After a trip to the public library this afternoon, here are the articles
about McDonald's resignation from the Denver papers.
 
From the Denver Post (1/5/95):
 
DU's McDonald resigns as AD
by Adrian Dater
 
  Jack McDonald, the University of Denver's athletic director since 1990,
announced yesterday he will resign later this month.
  Phillip J. Hogue, a DU trustee, was named the interim athletic director.
  McDonald, 43, had eight months left on a five-year contract but was
released from it by the school.  Although McDonald gave no reason for his
departure, it had been common knowledge that he has interviewed for other
jobs recently.
  One of the more high profile of the jobs is the vacant University of Maine
athletic directorship.
  Sources have said that McDonald, a native of Braintree, Mass., would like
to move back to the East Coast.
  "I think that he sees his job here is done," DU hockey coach George
Gwozdecky said.  "He's got a lot of energy and great vision and has his own
goals.  He took the program from a below-ground level to one that is highly
respectable... He might be looking for new challenges."
  McDonald is leaving DU at a time when the school's athletic future looks
bright.  The university has plans to build a $32.5 million athletic wellness
and sports center in the spring of 1996.  It is hoped that, because of the
center, DU will have an easier time gaining Division I status for most of
its 17 varsity sports.  Only the hockey and women's gymnastics teams are
currently Division I.
  McDonald and vice provost for undergraduate studies Sheila Wright made
the announcement in a private meeting with athletic and university
administration.
  "Jack has led the university's athletics and recreation program with
enthusiasm and vision the last four years, and we wish him well," Wright said.
  McDonald, who couldn't be reached for comment last night, said in a prepared
statement, "I'm very excited about where both the athletic department and
the university are today and where I believe both will go in the future."
  McDonald came to DU from Boston College, where he was an assistant athletic
director.  He was also head coach of the Boston College men's and women's
track and field and cross-country teams from 1978-1987.
  A national search for a new director will begin by the end of February.
In the meantime, Hogue will handle all administrative matters for the
department, which has a staff of 55.
  Hogue was chairman of the trustees' athletic affairs committee the last
two years.  He is credited for doing much of the planning for the athletic
complex.
  An executive-in-residence at DU's Daniels College of Business, Hogue chairs
the boards of the Young Americans Bank and the Young Americans Education
Foundation.
 
(end of article)
 
and from the Rocky Mountain News (1/5/95):
 
DU agrees to release McDonald
by Alan Pearce
 
  The house that Jack built won't be completed in his presence.
  Jack McDonald, athletic director at the University of Denver, was released
from his contract and will leave later this month.  His five-year deal had
eight months remaining.
  McDonald, 43, upgraded many DU teams and orchestrated the plan for a $32.5
million sports and wellness center on the campus that will replace the
school's arena and fieldhouse for hockey and basketball.  But he apparently
was unwilling to stay long enough to guide its construction.
  A statement released by the university said the decision to release
McDonald was mutual.
  Sheila Wright, vice provost for undergraduate studies who oversees
athletics, said DU sought continuity during planned expansion of athletics
facilities and programs.
  "Jack has led the university's athletics and recreation program with
enthusiasm and vision over the last four years, and we wish him well," she
said.
  Last October, McDonald reportedly was one of three finalists for the
athletic director's job at the University of Maine.  He later decided to stay
at DU.  McDonald also had been mentioned as a candidate for AD positions
at Princeton, Miami of Ohio, and Massachusetts.
  But the Maine job still has not been filled permanently and McDonald's
candidacy might have gained new life.  An interim AD at Maine was appointed
and his future in that position was supposed to be determined this month.
Indications are that McDonald's contract was brought out and he might be
headed to Orono, Maine.
  "I think your paper reported that he had discussions with the University
of Maine," said Carol Farnsworth, DU's vice chancellor for communications.
"I would suggest that that's a line to peruse."
  DU is seeking continuity at the athletic director spot because it has
embarked on a major expansion of its facilities.  The school recently
announced
plans to build the wellness and sports center on the site of the current
arena and fieldhouse.
  The school also is expanding significantly its women's sports programs (the
soccer team finished second in the nation) and also has had its hockey team
surge to a national ranking under a first year coach, George Gwozdecky.
  McDonald will be replaced on an interim basis by Phillip Hogue, a
university trustee.  A national search for a new AD will begin by the end
of February.
  "I think Jack has done a marvelous job of initiation a lot of momentum at
the university," Hogue said.
 
(end of article)
 
It seems that no one knows exactly why he's leaving now, but they all seem
to think he's going towards Maine.
 
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