Oklahoma State University Athletics
Harry Birdwell Recommendation Approved By Board Of Regents
June 10, 2002 | General
June 10, 2002
Press Conference Quotes
STILLWATER, Okla. - Harry Birdwell, Oklahoma State University's Vice President for Business and External Relations, has been approved as the school's next Director of Athletics, it was announced today. The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents approved the recommendation. The appointment is effective July 1, 2002.
Birdwell will step into the spot vacated two weeks ago when Terry Don Phillips, OSU's Athletics Director since 1994, resigned to take a position at Clemson University. According to Halligan, the appointment, as all university appointments, will be reviewed by a new president.
"Harry Birdwell's knowledge of the athletics department, his unique set of financial and fund-raising skills and his long-term commitment to OSU make him the ideal choice for this critical position at this critical time," said Halligan.
"Harry's leadership in the planning of the current stadium initiative and his relationships with our current coaches will accelerate the positive momentum of the athletics department."
Birdwell has been a member of the OSU administration for the past 13 years, serving as vice president for business and external relations since 1994.
"I'm pleased that we have Harry Birdwell in place to continue the momentum for the Lewis Field renovation project," said Harlan. "He has been intimately involved with the funding process for the Gallagher-Iba renovation and he certainly knows the ins and outs of the athletics department."
As the university's chief fiscal officer with responsibility for facilities and communications, Birdwell has had a high-profile role in the athletic department. This included the design development and financing of the Athletics Center project, cultivating key fund-raising contacts, developing coaches' contract and compensation packages, budget oversight and gender equity funding.
Birdwell worked closely with President Halligan and Athletics Director Terry Don Phillips to develop OSU's response to the plane crash that took the lives of 10 members of the basketball family. He spoke at the memorial service and chaired the Travel Policy Task Force that followed.
"I love this place!" said Birdwell. "It's as if all my professional experiences and personal passions have come together. I really believe I can make a difference as athletics director at OSU, and I have been so involved in the department that the transition will be swift."
Birdwell said he's worked extensively with the current coaches and administrators in the athletics department and feels the teamwork that already exists will not miss a beat. "I will obviously depend on a group of very talented athletics department administrators to help in this transition," he said.
Birdwell is an OSU alumnus who served as student body president. A native of Fletcher, Okla., Birdwell served as both state and national president of the FFA organization while earning a degree in radio and television news and public affairs at OSU.
He earned a juris doctorate at the University of Oklahoma and went on to lead the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives as general manager before pursuing a career in investment banking.
At OSU, Birdwell is credited with opening the budget process to faculty involvement and leading a transition to performance based funding. He was instrumental in the development of the Oklahoma Technology and Research Park with the City of Stillwater and Meridian Technology Center and serves as vice chair of the Park Board.
He also has shepherded more than $300 million in campus improvements in the past eight years. In 2000, Birdwell received the President's Service Award as OSU's Outstanding Administrator.
The Birdwell File
| Education: | B.S. Oklahoma State University, 1972 Juris Doctor, University of Oklahoma, 1975 |
| Family: | Married to the former Cindy Glenn Two children: Ashley Kay (22), Brandon Glenn (19) |
| Recent Professional History: | Vice President, Business and External Relations Oklahoma State University, June 1994 - Present Vice President, University Relations and Public Affairs, Executive Director of the Institute for International Trade and Economic Development |
