Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi and Vice Chancellor Fred Wood announced yesterday the names of the final four candidates for UC Davis Director of Athletics.
The announcement is the latest step in a selection process that began in September and has included town hall meetings, third party reports and the advisement of the Recruitment Advisory Committee.
Each of the four remaining candidates will make a trip to campus to hold an open forum prior to the final selection. The first open forum will be held on May 23 and the last will be June 9.
Ray M. Purpur — Ray M. Purpur has worked within the Stanford University athletic department for the past 18 years, most recently as the Deputy Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation. During his tenure at Stanford, Purpur has served as chair of the football operations committee as well as the Associate Director of Athletics from 2001-2005. While Purpur worked for the Cardinal, Stanford won 17 straight Division I Directors’ Cup for the best athletic department in the nation.
Purpur received a masters degree in sports science from Pacific in 1994. While earning his degree, he also served as an Assistant Director of Athletics.
Purpur’s open forum will be held on May 23 from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. in Tercero South’s Wall Hall.
Desiree Reed-Francois — Desiree Reed-Francois is currently the Senior Associate Athletic Director at the University of Tennessee. Prior to arriving in Knoxville, Reed-Francois worked in the athletic departments at University of San Francisco, Fresno State, Santa Clara University, San Jose State and the University of California, Berkeley. She also spent one year as a legal associate for the National Football League.
While at Tennessee, Reed-Francois was directly responsible for men’s basketball games and related contracts. During her tenure, the Volunteer men’s basketball squad went to four straight NCAA Tournaments.
Reed-Francois has a degree in law from the University of Arizona and has used this degree throughout her working career. Her public forum will be Tuesday May 29 from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. at the UC Davis Conference Center, Ballroom B.
Terrance J. Tumey – Terrance Tumey has been the Director of Athletics at Dominican University of California since April 2009, where he has overseen the Penguins’ transition from an NAIA university for a Division II program.
Prior to that time he worked in several capacities with the San Francisco 49ers from from 2001-2009, including five years as Director of Football Administration.
Tumey also has experience as an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos and for UCLA, the university where he received both his Bachelors of Arts and his MBA.
Tumey’s open forum will be held June 4 from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. in the Activities and Recreation Center Ballroom B.
Foti Mellis – Foti Mellis has spent the last decade as a member of the University of California, Berkeley Athletics Department, where he is currently the Senior Associate Athletic Director. One of Mellis’ biggest responsibilities at Cal was overseeing the renovation of Memorial Stadium, a project valued at $321 million.
Prior to joining the Cal Athletics Department, Mellis held the position of Assistant Athletic Director at Arizona State from 1998-2002 and the position of Director of Compliance at Tulsa.
Mellis attended UC Davis for both his undergraduate and graduate studies — ultimately completing a Masters in Education in 1996. During his time at UC Davis Mellis also served as Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach from 1990-1992.
Mellis’ open forum will be held on June 7 from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. in Tercero South’s Wall Hall.
Editor in Chief Jason Alpert contributed to this story.
TREVOR CRAMER can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.
