Oregon athletic director Bill Moos sat alongside University President Dave Frohnmayer Monday and recalled many fond memories from his nearly 12- year tenure at Oregon, a time marked by unprecedented expansion.
“I’d say I’m most proud of the attitude we developed here and the feeling … that Oregon can and should be competitors, should be winners,” said the 55-year-old Moos, who witnessed 10 Pacific-10 Conference championships as athletic director.
As expected from prior reports, Moos announced his official resignation Monday though he will remain under contract and in the position until March 31, 2007 or until a replacement is found.
Moos made the decision after conversations with Frohnmayer about the direction of the athletics department, most notably Oregon’s plans to build a new basketball arena to replace the aging McArthur Court. Plans have recently stalled because of inadequate financial backing.
“I’m proud that we’ve got the arena, that project, to where it is now, but to me, it’s kind of like a greased pig,” Moos said. “I couldn’t get my hands around it and we’d lose it each time and for a variety of reasons.”
In February of 2005, the University purchased the site of the new arena, the property formerly owned by Williams’ Bakery near Franklin Boulevard, but design plans stalled after private donor funds fell well short of the near $100 million price tag.
Oregon’s largest donor, former Nike CEO Phil Night, has yet to jump on board with the project. Moos and Knight have publicly disagreed with each other in the past, most notably with regards to the track and field program under Martin Smith in 2004, when Knight temporarily halted financial support.
“I don’t really think we’ve had feuds,” Moos said of Knight. “I think we’ve had some differences of opinion on some things, but there’s never been a nasty scream-fest or anything. I’ve always felt that we’ve had a cordial relationship and enjoyed each other’s company.”
He added: “My life at Oregon has been very good, and Phil’s been a big part of that. My decision (to resign) was strictly personal.”
Moos said he is unaware why Knight has not supported the arena project. Frohnmayer said the project remains one of the university’s top priorities.
“We’ve put together a plan and funding model, which we hoped Phil would be involved with but to this point, he has not agreed to do that,” Moos said. “That’s why we’re somewhat in a stall right here while we’re talking to other donors and hoping that Phil will come back on board.”
“He really hasn’t told me directly (why). I’m guessing that it’s a lot of money and it’s a decision he and (wife) Penny have to make together. He’s never outright told me that there was a reason for him hesitating.”
With the completion of the project likely many years away, Moos decided it was the appropriate time to pursue his personal goals, which include moving with his family to property previously purchased south of Spokane, Wash. and to develop a cattle ranch there.
“At my age, I’ve decided after 12, what are wonderful years, it’s time to close the book on this chapter and open another one,” Moos said.
“I had to weigh those things and, to tell you the truth, that became more important than the arena project.”
Moos’ tenure, the second longest among athletic directors in Oregon history, will be remembered for its tremendous progress that includes $160 million in facility improvements most notably the $90 million expansion of Autzen Stadium in 2002 that added 12,000 new seats and the construction of the $14.6 million Ed Moshofsky Sports Center.
He also raised the annual budget to nearly $40 million from $18 million when he arrived from the University of Montana in 1995.
“I owe a great debt of personal as well as professional gratitude to Bill,” said Frohnmayer, who added that the search for Moos’ replacement will begin immediately though he declined to name potential candidates. “I think his tenure here as athletic director has been really one of the great runs in University of Oregon history.”
[email protected]