After serving Ball State athletics for 27 years and standing in as director of athletics for the last seven of those years, Andi Seger has decided to call it quits.
In a press conference held in Worthen Arena Wednesday morning, Seger announced she will retire at the conclusion of the academic year. Her final day as director of athletics will be June 30.
"I remember very clearly the press conference where I was appointed director of athletics," Seger said. "I remember very clearly that I was a little nervous but very, very excited. A little over seven years later, I feel the same way. I am a little nervous and very, very excited."
Seger said she has been thinking about making the decision to retire for about a year. Before she made the final decision, however, she said she wanted to leave the program in good standing.
"What was important to me was to ensure our program was in very good shape," Seger said. "I am excited about where we are this year. We are just at a very good spot. There is never a time that is easy, but I think it makes me feel good that the program is doing well. It makes it a good time to do some other things."
Among several coaches, President Blaine Brownell was also in attendance.
"On a personal level, I will miss her quiet intensity at courtside and on the side line," Brownell said. "I know she enjoyed some of these great wins. I would look over at her and I would know she was happy, but on some level she was also thinking about the cost of the goal post or the ticket prices.
"I saw some smiles - never really a good whoop and holler," he said. "So we developed a division of responsibility. She worried about the goal post and I did all the whooping and hollering."
Dick Falls, assistant director of athletics said it was a pleasure to have worked with Seger over the years. Football head coach Bill Lynch had a little more to say.
"She has done a tremendous job," Lynch said. "I think I was one of the first head coaches hired when she took over. From a football standpoint, her support has been outstanding. Through our good times and our bad times, she has been rock solid and we really appreciate all the support she has given us."
With Seger leaving the position in little over four months, the search for a replacement will begin within the week, Brownell said. By the end of next week he hopes to have a search committee put in place. He also said the university might use a search firm in the hunt for a new director.
According to Brownell, until Tuesday night, there were only a couple of people who even knew of Seger's decision. With little time to prepare, it may take a week or two to truly get things rolling.
"We will proceed as fast we can," Brownell said. "We hope to have someone take over on July 1," Brownell said. "The important thing is to make the right appointment, not to just do according to a rapid time frame.
"We want to have a search that is open to everybody. There won't be any restrictions on anyone either currently associated or previously associated with the university.
"The important thing for us to do is to find someone who will represent the university and will share the kind of values we have about athletics and its role in the university."
Falls said finding the right candidate is the most important issue.
"I don't know if it is better or not to hire within," Fall said. "I think you just look at the candidates. You are trying to get the best person for the position whether it's from within or from the outside."
With the surprise of the news, Brownell said he hadn't had anyone from within the university show interest in applying for the position yet, simply because no one knew.
When Falls, however, was asked if he thought anyone within the university would be suitable for the position, he responded by saying, "I'm interested in the position. I am very much interested."
When the time comes to apply, Falls said he is considering putting his name on the ballot. If he were to get selected for the position, he said he would place importance on acquiring more resources and continuing improvement of the football stadium.
As for Seger, she said she plans to play a little more golf. Moving away from Muncie might also be an option.
"I did buy a piece of property in North Carolina on the coast," Seger said. "It's kind of perfect golf weather for me and about a half a block from a marina which is my other favorite thing. But that's only a piece of property, unless I want to put a tent on it, we'll see.
"I see myself working at some point certainly. I'm not ready to not do anything. I am going to take a little time off, maybe associate with the university, maybe not. I think 30 years in athletics is 30 years in athletics.
"There is another world out there and I'd like to take advantage of that."
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