The departure of Nona Richardson will create a void in the Ball State University athletic department, especially with the women's athletic programs.
Richardson, who is leaving Ball State next month to take the position of senior associate athletics director at the University of California-Davis, is the senior woman administrator. Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tom Collins said it would be tough to find someone with her credentials.
"Nona really had a great breadth behind her of what it was like to be a coach and knowing the rules," Collins said. "She was a very excellent administrator who understands recruiting and understands the up-and-downs of student athletes. "
Richardson said it would be hard to leave Muncie because of the support she has received from athletic directors Bubba Cunningham and Collins, along with the other athletic administrators.
"It was not an easy decision," Richardson said. "Both the president [Jo Ann Gora] and Tom wanted me to stay. I had to weigh the pros and the cons, but I had to look out at my future and what was best for me."
Richardson said the academic reputation of UC Davis was a big drawing point. Like Ball State, the school is designated as a research institution. However, Richardson said the school is more respected and is more renowned than Ball State.
Richardson said her ultimate goal was to become a Division III athletic director, and the academics and athletics component was another factor.
"That was a thing that pushed me in this direction," Richardson said. "This can be an institution that fulfills my needs."
Three women's coaches - Tracy Roller (basketball), Laura-Seibold Caudill (swimming & diving) and Kathy Bull (tennis) - have been at Ball State during Richardson's entire tenure.
Bull said she benefited greatly from how Richardson handled coaching and student-athlete issues.
"Nona was very professional and I appreciated her perspective on a lot of different things," Bull said. "She was a great professional to work with. As happy as I am for her, I'm disappointed for Ball State that we lost her."
From 1996-2002 Richardson was at Valparaiso University. She held various jobs, including head women's volleyball coach, assistant athletic director, associate athletic director, compliance coordinator and senior woman administrator, before leaving for Ball State in 2002.
Last spring, Richardson turned her attention towards student-athletes' profiles on Facebook.com. After seeing an unsatisfactory content, Richardson sent out an e-mail to coaches ordering their players to "clean up" the profiles or be barred from using the popular Web site at all.
Collins said the search to replace Richardson would start within the next week. Matt Wolfert, associate athletics director for community relations, and Kyle Brennan, director of athletics compliance and eligibility, are in the process of setting up the search committee.
Collins said the job would likely be filled by a female.
"I think there's some comfort for some of the coaches to be reporting to a female," Collins said. "Sometimes student-athletes feel more comfortable talking to a woman than me. Although there are a few cases around the country where there isn't a female administrator, my primary target is to find a woman to fill the role."
"I think it'll be an attractive job," he said.
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