Stanford has found its replacement for the departed Bob Bowlsby, hiring Delaware athletic director Bernard Muir as the school’s new Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics.
Bowlsby is now the commissioner of the Big 12 Conference after spending six years at Stanford.
“Bernard Muir has a national reputation as a superb athletic administrator,” said Provost John Etchemendy in the school’s press release. “He also has a deep personal understanding of what it means to be a scholar-athlete, performing at the very highest levels both academically and athletically.
“In Bernard Muir, we are confident we have a leader with the integrity, experience and commitment to ensure that Stanford’s athletic legacy continues.”
Prior to becoming the athletic director at Delaware in 2009, Muir held the same position at Georgetown from 2005 to 2009.
And in February Muir was named to the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, which also serves as the selection committee for the NCAA tournament.
Muir is expected to begin his tenure at Stanford in September, and according to Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury some connections Muir has to former Stanford employees may have helped his case.What’s the connection — there’s always a connection, right? My guess:
Muir worked at Notre Dame in 2004-05 when the Irish hired Tyrone Willingham. Muir also counts as a mentor Kevin White, the Irish AD who hired Willingham and one of the most respected administrators in college athletics. (Cal’s Sandy Barbour also counts White as a mentor.)
Have to think that either Willingham, who remains close to Stanford officials, or White … or both … gave Muir a stellar recommendation.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Stanford community,” Muir said in the school press release. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our family.
“I’m looking forward to being part of the world-class tradition of excellence that characterizes the student-athlete experience at Stanford.”
Photo credit: Kathy F. Atkinson/University of Delaware
Raphielle is also the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.