University of Virginia Library

To Head Athletic Program

Corrigan Named Director

Figure F. Corrigan, Director of
Athletics at Washington and Lee
University and former assistant to
the commissioner of the Atlantic
Coast Conference, was named
Wednesday to direct the entire
athletic program at the University
of Virginia. His appointment,
effective January 1, was announced
by Dr. Edgar F. Shannon Jr.,
President of the University.

In the new position of Director
of University Athletic Programs,
Mr. Corrigan will be responsible
specifically for intercollegiate
athletics, intramural, extramural,
recreation and service physical
education programs and
development programs in athletics.
Steve Sebo, Director of Athletics
for the past eight years, will be
responsible through Corrigan for
intercollegiate sports.

In making the announcement
President Shannon said, "The
University must be vigorously
competitive in intercollegiate
athletics and I expect Mr. Corrigan
to provide strong, new leadership
for our excellent athletic staff to
insure that the University is fully
competitive in every intercollegiate
sport."

In addition, "with a student
body of 10,500 and with continued
growth projected throughout the
1970's, the University must provide
ample opportunities and facilities
for our students - both men and
women - to participate in a variety
of athletic and recreation
programs," President Shannon said.

"Mr. Corrigan's experience and
outstanding record while at the
University of Virginia as a coach
and member of the staff of the
Department of Athletics, in the
Office of the Commissioner of the
Atlantic Coast Conference and as
Director of Athletics at W&L.
uniquely equip him to provide the
leadership in this very important
new position here," Dr. Shannon
said.

Mr. Corrigan, who is a member
of the National Collegiate Athletic
Association Long Range Planning
Committee, spent two years as
assistant to Atlantic Coast
Conference Commissioner Jim
Weaver before being selected as
W&L's athletic director. Before his
appointment to the ACC position
in 1967, he had been lacrosse and
soccer coach at the University of
Virginia for nine years and also
sports information director. At
Washington and Lee he has been
responsible for the overall athletic
program and head of the
department of physical education.

Mr. Corrigan, 42, is a graduate
of Duke University. He has been
president of the United States
Lacrosse Coaches Association and
has taken lacrosse teams abroad on
several occasions.

Mr. Corrigan's appointment
coincides with a general expansion
of University athletic programs.
Construction is under way on a $1
million swimming pool annex to
University Hall which will also
include handball and squash courts,
physical education classrooms and
wrestling facilities. Another major
project under way is the nine-lane
Tartan track just west of University
Hall that is expected to be one of
the best in the East. Memorial
Gymnasium has been renovated to
help the University improve its
intramural program and to provide
space for physical education classes. Mr. Corrigan will also be professor
of physical education at the
University.

George C. Palmer 11 of
Charlottesville, chairman of the
University's Athletic Advisory
Council, said "I strongly support
Mr. Shannon's decision to appoint a
Director of University Athletic
Programs. The University is indeed
fortunate to have this new and
important position filled by Gene
Corrigan."