Courtesy Arkansas State University Athletics Department
Courtesy Arkansas State University Athletics Department
JONESBORO, Ark. (3/13/13) – Arkansas State Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir announced Wednesday that Doug Abel is retiring as Senior Associate Director of Athletics at the end of March after almost 13 full years of service at Arkansas State University.
Abel arrived at ASU July 1, 2000, and served under four athletics directors during his tenure, including Joe Hollis, Paul Griffin, Dr. Dean Lee and Mohajir. Abel was a part of many significant transformations at A-State, such as its transition to Sun Belt Conference football membership in 2001 and a nickname change from the Indians to the Red Wolves in 2008.
“I have enjoyed nearly 13 years of service under four athletics directors at Arkansas State,” said Abel. “I am very grateful for the help of numerous university employees along the way.
“After turning 60 last month, I decided it was time for early retirement to seek more balance in my personal life. As an anecdote, I celebrated my birthday by attending four games, a doubleheader in baseball and a doubleheader in basketball. I wish ASU Athletics all the best and look forward to following the Red Wolves in my retirement.”
Abel’s title as Senior Associate Athletics Director put him in a diverse role during his tenure, but his primary function has been to oversee financial operation, budget preparation and human resource functions for A-State Athletics. Well-respected not only in athletics, but across the entire University campus, Abel also served as the Red Wolves’ Interim Director of Athletics from August 8, 2012, through Sept. 18, 2012.
“We want to thank Doug for his many years of great service to Arkansas State University and, specifically, the athletics department” said Mohajir. “I certainly commend his many strong contributions to the University, and he has been a valued representative for our athletics department in the community. We wish Doug the best as he makes this transition.”
In addition to Arkansas State, Abel also worked in collegiate athletics as the American South Conference’s Assistant Commissioner/Director of Communications from 1987-1990 and DePaul University’s Sports Information Director from 1986-87.
Abel came to A-State from Stats, Inc., where he served as Vice President of Operations from 1996-1999. He spent the previous six years in Major League Baseball as the Director of Public Relations for the Chicago White Sox.
A 1975 University of Iowa graduate, Abel completed coursework and a graduate internship in the Sport Management program at Western Illinois University from 1984-86. Abel began his career as an administrative coordinator at the Cooperative Urban Teacher Education program in Kansas City, Mo., in 1976. He then spent the next seven years as a high school social studies teacher and assistant basketball coach in the Muscatine, Burlington and Notre Dame school districts — all in Iowa.
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