THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412090772
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DOUG DOUGHTY, LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Jim Copeland, athletic director at the University of Virginia since 1987, will be named to the same post at Southern Methodist University today.
"It's definitely true," said a source close to the U.Va. athletic department, who indicated Copeland would receive an increase in salary.
Copeland did not attend the Cavaliers' Men's basketball game Thursday night, bue he reportedly i;nformed his senior advisors of his decision earlier in the day.
``Where did you get that?'' Copeland asked when reached at his home Thursday night. ``I don't have any comment.''
``I have talked to SMU.''
Sources in Dallas said SMU basketball coach John Shumate told a member of the school's radio broadcast team that Copeland would be introduced at a news conference today.
When asked if he was aware of a news conference, Copeland said, ``no comment.'' U.Va. executive vice president Leonard Sandridge had a similar response when asked about the report.
Copeland, 49, is a Virginia alumnus and ex-football player who played professionally with the Cleveland Browns. He earlier had served as athletic director at William and Mary, and at Utah.
Copeland has been lauded for his fund raising, particularly in the construction of the $8.5 million Frank C. McCue Center, but he has come under fire in the last two years for his lobbying efforts with football bowl committees.
Recently, U.Va. fans have voiced their displeasure to the media about Virginia's invitation to the Independence Bowl. Three lower-ranked ACC teams were invited to higher-paying bowls.
Copeland's popularity waned in 1990 when his efforts to find a successor to then-basketball coach Terry Holland met with several rejections. He eventually hired former assistant and player Jeff Jones.
The school later went on NCAA probation for an illegal-loan practice that began under former athletic director Dick Schultz. Although some of the loans were made during Copeland's tenure, he was not found to be responsible and received a five-year contract extension in 1992.
Many of Copeland's most noteworthy accomplishments were in the area of gender equity. In 1993 Virginia became one of the first schools to raise the salary of the women's basketball coach to match that of the men's coach.
Holland, the athletic director at Davidson for the last 4 1/2 years, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Copeland's job. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
U.Va. athletic director Jim Copeland had no comment on reports he
was leaving.
by CNB