ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 3, 1996 TAG: 9607030031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
GREIG DENNY is officially introduced as Radford University's new athletic director.
Greig Denny arrived for the biggest day of his professional life Tuesday with a black eye.
The fading shiner may serve as an indication to those who love Radford University that its new athletic director isn't afraid of some rough stuff.
The black eye was looking better than it had a few days before, Denny said. That was convenient because television cameras were whirring as the new boss of the Radford athletic department was introduced to a crowded roomful of university administrators, faculty and alumni, and various reporters.
``Ran into a moving elbow last Thursday,'' said Denny, explaining how his regular game of pickup basketball at the Dedmon Center had interfered with the camera-readiness of his visage.
At age 39, Denny is still mixing it up, just as he did as a football player for his alma mater, Cortland (N.Y.) State, back in his college days. A guy who likes to get after it is just the kind of guy that Radford needs at this point.
There is a lot to get after. Denny will ascend from his current position as associate athletic director and officially succeed Chuck Taylor Aug.15.
``Unofficially, I start after lunch,'' said Denny.
He will be earning $60,000 per year with the contract running year to year. Denny said the salary was in line with his experience and those of his fellow AD's in the Big South Conference.
The Radford community closed ranks in its praise of Denny, only the second AD Radford has had.
Douglas Covington, the Radford president, recognized both Denny and his predecessor.
``[Denny's] emergence as a successful candidate is also a credit to Dr. Chuck Taylor, for I am sure that their association contributed to Greig's professional development,'' Covington said. ``A very able leader in his own right, Greig will extend Chuck's record of effective stewardship and ensure the program's success in the coming years.''
``I'm really glad for Greig,'' men's basketball coach Ron Bradley said. ``He's shown a lot of loyalty and dedication to reach this point. He won't be like an outsider who will take a year, a year and a half to recognize the challenges we face here. Greig's ready to go right now.''
Said baseball coach Lew Kent: ``He's an insider and I'm glad he's getting a shot.''
Denny emerged from a group of five finalists out of an original field of 78 candidates. The others were Clemson associate athletic director Steve Nelson, who withdrew from consideration the day before the news broke that Denny was the man; Lamar AD Michael O'Brien; Moorhead (Minn.) State AD Katy Wilson; and Texas Woman's College AD Judy Southard.
``Each of the candidates had strengths and each garnered some support in the various university constituencies, but there was one name that kept coming through over and over again and that was Greig's,'' said university vice president for student affairs Paul Harris, who coordinated the search for the new AD. ``That made our decision that much more clear.''
Difficult tasks await Denny. Among them is to devise strategy and inspire the troops while working on a tight budget. Since early 1995, Radford has cut $281,000 out of an athletic budget that is now $2.8 million .
``One of our first orders of business will be to develop a strategic plan of where we're going and how we're going to get there,'' he said. ``Everywhere, whether you're in the public sector or the private sector, you have budgetary parameters you have to work within.''
Declining enrollment has had an impact on the athletic budget because of a corresponding decrease in student activity fees. Both Harris and Denny said they thought that that was a temporary situation.
``I think it will turn around,'' Denny said. ``At the same time, we need to look at alternate ways to generate revenue. That could mean to launch a new capital campaign, or to solicit more local support through the Radford Athletic Association [the university's athletic fund-raising arm]. And we may one day have to address the issue of the student-fee structure.''
Denny has been Taylor's top assistant for the past 13 years. In recent years, one of Denny's primary duties has been NCAA compliance. One of his first duties will be to help find his own successor.
``It will be crucial to get somebody in that position, especially with school starting again soon and the need to get all our athletes certified,'' he said. ``A busy time is coming up.''
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Denny.by CNB