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Mark Hollis (athletic director)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mortee (talk | contribs) at 19:18, 2 March 2018 (Undid revision 828262478 by 12.165.188.173 (talk) reinstating referenced content). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mark Hollis was the athletic director at Michigan State University, succeeding Ron Mason on January 1, 2008.[1] Hollis retired on January 26, 2018 in wake of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal.[2]

Career

Hollis graduated from Croswell-Lexington High School in Michigan class of 1980. He earned a BA in communication from Michigan State University in 1985 and an MBA from the University of Colorado in 1992. Hollis was a basketball team manager under former head coach Jud Heathcote throughout his undergraduate education at Michigan State. Between his BA and MBA, Hollis worked for the Western Athletic Conference under Commissioner Joseph Kearney, who had previously been athletic director at Michigan State.

Hollis was named athletic director on January 1, 2008 and has been a part of the Michigan State athletic department from 1995 until his retirement on January 26, 2018.

Hollis was praised for his marketing abilities, helping to stage unusual athletic contests such as the Cold War, an outdoor ice hockey match-up between rivals Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, as as Basketbowl, a 2003 match-up between Michigan State University and the University of Kentucky played at Ford Field, and the 2011 Carrier Classic basketball game aboard the USS Carl Vinson, between Michigan State and North Carolina. Hollis was responsible for hiring former Eastern Michigan University baseball head coach Jake Boss.[3]

However, Hollis's athletic department came under heavy scrutiny as it was revealed that former gymnastics team doctor Larry Nasser was being prosecuted for sexually assaulting numerous gymnasts over the course of nearly two decades. Members of the media called for leading figures at the university, Hollis included, to step down as a consequence[4].

On January 26, 2018, Hollis retired, claiming that he was "not running away from anything, I am running toward something."

Personal life

He and his wife Nancy have a daughter and two sons.

References

  1. ^ "Mark Hollis Named MSU Athletics Director-Designate". MSU Spartans.com. Accessed July 11, 2008.
  2. ^ "Michigan State AD Mark Hollis steps down in wake of Nassar scandal". January 26, 2018.
  3. ^ "Player Bio: Jake Boss Jr.". MSU Spartans.com. Accessed July 11, 2008.
  4. ^ "There are more who must pay a price for Larry Nassar scandal".
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