Colorado chancellor Justin Schwartz wants to be quick, but thorough, with what he believes is a critical hire for the athletics department.
Last month, current athletic director Rick George announced that he will step away after 13 years and transition to a new role. And, it may not be long before CU hires his replacement.
“The current college athletics environment is incredibly dynamic, so it is our goal to have someone in place as quickly as possible to hit the ground running,” Schwartz said in an email interview with BuffZone. “We are also being intentional. First and foremost, we want to bring in the best candidate for CU Boulder, our coaches, and especially our student-athletes.”
College athletics has seen dramatic changes in recent years, with revenue sharing, NIL (name, image and likeness), the transfer portal, conference realignments, and more.
With more changes sure to come, including another round of realignment that many expect in the future, Schwartz said it’s vital to have an athletic director that positions CU for the future.
“This is the most important athletic director hire in our history based simply on the stakes that are involved,” he said. “With so much change and uncertainty in college athletics, it is important that we position ourselves for success now so that we can succeed in the future.
“I have every confidence that we will find a person who can lead our athletic department and who sees the inherent challenges of this new era in college athletics as an opportunity to advance the mission of CU Boulder.”
George, hired on July 17, 2013, plans to step away from his AD role at the end of the 2025-26 academic year and transition to a role as a special advisor to Schwartz, as well as a role of director of athletics emeritus. George also plans to work with the football program and head coach Deion Sanders.
Much of George’s final months, however, could be helping his replacement transition to the role.
“Rick has graciously agreed to stay on and help with the transition through June,” Schwartz said. “During that time, he will assist the new athletic director, whenever that person arrives, to ensure they get off to a great start. The transition plan will be constructed with the best interest of the student-athletes and the department as the top priorities.”
Schwartz is leading the search, but is also using CSA Search and Consulting to help identify candidates for the job.
“I have also created a Search Advisory Committee consisting of key stakeholders that is assisting me with the search,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz said he’s also taken input from George and Sanders, as well as others.
“I have asked Rick and Coach Prime for general input, and both have been extremely helpful,” Schwartz said. “Both of them, along with other members of our community including all head coaches, have had the opportunity to share their input with CSA.”
While Schwartz is keeping details of the search close to the vest, he did share a bit of insight as to what qualities he’s looking for in CU’s next athletic director.
“We are looking for a person who understands CU Boulder’s unique culture, ambitions, and vision — not just in athletics but university-wide — and is singularly focused on the success of our student-athletes, in competition, in the classroom, and in life,” Schwartz said.
“We are known for being innovative, bold, inclusive, transformative, and a leader in virtually everything we do. We are looking for someone who matches that ethos. They also will need to be an innovative leader in the new world of college athletics, be a dynamic fundraiser, and have the highest level of ethics.”