The LSC Scoop - Covering the Lone Star Conference since 2007

FOUR FINALISTS NAMED FOR A&M-COMMERCE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR POSITION

Per LionAthletics.com

COMMERCE, Texas – Texas A&M University-Commerce’s Athletic Director search committee has announced the four finalists who will take part in on-campus interviews Monday, December 17 through Thursday, December 20. The four finalists are:

Michael Scarano
Scarano is currently the Director of Athletics at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, a position he has held since 2010. His time at Waldorf has been highlighted by a substantial improvement in facilities, including new playing surfaces and departmental offices, as well as the establishment of four new programs (men’s ice hockey, women’s wrestling and men’s and women’s cross country) and the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Scarano has 17 years of athletic administration experience, serving as an Assistant Athletic Director at both the University of California at Riverside and the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English from California State Polytechnic University before achieving his master’s degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University.
Scarano Full Bio
Interview Date: Monday, December 17 

Ryan Ivey
Ivey has spent the last five years at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, serving as an Associate Athletic Director since September 2010. Ivey handles the day-to-day operations of the athletic department, which includes the department’s internal and external operations, as well as McNeese’s business affairs. Under Ivey’s guidance, McNeese State has seen an increase in corporate sponsorship revenue, and he has worked with head coaches to significantly increase the Cowboys’ Academic Performance Rate scores with 15 of the 16 teams scoring at .925 or better. Prior to his time at McNeese State, Ivey spent two seasons as the Director of Operations for the University of Memphis women’s basketball team as well as serving as the Marketing and Promotions Coordinator at the University of South Dakota. Ivey earned his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and his master’s degree in Sports Commerce from the University of Memphis.
Ivey Full Bio
Interview Date: Tuesday, December 18
Steve Cobb
Cobb is currently the Director of Athletics at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, a position he has held for the last 12 years. He has overseen an extended period of success in Seawolf Athletics, which has included four Elite Eight appearances for the basketball programs as well as multiple NCAA top-15 finishes for the men’s and women’s cross country, skiing and track and field teams. Cobb has also overseen a number of capital facilities improvements, which includes the $109 million on-campus Seawolf Arena. Prior to his time at Alaska-Anchorage, Cobb spent five years as the Director of Athletics at Georgia Southwestern State University and was an Assistant Athletic Director at Iowa Wesleyan College. Cobb is familiar with the university, having served as an assistant football coach for the Lions from 1990-92. He earned his doctorate in Education from East Texas State in 1993. He also holds master’s degrees in Business Administration from St. Ambrose University as well as Education from Sul Ross State University.
Cobb Full Bio
Interview Date: Wednesday, December 19
Tom Tallach
Tallach currently holds the position of Assistant Principal for Athletics at Loyola College Prep in Shreveport, Louisiana. There he oversees the 18-sport intercollegiate athletics program as well as assisting with the education curriculum. Prior to his time at Loyola Prep, Tallach spent three years as the Director of Athletics at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, heading the 16-sport NCAA Division I athletic program while also seeing improvements in individual and corporate boosters as well as renovations to the basketball, tennis and softball facilities. Tallach spent two years at Tarleton State University as an Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and has ties to A&M-Commerce, where he spent six years as an Assistant Athletic Director for the Lions, including serving as A&M-Commerce’s Interim Athletic Director from 2004-05. Tallach was also an assistant basketball coach for the Lions from 1993-96, earning his doctorate in Education as well as his master’s in Health and Physical Education from A&M-Commerce.
Interview Date: Thursday, December 20
The four finalists were selected from more than 50 applicants nationwide and were chosen by a 13-member search committee made up of A&M-Commerce faculty, staff, students and community representatives. During each on-campus interview, the candidates will meet with the search committee and the different constituent groups associated with the Athletic Department on the A&M-Commerce campus.
An open forum for each of the candidates will be held during their on-campus interview, taking place from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. each day at the Sam Rayburn Student Center. A live stream of each of the open forums will be available at LionAthletics.com and questions for the Athletic Director candidates can be e-mailed to ADSearch@tamuc.edu, with questions being asked as time permits.

The goal is to provide a recommendation to Texas A&M University-Commerce President Dr. Dan Jones before the Christmas holiday with the new Athletic Director beginning their responsibilities in the winter of 2013.