Wednesday, June 11, 2008

New school presidents

San Jose State just announced a new school president and Jon Whitmore has mighty big shoes to fill after the retirement of Don Kassing. The latter truly saved athletics at SJSU with his steadfast commitment, funding and hiring selections.

Spartan athletics were not successful in any way, shape or form prior to Kassing hiring Tom Bowen as AD and Bowen's eventual football and basketball hires coming aboard and finally laying a foundation for future success.

There's still a ways to go but the life support equipment has been removed and the horizon is no longer dominated by gray and black.

Whitmore comes from Texas Tech. It will be interesting to follow his relationship with Spartan athletics and see how he and Bowen work together.

Mike Martin is also departing New Mexico State -- headed to Louisiana State as the new chancellor -- so there's another situation to follow. Martin and AD McKinley Boston were longtime friends and had worked together previously at Minnesota. NMSU athletics is on the rebound so let's see if the new president there -- once named -- has a liking for athletics and how and he Boston mesh.

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