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Thursday, August 28, 1997

TCU athletic director retiring in 1998

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Athletic director Frank Windegger will call it quits after more than four decades at Texas Christian University.

Windegger plans to retire as athletic director -- a post he has served for 22 years -- at the end of the school year. He first came to Texas Christian as a student 44 years ago and took a job as business manager and assistant baseball coach after he graduated.

Windegger, 63, said he intends for his retirement to be effective May 31, 1998.

"But it could be sooner if my successor is found and is available to be in place before then," Windegger said. "I will continue to work in one way or another to advance intercollegiate athletics. I will be too restless to fish or golf all day."

He is the second major TCU official to announce plans to step down this year. Chancellor William Tucker said he will retire after the 1997-98 academic school year.

"I have worked with the present chancellor for almost 19 years and as you know he, too, will retire next summer," Windegger said. "Somehow it feels better to me to step aside at the same time than to wait another year."

TCU officials praised Windegger's long record of service at the university.

"It's something he's been thinking about for a long time and all of the administration felt he deserves to tell his staff in his way," said Larry Lauer, associate vice chancellor for communications.

Windegger's departure seemed more likely after he underwent serious back surgery this summer and was scheduled to be off work until September. Windegger returned to the office a few weeks ago, far ahead of schedule.

Windegger's career at TCU began when he entered the school in 1953 as a freshman. After his graduation in 1957, Windegger joined the staff in 1959 as business manager. He later became ticket manager, assistant baseball coach and head baseball coach.

In 1963, he led the Horned Frogs to the Southwest Conference championship, becoming the youngest coach ever to win a title in the conference in any sport.

During his 14-year stint as baseball coach, his teams won four conference championships and compiled a 298-166-1 record. He was named conference coach of the year in 1972.

Windegger was named the school's third athletic director in 1975 upon the retirement of the late Abe Martin.