April 28, 2003
Photo Gallery of Today's Press Conference
Quotes from Today's Press Conference
Pocatello, ID---Idaho State University President Dr. Richard L. Bowen has announced that the University of Idaho's Jim Senter has been named Director of Athletics. The announcement was made at an 11:00 am press conference held in the Bennion Room in Holt Arena. Senter becomes the tenth full-time Athletic Director in Idaho State history. The hire is subject to approval from the State Board of Education.
Said Dr. Bowen, "I am very pleased that Jim Senter has accepted this position. His enthusiasm and competence are obvious to anyone who meets him. His attitude will be infectious throughout the Idaho State University community."
"Everyone involved in the search was very impressed by him," added Dr. Bowen. "We are pleased and fortunate to have him join us."
Senter has spent the past three years as the Associate Athletic Director for Development at the University of Idaho, after spending the two years prior as Assistant Athletic Director for Development. At U of I, Senter has been responsible for the University of Idaho's Capital Campaign for Athletics, serving as a major gifts officer. He also served as a liaison to Idaho's Central Development Office and their $100 million campaign.
Senter oversaw all campaign publications, and he developed a gift range chart and created naming opportunity structure for the campaign. Senter also was responsible for solidifying leadership gifts of $2 million, $1.5 million, and $1 million.
Senter also ran the annual fund for Vandal athletics, handling the work of 48 National Directors, and overseeing and planning a fiscal budget of $1.2 million. He directed a primary staff of an Assistant Athletic Director, the Director of Marketing and Promotions, a Development Assistant, and other support staff personnel.
As the Assistant Athletic Director for Development, Senter provided leadership to all regional membership campaigns for the Vandal Scholarship Fund, and coordinated and evaluated donor club gift levels and donor recognition. He also was the steward for all annual gifts of $1,000 or more.
Additionally, Senter oversaw 16 annual special events for Vandal athletics, and he handled both endowment donors and U of I's Wheels Club, adding eight courtesy cars in four years.
Senter spent 16 of his past seventeen years at the Moscow campus, spending two different stints as an assistant football coach. From 1986-1992, he served as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. During this stint, the Vandals went 52-21 while he coached the linebackers and defensive line. Idaho won the 1987, 1988, and 1989 Big Sky titles, and qualified for the I-AA playoffs in six of his seven years.
Senter then spent two years as the Regional Development Director for Athletics, directing Idaho's annual membership campaign in Southern Idaho, establishing new Vandal Scholarship Fund Chapters, and organizing 17 special annual events throughout Southern Idaho. In 1994, he returned to the football staff, helping Idaho to an 8-4 record while coaching safeties. He then was promoted to Assistant Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for 1996 and 1997, serving as the team's NCAA compliance liaison as the team went 13-9 over those two seasons.
Senter's one year away from the Moscow campus was in during the 1996-97 year, and it was spent as the Ranch Manager at the Rising Sun Equestrian Center in Queen Creek, Arizona. While there, his marketing campaign and implementation of special events increased the center's profitability by 166%.
Senter earned his Associate's degree from Coffeyville Community College in 1983, where he also served as a student assistant with the football squad. In 1985, he received his B.S. in Education from the University of Tulsa, where he again served as a student assistant with the football program. He then spent one year as a graduate assistant with the Arizona State football team, helped the Sun Devils to an 8-4 record and a Holiday Bowl appearance. Jim eventually earned his M.S. in Recreation from the University of Idaho in 1990.
Senter, 42, is married to Susan Senter of Phoenix, Arizona. He has three children Shawna, Derick, and Matthew.
