MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) -- The University of Montana has promoted associate athletic director Kent Haslam to the position of athletic director.
Haslam will begin his duties next Monday.
''I believe Kent Haslam is the right person to lead the University of Montana athletic program into one of national distinction for athletics, academics and campus and community involvement,'' UM President Royce Engstrom said in a statement Wednesday.
Haslam takes over for Jim O'Day, who was relieved of his duties in late March as two football players faced allegations of sexual assault. One has since pleaded guilty.
Montana's football program also is under investigation by the NCAA for unspecified reasons and by the Department of Education over a sexual discrimination complaint. The Justice Department is investigating UM, its campus police along with city police and county prosecutors over the handling of sexual assault reports.
''I believe strongly in the role that college athletics plays on a university campus - a role that unites, builds pride and serves the student-athletes and community,'' Haslam said in a statement Wednesday.
''We often say 'We Are Montana,''' he said in the statement. ''But what does it really mean? Here's my answer: It means we are honest, we are champions, we are disciplined, we are leaders, we are students, we are unified and we are driven. I expect all of us in the Athletic Department to be ambassadors of this great university and lead with integrity.''
Haslam has served as associate athletic director for development since January 2006, splitting his duties between athletics and the UM Foundation. Before that, he worked six years as associate athletic director for external operations at Northern Arizona.
Haslam was selected from four finalists who recently interviewed on campus.
''We had a tremendous pool of candidates, and the search committee brought in four exceptional finalists, each of whom brought certain strengths,'' Engstrom said. ''In the end, Kent was the strong favorite of the committee, and he was my choice because of his exemplary work for UM, because he understands Grizzly athletics and because he has the attitude, capabilities and energy to lead us forward.''
Haslam earned undergraduate degrees in broadcast journalism and Japanese from Brigham Young University in 1993 and a master's in education from NAU in 2004.
