NIU Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell said the position of associate athletic director is still open after it was vacated by Susie Pembroke-Jones last month.

“We are in the process of initiating the paperwork to hire someone for the position,” O’Dell said. “By Jan. 1, 1989, the athletic department hopes to have the spot filled, while Associate Athletic Director Clarence Hudson and Assistant Athletic Director Cary Groth share the work load.

With 16 sports at NIU, three sports require a lot of work and attention. For instance, football and basketball games require a member of the athletic department to attend every game, including away games.

Hudson and Groth both hold eight sports and share the work load along with the responsibility involved.

“It is really a lot of fun,” Groth said. “I am not worried about doing the extra work. We are getting the job done and both Clarence (Hudson) and I enjoy it.”

“I am very pleased with the job they have both done in picking up the slack,” O’Dell said.

The vacant associate athletic director’s job involves keeping track of each designated sport, along with its schedules, budgets, personnel, equipment, and facilities.

O’Dell said the director will be in charge of women’s basketball, volleyball, tennis and soccer. Additionally, the job involves overseeing the sports medicine branch and working with the North Star and Big Central soccer conferences.

“We need to find the best person necessary for the job who is organized, meticulous, and interfaces well with internal affairs,” O’Dell said.

Primarily, O’Dell is looking for someone who has worked with the Division I athletics and has a business oriented background.

O’Dell said the main reason for Jones’ leaving was for a career advancement, and that she would receive more exposure on the East Coast because she was a member of the Women’s Basketball Committee.