Tuesday, March 21, 2000
Ivy picked as next Wildcat AD
Been Newton's top assistant since 1989
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Larry Ivy is an Alabama man, born and educated there. When his alma mater called a few months ago, asking if he'd like to return as athletic director, he surprised himself by saying no.
He was waiting for another job he wasn't sure he'd ever get. Monday, he did.
“I left Alabama in 1969, and Kentucky had become my home,” Ivy said. “That's why this is a dream come true for me.”
Ivy, 56, was named the University of Kentucky's next ath letic director Monday by the UK Athletic Association board of directors. He'll succeed C.M. Newton, who is retiring after 11 years in that post.
After approval by the UK Board of Trustees at its April 4 meeting, Ivy will begin his new position July 1, overseeing 22 sports and 150 employees.
“I had hoped this day would come, but I'd have been perfectly happy if I had just continued working for C.M.,” he said.
Ivy, the senior associate AD, was the only candidate interviewed.
“My management style is to give a lot of responsibility and get out of the way,” Newton said. “He and (Associate AD) Kathy (DeBoer) have both been invaluable. It's one of those things where I got all the credit for their work.”
Ivy began at UK in 1969 as university housing director. In 1976, he switched to the athletic department as an assistant AD, overseeing fiscal affairs. When Newton became AD in 1989, he promoted Ivy to associate AD, making Ivy his top assistant.
During Ivy's tenure, the department has always operated in the black, even while the budget increased from $3 million in 1976 to $36.4 million. Fortune magazine lists that budget among the 10 largest in America.
Ivy was recognized as NCAA Business Manager of the Year in 1994 by the College Athletic Business Managers of America.
“The program is in as good a shape as it's ever been,” Ivy said. “If you're competitive in this (Southeastern) Conference, you're competitive nationally. Men's basketball is there, and football and women's basketball are getting there.”
One of Ivy's first challenges will be resolving the Rupp Arena saga. UK must soon decide whether to buy the 25-year-old building, continue to lease or build its own on-campus facility.
Ivy said he prefers to lease, but only if the building gets a facelift.
Ivy also hopes to fully fund UK's scholarship total ($4.5 million) without using athletic department monies. The Blue-White priority seating raises $3 million annually.
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