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Pugmire resigns, Hall will begin search for new A.D.

Aaron Falk

Utah State Director of Athletics Rance Pugmire announced his resignation Friday, almost seven weeks after being placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving Feb. 19.

“We’ve accomplished a lot and overcome some difficult challenges in the past nine-plus years,” Pugmire said in a press release. “USU has provided a great opportunity to advance my career. But to finish what we’ve started, especially in the areas of growing the budget and improving facilities, it’s best we part ways at this time. USU and Cache Valley are special to me and I want them to stay that way.”

USU President Kermit Hall said he accepted Pugmire’s resignation with the best interests of the university in mind.

“Rance has made a significant contribution and clearly has the potential to play a role in the administration of intercollegiate athletics,” Hall said in a press release. “Nevertheless, we hold persons in such positions to a high standard – one that earns the respect of, and provides leadership for, our coaches and athletes, students, alumni, faculty, staff and fans, and in that regard, I support Mr. Pugmire’s decision to step down.”

No replacement for Pugmire has been named, but Hall said a prompt national search for a new director will be conducted.

“We have a program that has done increasingly well,” Hall said, “especially in respect to basketball, support for women’s basketball and moving to the Western Athletic Conference. And I think all of this things will make the position appealing to a number of candidates nationwide.”

In the interim, retired USU vice president Fred Hunsaker, 64, will remain on as the acting director of athletics, a role Hunsaker has filled since Pugmire was placed on leave in February.

“I am grateful that Fred has been willing to step in at this critical moment in the history of intercollegiate athletics at Utah State,” Hall said.

After flying into Salt Lake City Feb. 15 from Stockton, Calif, Pugmire was driving to Logan when he veered off the road and rolled his vehicle three and a half times on Interstate 15. Uninjured, Pugmire refused a Breathalyzer test and was arrested and booked into the Box Elder County jail for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Four days later Pugmire, in his fifth year as Director of Athletics at Utah State, was placed on a 60-day paid administrative leave of absence from his position at the university.

-acf@cc.usu.edu