Indiana is going to promote from within during one of the more unique moments in the history of college athletics.
After more than three decades at IU, first as a student, and then working his way up the ranks, Scott Dolson will be Indiana University’s next Athletics Director.
Dolson made a statement in a release today from IU Athletics.
“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead the Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, a place I have served for more than two decades and have long had a tremendous love and passion for,” Dolson said. “I want to thank President McRobbie, search committee chair Bill Stephan and the entire search committee for the trust they have shown in me to lead the department into a very promising future.
“I’d also like to thank Fred Glass for the leadership and vision he has shown during his truly pivotal tenure as Indiana University’s athletic director. In addition to the on-the-field successes, transformational facility projects and ground-breaking policies and initiatives that he has overseen and everyone is well aware of, he has integrated our department into the university and has also worked tirelessly on behalf of our students in support of their athletic, academic and holistic development throughout their time as Indiana University students. He’s also been a tremendous mentor, and I’m excited to continue and build on the successes we have enjoyed during Fred’s tenure.”
Dolson has served as Deputy Director of Athletics since 2009, after spending seven years as the Director of the Varsity Club.
In his current role, Dolson has helped oversee strategic planning of all facility projects and renovations, ensuring the successful completion of the university’s Bicentennial Facilities Master Plan for IU Athletics, which includes over $150 million in facility construction and renovations.
In recent years, these projects have included the North End Zone Student-Athlete Development Center, the Henke Hall of Champions, the D. Ames Shuel Academic Center, Bart Kaufman Field, the Andy Mohr Softball Field, the Cook Hall basketball practice facility, the renovated Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, the enclosure of the South End Zone of Memorial Stadium, which is home to the Excellence Academy, and Wilkinson Hall, IU’s new home for its volleyball and wrestling teams.
These projects also include the new IU championship golf course, Pfau Course, and the soon-to-be-completed renovations to Armstrong Stadium, home to IU’s men’s soccer team.
The Michigan City, Indiana, native graduated from Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in Management from the School of Public & Environmental Affairs. While doing his undergraduate work, Dolson was a student manager for the Indiana Basketball program for four seasons, serving as the program’s head manager in 1988.
Following graduation in 1988, he worked for Tim Knight Enterprises before joining the joining the Varsity Club staff in December of 1989.
Dolson replaces Fred Glass, who announced his retirement in December.
Dolson was recommended to IU President Michael McRobbie by a 14-member committee of faculty, administrators, alumni and Athletics Department representatives chaired by IU Vice President for Government Relations and Economic Engagement Bill Stephan.
IU President McRobbie discussed his appointment of Dolson in the release.
“Given his background and experience in helping to oversee the recent growth and development of nearly every major area of IU’s large athletics operation, Scott is extremely well-positioned to lead our intercollegiate athletics program and further its longstanding and storied traditions of excellence as well as build on Fred Glass’ outstanding achievements of the last 10 years,” McRobbie said. “For more than two decades at IU, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring that our student athletes achieve success both on and off the field, compete within the rules and represent IU with passion, integrity and distinction.
“Scott also fully understands that our athletics program must continue to be integrated into the university in all ways. He knows that our student athletes are, first and foremost, students, who are here to develop their athletics prowess while also earning a world-class education that will have an enormous impact on the rest of their lives.”
McRobbie’s approval of Dolson is subject to formal approval by the IU Board of Trustees at its April meeting.
Sources tell The Daily Hoosier that former IU basketball player/current Bradley AD Chris Reynolds, and former IU football player/Temple AD Pat Kraft were also considered for the position.
Dolson also played a key role on the IU Athletics side in helping to facilitate the return of Bob Knight to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Feb. 8.
See Also: The Fred Glass era at Indiana — the good, bad and incomplete.
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