3 finalists named for athletics director job at MSU

Three finalists have emerged in the search process for Missouri State University's next director of athletics.

Roger Denny, Patrick Ransdell and Vince Volpe, who work in athletics roles at universities across the country, are scheduled for interviews over the next two weeks at MSU, according to a news release.

The Springfield-based higher education institution received 54 applications for the role, which was left vacant this summer after Kyle Moats announced he was taking a new position with Eastern Kentucky University after holding the MSU job since 2009. Senior Associate Director of Athletics Casey Hunt is serving as interim athletics director.

"This was a great pool of candidates, and it was difficult for the committee to narrow down the search,” said Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement and chair of the search committee, in the release. “The rapid growth of our university and our pending move to Conference USA has really made this an attractive position.”

Denny, who is currently chief operating officer and executive senior associate athletics director at the University of Illinois, is scheduled for interviews Aug. 12-13.

Aug. 16-17 will be the interview dates for Ransdell, deputy athletics director at Appalachian State, according to the release.

Volpe, associate athletics director at Arizona State, is scheduled for interviews Aug. 19-20.

The process with the candidates in Springfield will involve a series of interviews with the search committee, coaches, athletics staff, student-athletes, MSU President Biff Williams and other administrators, according to the release. The finalists also are slated to participate in campus community forums.

Dunn said in the release that the goal is to name a new athletics director early in the fall semester.

Moats' salary as athletics director was $185,000, according to past reporting.