director and coached track 14 years, cross country eight and was assistant athletic director for five years. "I really want to get back to the classroom," he says. "I miss the day-to-day contact with the students. I miss being a scholar." Pifer, 54, founded SOU�s athletic training and pre-physical therapy academic degree program. He is a former president of the NAIA Trainers Association and was a trainer for the 1984 U.S. Olympic swim team. In addition to serving as Cartwright�s aide this year, he filled in when Cartwright went on sabbatical during the winter and spring terms of 2000 and did likewise when other department officials were away. "So I�ve kind of been around it and been involved in it over the years," he says. "Athletic administration is something I saw as possibly a culminating experience," says Pifer. "Training has been my whole career, but at least it�s been in the realm of the athletic community." He praises the work Cartwright has done in six years to lay a "solid foundation and put Southern Oregon athletics where they should be" and plans to continue in that vein. He�ll work closely with the Raider Club and SOU Foundation, particularly in fund-raising and with scholarships, and will "be a strong advocate of each of our athletic programs." "I understand the NAIA very well and I understand our mission," says Pifer. "Right now, we�re where we belong. I don�t foresee anything I don�t think I�ll be prepared to handle. During the course of 20 years, I�ve seen quite a bit, and I�ve been able to observe the work of a number of athletic directors during my tenure here." Pifer�s two children were athletes at SOU and earned degrees from the school. Brian played football from 1986-89 and Cindy played basketball from 1992-93. Assistant trainer Mike Stevenson has assumed some of Pifer�s workload and will be a strong candidate to become the head trainer, says Pifer. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.