AD Advice

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BOCA RATON – FAU linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair agreed to be the student athlete representative on an advisory committee that will help the Owls select their new athletic director.

President Dr. John Kelly asked the university to form a committee to, at least initially, identify the traits FAU should look for in a new athletic director along with the tasks that should be the focus of that position moving forward.

In choosing Al-Shaair, a rising senior, to represent the athletes, the Owls are getting a team captain and an All-Conference USA selection who set an FAU record last season with 147 tackles.

Twelve members within the university agreed to be part of the committee. Three of them are coaches.



Baseball coach John McCormack, volleyball coach Fernanda Nelson and women’s soccer coach Patrick Baker will join Al-Shaair on the committee. Football coach Lane Kiffin, who’s relationship with previous athletic director Pat Chun soured to the point of near non-existence, is not on the committee.

Interim athletic director Brian Battle and associate athletic director Danielle Daniel, the department’s senior women’s administrator, are the final two members of the the athletic department on the committee. Battle told OwlAccess.com last week that he hadn’t decided whether to apply to be the permanent AD.

As the faculty athletics representative, Kim Dunn serves as the bridge between the athletic department and the FAU faculty. She’ll also be part of the committee. Eric Coleman, FAU’s director of undergraduate studies, will also represent the academic side of campus.



From the president’s office, vice president for institutional advancement Danita Nias and vice president for public affairs Peter Hull will serve as committee co-chairs.

Jeff Atwater, CFO and vice president of strategic initiatives, and Peter Hull, vice president for public affairs round out the committee.

FAU is searching for a replacement for Chun, who left Florida Atlantic last week to become the athletic director at Washington St. Chun had been FAU’s AD since 2012.