Long Beach State University has officially announced today that Bobby Smitheran has been hired to be the new athletic director, and is set to start on Aug. 21 as the 13th person to hold the position.
“Long Beach State University has a rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence and it is my honor and privilege to lead Beach Athletics into the future,” Smitheran said in the officially university release. “I am thankful for President Conoley and Vice President Apel entrusting me with this leadership opportunity to serve the student-athletes, coaches, and staff who represent the institution and tremendous community of Long Beach.”
“I am grateful to the search committee for their hard work conducting this national effort,” said University vice president and chief financial officer Scott Apel in the same release. “Bobby understands the student-athlete, knowing what it takes for them to both grow individually and win as a team. He brings the experience, track record, and vision to move our program forward.”
Smitheran is currently the executive associate athletics director for student-athlete academic support services at San Diego State University, and has been working with university athletics for more than two decades. He has also served as director of compliance, director of football operations, and student-athlete services coordinator at SDSU. Before that he worked as assistant athletics director for compliance and student support and director of compliance at UC Irvine, and compliance coordinator at the University of North Texas.
Smitheran is a Riverside native, but has family ties living in the Long Beach area. He played baseball at the University of New Mexico where he received his undergraduate degree in communication and his masters in physical education with a specialization in sports administration.
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