USF Names Finalists For AD Position By JOEY JOHNSTON jjohnston@tampatrib.com Published: Apr 26, 2004 Today's Mortgage Rates Online Mortgage Calculators Free Online Pre-approval Apply Online TAMPA - The University of South Florida has three finalists for its athletic director position, and the first on-campus interviews could begin later this week. Mark Hollis, associate director of athletics at Michigan State; Jon Oliver, senior associate athletics director for administration at Virginia; and Randall Spetman, a retired colonel and former athletic director at the Air Force Academy, were recommended as finalists by consultant Chuck Neinas, then unanimously accepted by a 10-person AD search committee during a Monday morning conference call. Neinas said he could recommend ``one or two others'' as finalists, if they choose to apply for the position. Hollis, who recently received the National Association of College Directors of Athletics ``National Marketer of the Year'' award, has gained recognition for developing unique events, such as ``The Cold War'' (an outdoor hockey game that drew 74,554 fans) and ``The BasketBowl'' (Michigan State vs. Kentucky in a men's basketball game at Detroit's Ford Field). Oliver, who played basketball at Boise State and has a law degree, is responsible for day-to-day operations in Virginia's athletic department, while serving as administrative liaison for football and men's basketball. He has been the point person for the 15,000- seat, $128-million basketball arena to be completed by 2006. Spetman, during eight years as Air Force's athletic director, oversaw the academy's women's programs shifting to Division I and the athletic department's move to the Mountain West Conference. The finalists will meet with a variety of USF constituencies during visits to campus. The AD search committee is expected to recommend a final choice for USF president Judy Genshaft, who will make the call. USF is replacing Lee Roy Selmon, who resigned as the school's AD in February. http://sports.tbo.com/sports/MGADE27NITD.html