Deromedi’s retirement linked to internal successor
When Athletics Director Herb Deromedi announced his retirement Aug. 17, the timeliness was for more than one reason.
Deromedi said he feels it is the right time for him to step down. He also did it so one of his associate athletics directors could have the chance to become an interim athletics director.
“I really feel I have some competent people on my staff,” Deromedi said. “It gives someone a chance to be an interim, and a chance to be evaluated by administration, faculty and community.”
Deromedi’s retirement is effective Jan. 15. University President Michael Rao will begin a search as soon as possible for a replacement and said the possibility for an interim athletic director is highly likely.
As for that candidate being from within the athletic department, Rao said he hadn’t thought about that possibility.
“The chance for an internal candidate being hired is about the same as an external candidate being hired,” Rao said.
Deromedi said he will step aside and not be part of the search committee.
“I think people here wouldn’t have as good a chance if they weren’t given a chance to be interim,” Deromedi said. “That played a big part in the timing of my announcement.”
Rao will meet with coaches and administrators within the athletic department today to begin gathering information for his search for an athletic director.
“I want the search to be thorough, but not too long to get someone here by January,” Rao said. “A lot will depend on the feedback I get from the meeting.”
Derek van der Merwe, associate athletic director in charge of compliance, said he is interested in the interim position.
“At this point we want the best candidate possible to maintain the tradition here,” van der Merwe said. “I would be very excited if the position was offered — just like many others would be.”
Senior Associate Athletics Director Marcy Weston has said publicly she is not interested in the position.
But Deromedi isn’t going to be a lame duck athletics director in his final months.
He will be working diligently getting the new electronic scoreboard in place for next season. The scoreboard is now in the design process.
Deromedi became athletics director in 1994 after serving as head football coach since 1978. He first came to CMU in 1967 to be an assistant football coach.
He is responsible for the addition to Kelly/Shorts Stadium, the building of the Indoor Athletic Complex and the new field hockey complex that was built last season.
During his tenure, 34 teams have won Mid-American Conference championships and CMU also has won numerous academic awards.
