Univ. of Virginia AD Craig Littlepage "announced his retirement" today, though he will remain on the job "until a successor is appointed," according to David Teel of the Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS. The search for a new AD "could well hinge" on UVA's next president. UVA President Teresa Sullivan in January said that she will "not serve beyond her contract, which expires in July." Promoted from interim AD in August '01, Littlepage is the "longest-serving AD" in school history. Teel notes Littlepage "took a leave from October-February to address family health matters." Littlepage has "orchestrated facility additions such as John Paul Jones Arena and the George Welsh indoor football practice, and major upgrades" to UVA’s baseball field. UVA football has "finished below .500 in eight of the last nine seasons," and attendance at 61,500-seat Scott Stadium has fallen below 40,000. Meanwhile, UVA Exec Associate AD Jon Oliver's recent departure leaves UVA Athletics Foundation Exec Dir and Senior Associate AD Dirk Katstra as the "most likely internal candidate" to replace Littlepage. Possible outside candidates include sitting ADs such as SMU's Rick Hart, Villanova’s Mark Jackson, Cincinnati’s Mike Bohn, Memphis’ Tom Bowen and James Madison’s Jeff Bourne (DAILYPRESS.com, 9/5).
