Athletes, coaches, professors and business persons from the Ames community convened on Marston Hall Monday afternoon. Their objective: Find a replacement for Gene Smith. The search for a new athletic director, to replace Smith who took the AD job at Arizona State University, could be over in late-October or early November. At least, that is the projected time table set out by James Melsa, dean of the Iowa State College of Engineering, who is heading the committee to find a new AD. “We will look under every rock. We will be biased toward including people, not excluding people,” said Melsa, to a committee that included ISU women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly, Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Hill, and Gary Thompson, former Iowa State basketball standout and current play-by-play analyst for the ISU men’s basketball team. Interim President Richard Seagrave outlined five criteria for the new athletic director. It included, in order of importance: Students coming first; asking the new AD to “obey the rules;” always looking to “hire great coaches;” to “develop and manage a competitive and complex budget;” and to “represent Iowa State to the external community.” The external community was a focal point of the meeting. The committee will be looking for someone who will have the ability to raise money for the Athletic Program, which is seen as a key attribute, much as Gene Smith was able to do. The 22-members will also be on the lookout for an applicant who is charismatic and able to speak to the masses, another quality that Smith took with him to Tempe. Melsa believes in getting the job done early. “The job is more critical than most,” Melsa said, “[because] it holds lots of interest.” Once hired, the new AD will look to tie up Smith’s loose ends. Murray Blackwelder, vice president of external affairs, remarked that the first thing that will need to be done is to complete the $14 million renovations to the football stadium and to add basketball courts under the stands in the south end zone. “I think all of us were happy with Gene Smith and if we had someone like that, it would be nice,” Blackwelder said. The committee has arduous tasks set before them. Melsa asked the committee to divide themselves into three sub-committees, each performing a different function in the search for a new AD. The first sub-committee will go through the applications already sent in and decide who would be an excellent, fair and poor choice. Its objective is to be lenient and not throw out good candidates. The second sub-committee will make telephone calls and get in touch with the references of the potential AD. Slowly, the 20 to 30 anticipated applicants will be dwindled down to around 8. The third sub-committee’s duties will entail taking the three finalists on a tour of the campus. The finalists will also meet with coaches, boosters, and other prominent members of the community. Overseeing the whole operation is Bill Carr of Carr Sports Associated. His search committees have offered its services to Tulane and Washington State in the past, as each looked to fill similar positions like Iowa State’s. Carr’s associate in the search, Gene Corrigan, came to Carr Sports from the Atlantic Coach Conference where he served as commissioner, before that Corrigan served as athletic director at Virginia and Notre Dame. Carr and Corrigan are also currently assisting North Carolina State University in its search for an athletic director. Carr believes the AD should have five years of previous experience at another university. However, the last five years do not have to be spent in athletics, making a further reference to someone who can be well represented in the “external community.” No experience in athletics will not be tolerated. Some prior athletic experience will be the “dominant factor,” said Carr, in deciding whom will be selected. Everyone wants to move quickly. Momentum from last year’s athletic success is one reason the effort is being put forth. The lack of a president is another. Although the new president may be hired by January or February, he or she probably won’t be on campus until June. Carr believes the issues around Iowa State could become troublesome. “The program is in good condition. If you wait a year [before beginning the search], complications may arise,” Carr said. A concern of Melsa and Carr’s is confidentiality. Carr told the committee to keep quiet until a final decision has been made because he doesn’t want to lose anyone to a “name leak.” He also told the committee to beware of the applicant who will drop his or her name to the press to gain attention. Carr believes these people hold self-serving interest. Melsa believes, “our job is to find the best person.” Currently, there are six applicants who have been accepted, with 13 more waiting to get the initial nod of approval.