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Football Officiating => Texas Topics => Topic started by: Ump62 on January 18, 2011, 04:41:12 PM
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By Rick Cantu | Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 03:18 PM
Cliff Odenwald resigned his position as UIL director of athletics to pursue other opportunities, the UIL announced today.
Odenwald joined the UIL as Associate Director of Athletics in 2007 and was named AD for the UIL in February 2009. Through his leadership, the UIL implemented the largest steroid-testing program in the world, as mandated by the state legislature and completed the UIL centennial anniversary celebrations. During his tenure, Odenwald accomplished many e tasks, including his involvement in the latest reclassification and realignment, and pre-determined sites for all UIL state football championships.
The UIL has named Mark Cousins the interim director of athletics, effective immediately. Cousins is an expert on the UIL Constitution & contest rules and has insight into the dynamics of the athletic programs. He began his career at the UIL in 1994 while completing his masters degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/varsitynews/entries/2011/01/18/uils_odenwald_r.html
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^flag
It will be extremely interesting to find out if Cliff actually resigned on his own or was somehow forced out by the tiphat: Good UIL Dr. Cliff seemed to be the "silent" one over there on Manor Road regarding the UIL-TASO debacle and was not particularly very proactive for the UIL on this topic.
So the best thing they can replace him with is Cousins? And that's because he is an expert on the "UIL Contest Rules?" Anyone know anything about Cousins' background, i. e., Coach? Administrator, Attorney, et. al? z^
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Very interesting hire. The coaches on the coaching boards don't like that he is resigning either. You would think that if the coaches complain about the UIL and the Officials complain about the UIL that an independent 3rd party would look into it. The only thing that coaches and officials now agree on is that the UIL blows goats. Good job Dr. B
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This is unfortunate as he may have been the only leader over there who was reasonable. I suspect we will not be so lucky with the next hire.
As for Mr Cousins (who is apparently just filling the spot till they get a permanet body):
Dr. Mark Cousins Appointed Director of Policy
By Stephanie Ramirez | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 11:00 AM
Dr. Mark Cousins has been named director of policy in his 15th year of service at the University Interscholastic League.
As director of policy, Cousins will take on the responsibilities of administering and enforcing eligibility rules, working as the liaison between the UIL and various committees and organizations, revising and updating the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules and various other duties.
Cousins’ said two of his goals for his new position are to continue to implement the rules of the UIL successfully and to ensure that students continue to benefit from participating in events.
“I am very excited to take on this new role and the challenges it presents,” Cousins said. “I look forward to working with our schools and interested parties to create a more advantageous environment.”
Cousins said many of the state organizations have similar goals and only differ in what they each respectively work for. For the UIL, it is to work toward making sure students are able to take part in extra-curricular activities.
“I think the value in extra-curricular activities has to stay in the forefront so that our policy makers understand the importance of student participation,” Cousins said. “We really want them to see that the benefit of participation in these activities greatly outweighs what it costs them.”
Before becoming director of policy, Cousins worked as an athletic coordinator in charge of wrestling, soccer and baseball. He will continue to work on baseball and soccer for at least this season.
Cousins completed his degrees at the University of Texas at Austin where he received his undergraduate degree in sociology, followed by his Master’s in sports administration and then a Ph.D. in educational administration.
Before joining the UIL, Cousins worked for four years with the UT athletics department as a student manager of the football team.
Cousins first started at UIL as an intern in 1994. In 1995, Cousins became a part-time administrative assistant. Then in 1996, moved up to assistant to the athletic director, and eventually on to athletic coordinator.
Cousins officially took over as director of policy on Feb. 5. He replaced Bonnie Northcutt who was policy director since 1995.
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Student manager of the UT football team!
Well that gives him all the insight into the games necessary.
Wow is all I can say.
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He never came right out and said it, but many had the feeling that Odenwald was not fully on board with how the UIL was handling the TASO/officiating situation. UIL athletic directors don't just up and leave. He was either asked or had enough. The athletic directors are usually in-line to take over the UIL director's position. With Dr. B in there now, it seems too hard to ask to have someone reasonable in just about any position. He continues to run the UIL into the ground with the concept that they need to be a money generating organization, putting student athletes second, and using them to best of his ability to generate money. Very sad.
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I agree that Coach O was the only trustworthy UIL person involved in the whole situation. He may not have said alot but I always felt he could be trusted.
Rumour on Coaching sites has him returning to the Garland ISD as Asst AD. There has been speculation for a while that Coach Homer Johnson may be stepping down soon as the GISD AD. After all he has been there over 60 years. Running the GISD Athletics Dept has to be a better job than having to work around guys like TT & Dr. B. all day.
Good Luck Coach whereever you land.