|
Northern
Illinois
associate
vice-president
and
director
of
athletics
Jeff
Compher
will
step
into
Terry
Holland's
shoes
as
East
Carolina's
AD.
Compher
will
assume
the
position
on
May
1
with
a
five-year
contract
and
a
compensation
package
that
includes
a
$415,000
annual
salary
plus
bonuses.
“Jeff
Compher
is a
proven
leader
in
moving
an
entire
athletic
department
forward,”
ECU
chancellor
Steve
Ballard
said
during
a
Murphy
Center
press
conference
Wednesday
announcing
Compher's
hiring.
Compher's
leadership
accomplishments
during
a
stint
at
NIU
that
began
in
2008
included
an
appearance
by
the
school's
football
team
in
the
2012
Orange
Bowl.
The
Huskies'
success
in
the
Mid-American
Conference
during
Compher's
tenure
was
a
key
factor
in
his
selection
for
the
job
in
Greenville.
“Jeff
Compher
brings
to
ECU
an
outstanding
record
of
success,
specifically
winning
championships,”
said
Robert
Lucas,
chairman
of
the
board
of
trustees
at
East
Carolina.
A
native
of
Baltimore
and
an
alumnus
of
James
Madison,
Compher's
resume
includes
administrative
positions
at
North
Carolina
State,
Vanderbilt,
Western
Carolina
and
Washington.
He
played
football
at
JMU.
One
of
Compher's
first
tasks
upon
taking
on
his
new
duties
will
be
overseeing
ECU's
transition
from
Conference
USA
to
the
Big
East.
"I
believe
ECU
is
poised
for
greatness
and
I am
thrilled
to
be a
part
of
the
Pirate
Nation,"
Compher
said.
Compher,
53,
and
his
wife,
Cathy,
have
two
sons,
C.J.
and
David.
Ballard
set
in
motion
a
national
search
for
a
successor
to
Holland
after
the
70-year-old
collegiate
athletics
icon
announced
in
December
that
he
would
step
aside
when
his
replacement
was
found.
Holland,
who
became
ECU's
athletics
director
in
2004,
will
continue
to
be
involved
with
the
Pirates
in
the
role
of
AD
emeritus
until
his
contract
expires
in
December
2014. |
