Dalis’ replacement should be in-house

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UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis announced Monday that in June
he will end his 19th year at the helm of UCLA sports, ranking first
in seniority among Pac-10 athletic directors. During his tenure,
Bruin success has been unparalleled in overall athletic
performance, winning 39 NCAA championships in 13 different
sports.

Associated with UCLA as either a student or administrator since
the fall of 1955, Dalis was appointed to his current position in
1983. Since then he has extended his contributions beyond the
playing fields, doing much to help enhance UCLA’s
prestige.

In attempting to replace the void Dalis will leave, UCLA should,
and will, consider an excellent in-house candidate for the position
““ associate athletic director Betsy Stephenson.

In her fifth year at UCLA, Stephenson will likely be sought for
the position and in doing so, UCLA should consider her striking
career and personal achievements. As second in command, she
currently supervises the recruiting, student services, academic
services and marketing programs. Before coming to UCLA, Stephenson
served as the associate athletic director at the University of
Kansas for four years.

Stephenson was also on the NCAA championships staff for nine
years, serving as director of Division I men’s basketball
operations three times. She is also part of the National
Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Sears
Director’s Cup Committee and a member in the NCAA management
council, which suggests policies for managing Division I
sports.

Aside from her professional qualifications, Stephenson has
demonstrated a sincere concern and loyalty to the UCLA athletic
program and individual athletes ““ qualities sometimes lacking
in other administrators.

In 1992, at a men’s soccer NCAA Final Four, Stephenson
personally washed the entire squad’s undershirts with blue
tie-dye in order to conform to NCAA regulation. It’s unlikely
other administrators or athletic director candidates would ever
roll up their sleeves in such a way for the team.

Hiring Stephenson would not only ensure students get an athletic
director with intercollegiate and Bruin-specific experience ““
and one who has proven her unrelenting dedication to students
““ it would allow UCLA to be one of the few universities whose
athletic department is headed by a woman.

Though Title IX has increased the opportunity for women to excel
on the playing field, the same cannot be said of top athletic
administrative positions. Having Stephenson head the athletic
department of a major university would simultaneously work toward
assuring UCLA has an experienced leader and the nation a more
diverse group of directors.

UCLA has looked within its own ranks in the past to fill key
positions. Both coaches Steve Lavin and Bob Toledo were not
necessarily the most experienced candidates when they applied for
their positions, but both Bruins have developed their own strong
departments.

Even Peter Dalis lacked the experience of some of his
competition when applying for athletic director 18 years ago, but
UCLA still decided to go with one of their own.

UCLA is one of the top athletic schools in the nation and will
undoubtedly consider many fine applicants to replace Dalis; it
mustn’t forget that one of the top candidates is already on
the payroll.