Posted: Dec 16, 2009 6:15 PM
Updated: Dec 16, 2009 6:15 PM
TUCSON - On Tuesday, in the midst of his second interview for the vacant Athletic Director position at UNLV, Jim Livengood announced in a public forum setting that his contract at the University of Arizona will not be renewed once it expires at the end of June 2010. Whether it's in the coming days or weeks, or seven months down the road, it's clear that Livengood's 16-year run at the UA is coming to an end.
So how will Livengood be remembered as UA Athletic Director? Like most AD's, Livengood's run at the UA was a mixed bag of both proud and regrettable moments.
When it came to dollars and cents, there weren't and aren't many on Livengood's level. He's proven to be a tireless and effective fundraiser and his calling card over the years has been his ability to continually have the athletic department turning profits.
But his legacy will also be defined by some questionable personnel moves like the hiring of football coach Josh Mackovic, his handling of Lute Olson's departure and once naming Kevin O'Neill as Lute's successor and eventually pursuing Tim Floyd before ladning Sean Miller.
Recently, Livengood failed to gain the backing of key boosters, members of the Arizona Board of Regents and UA President Robert Shelton which has forced Livengood to look for work elsewhere and the UA to search for his replacement.
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