Victor
Cegles
William Moon
Kenneth Winstead
Search
begins again for athletic director
By
Angelica de la Pena
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
The Athletics Search Committee announced three new candidates for Cal State
Long Beach’s athletic director Monday.
The candidates are: Victor Cegles, senior associate athletic director, external
affairs, at Temple University in Philadelphia; William Moon Sr., senior associate
athletic director, University of Alabama, Birmingham; and Kenneth Winstead,
associate athletic director, University of Washington.
“
We wanted to bring candidates who have a wide range of experience with the
appropriate background that would benefit our campus,” said Douglas Robinson,
vice president of Student Services. “We need someone who will work well
with the students and place the welfare of our student-athletes first.”
Between Wednesday and Friday each candidate will spend a day on campus for
a series of interviews. CSULB President F. King Alexander will make the final
decision.
Robinson said each candidate would bring something important to the program,
but the committee is searching for a candidate who would serve the campus best.
Student Athlete Advisory Committee Co-President Kevin Cape said as the Athletics
Search Committee student representative he is “looking for an athletic
director who believes in the student-athlete experience.”
“
Most people mean a student athlete is a student first and an athlete second,” Cape
said. “But it’s more than that. It’s about relationships
and friendships. It’s what we learn in and out of the classroom, on and
off the court.”
But above all, Cape said he would like to see an athletic director who can
promote Beach Pride. He said student-athletes should leave CSULB thinking, “That
was just great. I am so glad I came to Long Beach State.”
While Cape was unable to attend Moon’s interview, Cape said both Winstead
and Cegles are “solid guys.”
“
When you talk to Winstead, you get Winstead,” Cape said. “There
are no smoke and mirrors.”
He said Winstead has a lot of integrity, experience and good energy. However,
Cegles doesn’t exude as much energy, but is well spoken.
“
You can tell he walks softly but carries a big stick,” Cape said. “He
feels really loyal and you can really trust him and get behind him.”
Last summer, former CSULB Athletic Director Bill Schumard resigned after accepting
a position for president of the Special Olympics of Southern California. Since
then, the search committee has sought for viable candidates.
“
We’ve been patient because we felt the importance of choosing an appropriate
candidate for our campus,” Robinson said.
Two months ago, the committee had announced three finalists for the position
after receiving 35 applicants from various schools. The candidates were Bill
McGillis, the University of Evanville, Indiana athletic director; Stephen Lopes,
the USC senior associate athletics director and Marilyn McNeil, the Monmouth
University, New Jersey athletics director.
In February, McGillis was said to be the leading candidate for the position
but pulled out of negotiation talks a week after being offered the position.
Robinson said they were not able to reach an agreement.
“
We are excited about choosing a new athletic director,” Robinson said. “The
Princeton Review ranked our school third for best value public college in the
country, which validates us as a world-class institution. Our athletics department,
our athletic director, need to mirror the excellence of this school.”
Robinson said, among other things, the new athletic department will focus on
fundraising and improving athletic facilities.
“
I think there are a lot of qualified people but there are a lot of people to
go through in order to get this position,” said Shannon Walker, senior
athletic training student. “I think the most important thing is choosing
someone who generally cares for the program and who really cares about our
students.”
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