CSUN COMMISSION HAS A MISSION COLLEGE FORMS GROUP TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF NORTHRIDGE'S ATHLETICS PROGRAM.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Cal State Northridge president Jolene Koester has recruited UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero and former NCAA president Cedric Dempsey to help reshape the school's oft-troubled athletic program.

Koester's ``Blue Ribbon Commission'' has been designed to address an assortment of CSUN problems, including fundraising, community interest and an upgrade for facilities, most notably an outdated 1,600-capacity gym.

``I've been very impressed by the questions I've been asked and the people I've met that are asking them,'' said men's basketball coach Bobby Braswell, now in his 10th season at CSUN. ``This one seems to really hold its weight. I'm happy the president decided to do this. She's giving us a chance to see where we are and where we need to be going.''

Four years ago, Koester asked former athletic director Dick Dull to assemble a plan to address a $1 million budget deficit. Dull recommended the school drop football to balance the budget and the school eliminated the sport that year. Other sports were supposed to benefit financially but athletic budgets for CSUN's 20 sports didn't increase. However, several facilities were given minor renovations.

Mo Qayoumi, the vice president for administration and finance at CSUN, is the commission's chair and spokesperson. Qayoumi said the elimination of any sports or a possible move to Division II is not up for discussion.

``Absolutely not,'' he said. ``One of the things the president made very clear was that we'll stay in Division I, we'll stay in the Big West (Conference) and we'll have 20 sports. We're not talking about reducing sports or moving out of the Big West or moving out of Division I.''

Interim athletic director Janet Lucas reports to Qayoumi. Dull resigned as athletic director in the summer to become the school's fundraiser for athletics. He's charged with raising $10 million for facility improvements, including a $6 million facelift for the Northridge Gym.

CSUN's commission has a Web site (www.csun.edu/%7Epresofc/athleticscommissioLine is overdrawn n.html) and its charge is: ``addressing the elements of organization, resources, and personal commitment that the university and intercollegiate athletics must have in order to consistently produce a successful NCAA Division I program within the Big West Conference.''

The plan also is expected to address improvements to the academic performance of athletes, connections to the internal and external community, facilities and the development of financial goals for the department.

The commission has met three times, with the next meeting set for Nov. 22. The final meeting is Dec. 15 and the plan will be finalized in early 2006. However, the school will start conducting a national search for an athletic director on Jan. 1.

Qayoumi estimates the plan will be given to Koester in February or early March.

The findings of the commission will be given to the president sometime in February or early March, Qayoumi said. Asked if that would be enough time for prospective athletic directors to read the plan he or she must oversee, he said: ``by the time we bring professional candidates on campus, this report will be available.''

Qayoumi praised the work of the commission - which includes administrators, a coach, an athlete and the student body president. Dempsey, a consultant, lives in San Diego and commutes to Northridge by train. He has made every meeting.

``I'm very satisfied and gratified with the amount of time and effort of every member of the committee,'' Qayoumi said. ``I'm very excited for the road map to come out of the commission and that's something that will really enhance the mission of athletics on campus.''

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

CSUN'S BLUE-RIBBON COMMISSION