Kampe will lead OU capital campaign, while Huth takes role as interim athletic director
By CRYSTAL EVOLA Of The Oakland Press
Greg Kampe has traded in one job title in for another.
The Oakland University men’s basketball coach will no longer have to worry about serving as the school’s interim athletic director. However, Kampe will shift gears to head up a $55 million fund-raising campaign to support OU athletics.
Tracy Huth, a former swimmer and 1985 OU graduate, will take over as the interim AD.
“Tracy Huth was a student, (Oakland) Hall of Fame swimmer, a Hall of Fame coach and has been in administration,” Kampe said. “Surely he’s in a position where he’s not only qualified, he’s earned the right to get a chance to run his alma mater. I feel very comfortable turning the day-to-day operations over to him.”
The changes will be effective today.
Kampe took over as interim athletic director in September 2005.
The university hopes to complete a search for a permanent AD by fall of 2007.
Kampe will try to raise funds to complete plans that include a new track and field facility, an indoor training complex for outdoor sports teams, baseball and softball stadiums and locker room renovations.
“We realize the impact intercollegiate athletics can have in raising the regional and national profile of the university in general,” OU president Gary D. Russi said. “Our run in the NCAA tournament the past two years with our men’s and women’s basketball teams clearly shows that. So, we want to continue to make progress through adding improvements to our athletic facilities, while not missing a beat with the competitive success of our teams.”
Kampe will also oversee efforts to raise money to increase endowments for total athletic scholarships from 115 to the NCAA maximum level of 125.
Kampe said it requires approximately $25 million to endow 125 scholarships.
“I was given the opportunity to come up with the plan as an interim athletic director,” said Kampe, who will also continue his duties as the men’s basketball coach. “Now I get an opportunity to complete the plan as the head of this capital campaign. For a 23-year veteran of the university, that’s an exciting opportunity.”
Huth named Interim Athletic Director at Oakland--www.mid-con.com
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