TAMPA - If it seemed Jon Oliver was knowledgeable about every aspect of a college athletic department, that's because he has occupied virtually every position on the staff.
Oliver, the senior associate athletic director at Virginia, interviewed Monday with the South Florida AD search committee. He leaned on his first-hand experience to cover a broad range of topics.
"I think I bring expertise in each area," Oliver said. "I think I have the skill set to get the job done."
Oliver, 40, the second of four AD finalists to come to campus, has crammed a lot into his relatively limited time in college athletics. A former basketball player at Boise State with a law degree from Idaho, Oliver started in the athletic department at Washington State as an intern in 1995.
By the time he left for Virginia in 2001, he had handled five jobs at Wazzu, covering compliance, business, finance, facilities development and external affairs.
Oliver's vision for USF emphasized long-range planning, fiscal responsibility and compliance.
"I have to set the vision as the AD," said Oliver, who worked with about a $20-million budget at WSU and $35-million at Virginia. "You have to put in a workable plan that will get you there over time in a fiscally responsible manner.
"I believe that athletics can be the window to the institution, and it must be squeaky clean at all times."
Several search committee members asked Oliver about developing USF's athletic tradition and generating higher attendance in football and basketball.
"You have to reach out to the community," said Oliver, who said the Sun Dome needs upgrading. "If you think you're going to get people excited about what you're doing without marketing them directly, it's not going to happen."
At Virginia, Oliver oversees day-to-day operations as well as a major project: the $128-million, 15,000-seat multipurpose arena, set to be completed in 2006. Oliver said he personally secured a $7.5-million gift to cover the new venue's audio/visual system.
The next USF AD replaces Lee Roy Selmon, who resigned in February to take a newly created fundraising position for athletics.
"To me the model athletic program is Stanford," Oliver said. "(USF's) aspirations are not going to be that of Stanford when you first start out. But can you ever be there? Sure, why not?"
ONE MORE: Saint Louis AD Doug Woolard was announced as the fourth finalist for the USF AD position. Woolard, 54, spent five years as an associate AD at Washington State and has been at Saint Louis for 10 years. Michigan State associate AD Mark Hollis interviews today, and Woolard interviews Wednesday. Former Air Force AD Randy Spetman interviewed last week. The search committee will meet Thursday to discuss the candidates and make its recommendation to USF president Judy Genshaft.
FSU a softball host site
FSU was named one of eight sites for the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for the third time in four years. The Seminoles host seven other teams for a double-elimination tournament May 20-23, with the winner advancing to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. Tournament books four days will be available this week via the FSU Web site, www.seminoles.com for $15 for adults and $10 for students and youths.
MORE SOFTBALL: Tampa makes its third Division II postseason tournament appearance when it meets West Florida at noon Thursday at Florida Southern.
BASKETBALL: A federal judge denied Arkansas' final request to dismiss former coach Nolan Richardson's lawsuit against it. The denial clears the way for Richardson's nonjury trial against the university, its leaders and the Razorback Foundation to begin Wednesday. Richardson is accusing the university of punishing him for exercising his freedom of speech and subjecting him to racial discrimination.
BASEBALL: Florida outfielder Jeff Corsaletti was named SEC player of the week. ... Tampa infielder Erick Monzon won SSC player of the week, and Saint Leo left-hander Peter Martinez earned pitcher of the week.
GOLF: The FSU, UF and Miami women will be among the 21 teams participating in the NCAA East Region Thursday-Saturday at the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills. ... Florida senior Camilo Villegas was named SEC men's player of the year and Buddy Alexander coach of the year. Jessie Mudd shared freshman player of the year with Georgia's Brendon Todd. ... UCF's Barry Roof was named Atlantic Sun player of the year and Nick Clinard coach of the year.
OBITUARY: Robert Timmons, former basketball coach at Pittsburgh who led the team to four postseason tournaments in 15 seasons during the 1950s and 1960s, died Thursday in Glenshaw, Pa. He was 91. Mr. Timmons was 174-189 from 1953-68.
- Times staff writer Brian Landman contributed to this report, which used information from Times wires.
