Rick Greenspan was selected as director of athletics at Rice, bringing experience as AD in three other Division I programs to the position. He served most recently at Indiana, and also has led programs at Illinois State and Army. Greenspan has worked during the past year as a consultant to numerous athletics programs conducting searches to fill administrative vacancies. David Salyer, Rice's senior executive athletics director, as been serving as interim AD since the departure of Chris Del Conte last fall.

Other transactions

Athletics directors – Dixie State selected Jason Boothe, former associate athletics director for operations at Navy … Ross Bjork, former senior associate athletics director at UCLA, will take over at Western Kentucky. Bjork has experience at Miami (Florida), Missouri and Tulsa.

Associate athletics director – Akron appointed Dan Satter as senior associate athletics director for external relations. Satter has been at Boston U. for several years.

Assistant athletics directors – Mary Helak was appointed at Franklin, where she also will serve as head women's volleyball coach. She previously was a volleyball assistant and athletics administration assistant at Stevens Institute of Technology … Jenny Warmack-Chipman resigned at Muhlenberg, where the senior woman administrator also was head women's volleyball coach for 10 years and served as advisor to the campus student-athlete advisory committee. Her volleyball teams compiled a 133-152 record.

Coaches

Men's basketball – Gene Cross resigned from Toledo. The Rockets were 11-53 over his two seasons … UC Irvine did not renew Pat Douglass' contract. Douglass has a record of 197-191 in 13 seasons with the Anteaters … West Virginia Wesleyan will not extend Bill Lilly's contract. In five years, Lilly compiled a 38-105 record with the Bobcats … Boise State released Greg Graham. Graham was placed on administrative leave after eight years and a 142-112 record with the Broncos … Jeff Lebo was dismissed after six seasons at Auburn, where his teams were 96-93 through six seasons.

Women's basketball – Deb Hunter stepped down after 11 seasons at Austin due to health reasons. The Kangaroos were 18-8 this year, and Hunter was 138-134 at the school … Tara Osborne resigned from Huntingdon with a 21-32 record in two seasons. The Lady Hawks named assistant Andrew Turner to handle day-to-day operations.

Football assistants – Georgia Southern hired Shawn Quinn, Orlando Mitjans Jr., Victor Cabral and Lamont Seward. Quinn will coach linebackers and serve as recruiting coordinator. Mitjans will coach cornerbacks. Seward will handle wide receivers and Cabral will assist with the defensive line … North Dakota State added Kenni Burns, Brian Ward and Nick Goeser. Burns will coach wide receivers, Ward will handle defensive backs and Goeser will oversee defensive tackles … Gary Goff hired as offensive coordinator at West Virginia Wesleyan. He is a former Iowa Wesleyan, Southeastern Louisiana and New Mexico State assistant who served last season as passing coordinator and wide receivers coach at Princeton … Akili Smith and Ronnie Bradford joined the California staff as administrative assistants.

Soccer – Saint Louis named Mike McGinty head men's soccer coach. McGinty spent the last 11 seasons as an assistant at Virginia, including the past two as associate head coach.

Deaths

Nate Beasley, former All-America running back at Delaware during the mid-1970s, died of heart failure March 11 at the age of 56.