
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 12, 1991                   TAG: 9103120012
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VMI CONTINUES SEARCH FOR AD

VMI has narrowed to four the list of candidates for its athletic director's job and expects to name a new AD by the end of the month.

Acting VMI athletic director Davis Babb, former VMI assistant football coach and head baseball coach Donny White, East Carolina University assistant athletic director for marketing Jimmy Bass, and former University of Akron athletic director Dave Adams were interviewed on campus last week by VMI's search committee.

"I was told a decision would probably be made by the end of the month," Bass said. "I'm definitely sitting on the edge of my seat."

The search committee, headed by VMI faculty chairman Col. Tom Davis, is scheduled to present a list of three finalists to school superintendent Major General John Knapp on March 15.

VMI has been searching for an athletic director since Eric Hyman, who headed the school's athletic program for nearly seven years, resigned at the end of the football season to become and assistant athletic director at North Carolina State University.

Babb, who took over for Hyman in December, was hired as an assistant athletic director in 1984 and since been promoted to associate athletic director. One of his major duties has been in the role of NCAA rules compliance. He is also business manager and Cameron Hall manager, in addition to overseeing promotional activities and tickets.

Bass has been at East Carolina for the past 1 1/2 years. He has 11 years of experience in athletic administration, including assistant athletic director positions at UNC-Wilmington and Davidson.

White was an assistant football coach for the Keydets from 1971 to 1980 and served two stints as baseball coach. A 1965 graduate of VMI and member of the Keydet Athletic Hall of Fame, White currently works in the public relations department for R. Stewart Royer and Associates, an engineering firm in Richmond.

"Obviously, I'm thrilled to be mention as a finalist," said White, "but there's really not much I can say because they haven't told me anything."

Adams was athletic director at Akron from 1985 to 1987, when his contract was not renewed. Among his first moves was to hire former Notre Dame coach Gerry Faust to head the Zips' football program.

by CNB