Lawless will help launch an athletics director search capability within Korn/Ferry's education practice to fill the need for senior-level athletics administration talent at colleges and universities. Lawless, who retired as Tulsa CEO earlier this year, spent 15 years as a college president at Tulsa and Texas Tech University, and more than a decade in the NCAA governance structure, including service as chair of the NCAA Executive Committee.

"Bob has made countless contributions to the fields of higher education and collegiate athletics throughout his distinguished career," said Bill Funk, managing director and head of Korn/Ferry's education practice. "His appointment adds a competitive advantage to Korn/Ferry in athletics administration recruitment, and we are delighted that Bob has joined the team."

Before Lawless began his tenure as a college president, he served seven years as vice-president for finance and chief financial officer, then as executive vice-president and chief operations officer for Southwest Airlines in Dallas. Before that, Lawless held numerous academic and administrative positions at the University of Houston and at Texas A&M University, College Station.

His NCAA committee service includes having been a member of the Division I Board of Directors, Division I chair of the NCAA Presidents Commission and chair of the search committee that recommended the hiring of current NCAA President Myles Brand.

Korn/Ferry's education practice has conducted more than 300 searches in the past several years, nearly half of which have been for presidents or chancellors.