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Saturday, May 31, 1997

Firm recommends 12 for athletic director's job

HOUSTON (AP) - University of Houston officials are considering a dozen people, including the chief financial officer of the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and the commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference, for the school's vacant athletic director's job.

Houston television station KRIV reported Friday that Mike Reinfeldt, a former Houston Oiler now in the front office of the Packers, and WAC boss Karl Benson are among the names submitted to the Houston school by a Dallas-based consulting firm, Eastman and Beaudine.

Sybill Todd, deputy chancellor of the University of Houston System, would neither confirm nor deny the names on a list obtained by KRIV, confirming only that a list with a dozen candidates was submitted.

"The significance to me is that this group has wonderful experience," she said.

Houston officials seek a replacement for Bill Carr, who left the post March 31 in what was termed by mutual agreement.

Carr, a former athletic director at the University of Florida, took over at Houston in 1993. He helped the Cougars through an NCAA investigation of its football program and the transition into the new Conference USA after the breakup of the Southwest Conference.

During his tenure, Carr made more than 60 personnel changes, including hiring Kim Helton as football coach. Last season, the Cougars won the first C-USA title and played in the Liberty Bowl.

Since Carr's departure, Bill McGillis, senior associate director of athletics, has been serving in the top job as an interim appointment.

KRIV said the list it obtained had the names of eight of the 12 people the school is considering.

Besides Reinfeldt, a star defensive back with the Oilers from 1975-83, and Benson, head of the WAC for the past three years, others on the list include Dave Braine, athletic director at Virginia Tech; Joe Castiglione, Missouri athletic director; Herman Frazier, associate athletic director at Arizona State and a vice president of the U.S. Olympic Committee; John Hadl, a former NFL quarterback and now associate athletic director at Kansas; Keith Tribble, executive director of the Orange Bowl; and Dutch Baughman, athletic director at Oregon State.

"I cannot confirm anything, and I won't," Benson said. "I have recommended other individuals for that position, but I am unaware my name is on the list. I am not looking for another job."

Castiglione, who 17 years ago worked across town in Houston at Rice University, said he was flattered but was not a candidate and had not applied for the post.

Tribble, who said he had an interest in becoming athletic director at a Division I school, confirmed the consulting firm had spoken with him "but that's as far as it's gone."

Ms. Todd said the new athletic director did not necessarily have to come from among those recommended.

"We have a good group but that doesn't preclude those individuals that might emerge," she said. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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