KOWALCZYKA VISITS CAMPUS

Paul Kowalczyk, who has an extensive business background, said he would be able to put that expertise to good use if he is hired as the next athletic director at Southeast Missouri State University.

Kowalczyk, one of two finalists for the Southeast post, was in Cape Girardeau Friday to meet with coaches, administrators and members of the local media.

Currently an associate athletic director for external affairs at Northwestern, Kowalczyk has been heavily involved in the business end of athletic departments for more than a decade.

"I believe having a business background is absolutely critical," said Kowalczyk. "An athletic department is very much a business operation. You have to have good business sense to make things happen and bring in revenue."

Kowalczyk has 13 years of experience in athletics administration at Northwestern, Kansas State, Portland State, Youngstown State and Kent State. He has served in a variety of capacities, including assistant athletic director for finance and assistant athletic director for business operations. He has also been heavily involved in marketing and fundraising.

Prior to working for various colleges, Kowalczyk worked as an accountant for about five years.

Kowalczyk earned degrees in business administration and accounting at Kent State and gained his masters in sports administration, also at Kent State.

Although Kowalczyk has worked as a college athletic administrator for more than a decade, he has never headed up an athletic department. He believes Southeast would be a good fit for him.

"Since I've gotten involved in athletics, that (becoming an athletic director) has been a goal of mine," he said. "I've interviewed some other places, but I've taken a very selective approach in what I've applied for.

"One of the things that really interests me (about Southeast) is it's sound academically. Having worked at Northwestern for seven years, academics are very important to me."

Added Kowalczyk, "The size of this type of program is very manageable. You can have an impact with the student-athletes and really get to know them. And I've heard a lot of good things about Cape Girardeau."

Kowalczyk said getting in touch with the interests of the general student body would be a priority.

"I believe in finding out what the students are interested in," he said. "What makes them want to come to games."

The other finalist, Terry Wanless, will be on the Southeast campus Wednesday. Wanless is the athletic director at the University of North Dakota.

Carroll Williams has been serving as interim athletic director at Southeast since the spring of 1997 after Dr. Richard McDuffie accepted the position of athletic director at Eastern Illinois.