UC Davis has begun its search for a new athletic director and has contracted a search firm and established a recruitment advisory committee to move the process forward. 

Parker Executive Search has been retained to work with the recruitment advisory committee to identify characteristics and experience the UC Davis community recommends. A position announcement for the athletic director will be available by the end of February. 

"The pillars and defining factors of the American university experience are academics, the arts and athletics," UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi said. "Our next athletic director needs to present a bold and exciting plan to advance UC Davis in athletics while working collaboratively with our campus and wider community." 

Scott Carrell, associate professor of economics and faculty athletics representative, chairs the recruitment advisory committee. The voting committee members include two UC Davis head coaches, the president of the Associated Students of UC Davis, business leaders, and UC Davis alumni and foundation members.

The committee has begun holding listening sessions with the Foundation Board, alumni, faculty, general staff, Intercollegiate Athletics staff and coaches, general students, student-athletes and community leaders. A new athletic director is expected to be named by July 1.

UC Davis Intercollegiate Athletics includes 23 varsity teams that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. In 2014-15, student-athletes won conference championships in women’s cross country, men’s basketball, women’s gymnastics, men’s tennis and women’s golf. Eight teams were represented in NCAA championships.

UC Davis teams also excel academically. In each of the last four years, NCAA data for graduation success rate showed the Aggies atop the Big West Conference. The football team, meanwhile, has topped the Big Sky Conference in the NCAA's data the last three years for academic progress rate.