Jim Knowlton on Tuesday "announced his resignation" after seven years as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute AD and will replace Hans Mueh as AD of the Air Force Academy, according to Brent Briggeman of the Colorado Springs GAZETTE. Mueh "will retire effective Jan. 31." Knowlton previously worked as Army Associate AD and "has served on several national athletic committees, with a focus on hockey." Air Force advertised for the AD opening in August, "citing a salary of $167,000." Details of Knowlton's agreement "are not yet available, as it is not yet official, but that range would put him far below his Mountain West contemporaries" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 1/7).
YOUNG TROJAN: In Arkansas, Gavin Lesnick noted the Univ. of Arkansas-Little Rock on Tuesday "formally introduced Chasse Conque" as its new AD, effective Jan. 20. Conque most recently was Univ. of Arkansas Senior Dir of Development for Medical Sciences and "helped raise" $16M between '11 and '14. The new role "marks a return to UALR for Conque, who previously worked as manager of donor relations and director of athletic development." Conque, 30, was one of 46 applicants in a pool that was "narrowed down to three finalists who were interviewed on campus last month." Former AD Chris Peterson "resigned last year during a review prompted by comments he made regarding the physical appearance of a UALR soccer player's mother" (ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, 1/7).
CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN: RIVALS.com's Greg Madia noted new West Virginia AD & Associate VP Shane Lyons during Tuesday's introductory press conference "admitted the first 90 to 120 days on the job will be about him getting a feel for what he needs to do moving forward" to push the athletic department forward. His predecessor Oliver Luck "has already laid the groundwork, so Lyons needs to observe, then decide what changes to make or implement moving ahead." Lyons said that he is "best at networking on a national level." One way to start "pushing a brand forward without making too many changes is to network and get the university in advantageous situations whether it's for special game events, being involved with NCAA change or gathering donors and financial supporters" (RIVALS.com, 1/6).
