Athletic director announces retirement
Scott Johnson to retire amid controvesy surrounding suspended women's
basketball coach
Staff Report / The Collegian
Scott Johnson, Fresno State’s athletic director, announced he will
be retiring when his contract expires at the end of June.
Johnson, who has been employed at Fresno State for more than 24 years,
is in his fourth year as athletic director at the university. He spent
time as associate athletic director, in media relations, radio and television,
fund-raising and special projects.
“I have been considering retiring from this position for several
months,” Johnson said in a news release. “I’m looking
forward to having the time to pursue new opportunities and spend quality
time with my family.
“Because of the items that need to be addressed in the department
in the near future, I have indicated to [university] president [John]
Welty that he may want to appoint someone immediately to lead the department
during the transition. I am prepared to assist the department in any way
I can to assure a smooth transition.”
Welty said he is encouraging Johnson to stay involved with Fresno State,
according to the release.
“Scott has made a lasting contribution to this university,”
Welty said. “I’m looking to him to continue to lead in work
with our alumni, friends and volunteers.”
Johnson’s retirement plans come in the midst of women’s basketball
coach Stacy Johnson-Klein’s paid administrative leave by the university.
But the athletic director says his decision to retire is not related to
the situation with Johnson-Klein.
“I know some may want to connect my retirement announcement with
items in the news about the women’s basketball coach’s suspension,”
Johnson said. “There simply isn’t any connection. No matter
when I made this announcement there would have been some other time or
event that people would try to link to the announcement.”
During Johnson’s tenure, the university saw facility improvements,
such as the development of the new Ricchiuti Academic Center and the expansion
of the Duncan Building.
Some of the athletic program’s other accomplishments under Johnson
include an all-time high 2.91 cumulative grade point average for student-athletes,
boosting the community service of student-athletes and scheduling such
big-name football opponents as USC, Washington, Kansas State, Oklahoma,
Tennessee and Colorado, among several other big-name programs.
But there have also been several controversies during Johnson’s
time at the helm.
Some of those controversies include the men’s basketball program
facing NCAA sanctions because of violations that occurred during the tenure
of former coach Jerry Tarkanian, several basketball players being suspended
during the 2003-04 season under coach Ray Lopes, and the elimination of
the men’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving teams because
of budget cuts.
Tarkanian’s tenure as coach of the basketball team also ended under
Johnson.
Johnson began his time as athletic director on Jan. 7, 2002 after serving
on an interim basis starting July 3, 2001. He replaced former athletic
director Al Bohl.
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