USD hands AD post to Nester

The University of San Diego has a new athletic director, one who expects the world of intercollegiate athletics to closely monitor her progress.

Jo-Ann Nester was announced Thursday as the Toreros' next athletic director. And in a precedent-setting move, USD said it would create a new position to share responsibilities with her, essentially splitting the athletic director's job in two.

Nester will work directly with 14 of the school's 16 NCAA Division I programs, while the second position -- titled assistant vice president for student affairs for athletics -- will head the department's fund-raising efforts and oversee its highest-profile sports: men's and women's basketball.

The split frees Nester, 55, from the fund-raising campaigns that tend to bog down many athletic directors, allowing her to dedicate more time to deal directly with the teams. It is believed to be a unique delineation of responsibilities, one that Nester expects other colleges to copy if it works.

Vice president for student affairs Bob Pastoor and USD president Mary Lyons "are being very creative with this because the main thrust of athletic directors these days is fund-raising at a lot of institutions," said Nester, who has served as associate AD/senior woman administrator at USD since July 2002.

"I don't know that there's a model out there right now (for what the Toreros have done), but I can guarantee you, we're going to get a lot of looking … especially from the midmajor schools that are trying to stay competitive with the major (schools)."

Nester replaces Tom Iannacone, who retired July 15. Iannacone had held the position since 1988.

The school's athletic profile changed greatly during his tenure, and Nester acknowledged the Toreros would like to raise it further after sending a record six teams to NCAA tournaments during the 2002-03 school year. To do that, the Toreros must increase their spending along with their ability to bring top opponents to campus and travel to marquee events around the country.

Fund-raising is crucial to that effort.

"We're competitive against the UCLAs and the Kansases," Nester said, "and they clearly have larger bases for their budgets."


