WSU deputy AD leaves for Northern Arizona

DYLAN GREENE, Evergreen deputy sports editor

WSU Deputy Director of Athletics Mike Marlow was announced as the new athletic director at Northern Arizona University on Wednesday.

Marlow, a 1990 WSU graduate, was hired as the deputy AD in the spring of 2010 and spent the last seven years at WSU overseeing the Cougar Athletic Fund, football, men’s basketball and baseball.

Football Head Coach Mike Leach said he has a lot of respect for Marlow and expects him to have success at NAU.

“I think he will make a fantastic athletics director, and he is someone I would very much look forward to working with again,” Leach said. “I wish Mike the very best and will continue to call him and get his thoughts on a variety of subjects as I need a sharp mind.”

Marlow had hoped to be considered for the WSU athletic director position after Bill Moos left for the AD position at the University of Nebraska in October, according to The Seattle Times.

Marlow was actually never seriously considered for the WSU AD position, despite having Leach’s support, because he was seen as a holdover from the Moos administration, according to The Seattle Times.

He made it clear during his introductory news conference at NAU on Wednesday that he was not interviewed for the WSU job.

“I have not been a person who has looked at a lot of jobs, in fact, yesterday was my first formal interview in nearly a decade,” Marlow said.

Marlow said WSU President Kirk Schulz is looking for someone with previous AD experience.

“WSU is my alma mater, and I will always cherish my time as a student and employee,” Marlow said. “Our president was very transparent, and I’m gonna be very transparent with you guys. He was looking for an AD that had previously been an AD and that’s probably the case at the Power Five level maybe 95 percent of the time.”