NIU President John LaTourette Tuesday ordered an extensive internal and external review of NIU intercollegiate athletics to clearly define the university’s athletic direction.

LaTourette said the review will be conducted by personnel inside and outside the university who will act as hs advisers. He said he would like to have the entire project completed by June or July, around which time all university employee contracts end.

“Out of this, I will have the full knowledge that our goals are clearly defined,” LaTourette said. “I have every confidence in the athletic department, but I think we should go through with this.”

The completed report will cover areas such as conference affiliation, future schedules for all sports, sports medicine, public relations. The reports also will include evaluations of the athletic directors and the athletic board.

“I think it’s excellent. I think it’s something beneficial to everyone,” said Robert Brigham, NIU men’s athletic director.

NIU women’s Athletic Director Susie Pembroke-Jones said, “All programs need to do a review from time to time. I think the last time one was done was when (former NIU) President (William) Monat was here.”

LaTourette would not rule out possible personnel changes resulting from the study.

“Anything is possible,” he said, “because our objective is to make our athletic department as viable as possible. If anything has to give, it’s the program to the budget and not the budget to the program. I think it’s prudent that we take this action to reassure me and this campus that we know what’s going on.”

LaTourette said the internal committee will consist of athletic directors Brigham and Pembroke-Jones; Nancy Vedral, NIU’s National Collegiate Athletic Association faculty representative; Athletic Board Chairman Curt Norton; Eddie Williams, vice president of budget and planning; and two faculty/staff members and one student representative of the Athletic Board.

LaTourette said another faculty member will be chosen in consultation with Jim Giles, executive secretary to the University Council.

The Board voted Wednesday to have Gary Scott, director of career planning and placement, and Earl Seaver, an associate professor in communicative disorders, as its faculty/staff representative. Board student representatives selected Todd Kusma as their representative.

LaTourette said likely candidates for the external committee are presidents, athletic directors or faculty representatives from other universities or a commissioner from an athletic conference.

LaTourette said the internal committee will complete its examination first and submit its report to the external committee which will complete its report and then make recommendations on what should be done.

LaTourette said he would like the internal committee to complete its report by April 1.