news
Oregon State’s Alex Gary named WCU athletics director Former Catamount to start May 1
WCU alum Alex Gary returns to Cullowhee this spring. Ashley Evans/WCU photo
BY TODD VINYARD CONTRIBUTING WRITER lex Gary, a former student-athlete on the Western Carolina University baseball team who is currently serving as senior associate athletics director for development at Oregon State University, is the next director of the Catamount athletics program. WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown announced Friday, Feb. 28, the selection of Gary to serve as director of athletics following approval of his contract by the university’s Board of Trustees during a special conference call meeting earlier in the day. The appointment, which is effective May 1, follows a national search conducted by a 15-member committee working with the assistance of the North Carolina-based executive search consulting firm Collegiate Sports Associates. A formal introduction and campus reception was held Feb. 28 afternoon at the Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Gary has served as senior associate director of athletics and the department’s chief development officer at Oregon State since September 2017. He previously served as associate athletics director for development and external relations at the University of Maryland from 2014 until 2017. He also has held development positions at the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Gary’s professional experience in major collegiate athletics conferences, such as the Pac-12 and Big Ten, combined with his personal familiarity with WCU as a former student-athlete, make him a perfect fit to take over the helm of the Catamount athletics program, Brown said. “I asked the search committee to identify an extraordinary leader to guide the Catamount athletics program into the next
March 4-10, 2020
A
“I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to help develop student-athletes during a critically important time in their lives, especially at a place where I spent those same significant years.” — Alex Gary
era and who will provide our coaches and professional staff with the resources necessary to help our student-athletes enjoy the same level of success on the fields and courts of competition that they have had in the classroom in recent years,” she said. “The committee has found exactly that in Alex Gary,” Brown said. “To borrow some terminology from the sport that Alex once played while representing the Catamounts, this hire is a grand slam homerun and one that touches all of the bases.” A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, who grew up in Charlotte, Gary was an outfielder on the WCU baseball team from 2001 until 2004, earning Southern Conference Player of
HealthPATH
the Week honors in March 2004. During his junior year of 2003, he was a member of WCU’s regular season and Southern Conference Tournament championship baseball team and participated in the NCAA regionals held in Wilson. “I have a strong affinity and love for WCU. Three groomsmen in my upcoming wedding in August come from my time in Cullowhee as a three-year student athlete. WCU had an immeasurable impact on my life, and I welcome the opportunity to come back in a leadership capacity,” Gary said. “My personal experience as a former student-athlete at WCU deepens my understanding of this institution
F
Smoky Mountain News
SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
10
Now Accepting New Patients!
Specializing in Pediatric Dentistry Teens for Infants, Kids, Special Needs & Te
Orthodontic Specialists Teens & Adults for Kids, Te
Drs. Chambers, Baechtold, Haldeman, Pratt, Chambers, Hogue, Blackman & Chadwick Asheville 828-274-9220 Asheville 828-274-8822 Waynesville 828-407-4034 Waynesville 828-454-9156 Sylva 828-586-9333 Sylva 828-586-9333 BeGreatDental.com Reynolds Mountain 828-785-5825
Working to improve the health status of Haywood County, its individuals and families. Educational Programs • Grants • Scholarships Leadership Opportunities
haywoodhealthcarefoundation.org
ROCKCLIFF IS YOUR PLACE FOR EXPERT ORAL & DENTAL IMPLANT SURGERY
Dr. Warburton Waynesville
Dr. Burgon Waynesville
Dr. Consky Sylva
37 Crestview Heights, Sylva • 828-354-0307 50 A Bowman Drive, Waynesville • 828-564-2510
