Mid-Valley Sports

WEST POINT, N.Y. —- Oregon State executive associate athletic director Kevin Anderson was named as the new athletic director at Army on Monday. He had worked at OSU for the past two years.

He succeeds Rick Greenspan, who left Army this past September for a similar job at Indiana University. Anderson, who earlier this year was a finalist for athletic directorships at Rhode Island and Northern Illinois, was selected after a national search that produced a pool of more than 50 applicants.

Anderson begins his new job next month.

"From the time I was a small boy, I followed the Army-Navy game," Anderson said Monday at a news conference announcing his hiring. "I love the tradition, and I love what the academy is all about, the mission of developing leaders who are not only going to lead on the field, but also lead this country after they graduate.

"I believe the West Point model should be applied to college athletic programs across the country, developing leaders of character, building strong minds, bodies and spirit. Those are the things that I've come to appreciate.

"I wanted this job more than any other job I've ever had. I've been a candidate for other positions, but walking on this soil on the day I had my final interview was one of the most exciting things in my life.

"Looking at the history, the beauty and what the academy stands for, and being able to do something at the athletic director level while representing my country means a great deal."

Army operates a 25 sport program. Its football program will return to Independent status next fall following a seven-year membership with Conference USA; most of the school's other programs compete in the Patriot League.

Anderson directed OSU's external operations, including marketing and promotions, sports information, ticket operations and the Beaver Athletic Student Fund. He also oversaw the football program.

Anderson will be Army's first African-American athletic director. A 1979 graduate of San Francisco State, Anderson is also a 1981 graduate of the Xerox Corporation's New Manager School and the Xerox Marketing School in 1986. He completed the executive management program at the Sports Management Institute in 1995.

He and his wife, Moira, have two daughters and a son.

"I want to stress that we are going do everything that we can to beat Navy and Air Force every year in all of our sports," Anderson said. "We want to continue to build on the progress the intercollegiate athletic program has experienced in recent years."