LITTLE ROCK — Kansas University's Terry Mohajir has been named the new athletic director at Arkansas State University.
Mohajir, a former football player at ASU who is now the senior associate athletic director at KU, replaces former athletic director Dean Lee. The announcement was made in the Convocation Center on the ASU campus in Jonesboro in a ceremony that was also broadcast live on the athletics department website.
Mohajir got choked up while talking about returning to ASU, where he graduated in 1993 and started on the football team.
"I'm so excited to be back to serve this emerging university as your director of athletics," he said, the emotion straining his voice. "I can't hide it, I'm an emotional guy. Our coaches will learn that."
ASU Chancellor Tim Hudson introduced Mohajir, calling him the right person to move the program forward.
Hudson said ASU received "applications, nominations, queries and recommendations from across the country."
"Without a doubt, there is tremendous interest in Arkansas State and our athletics program," he said before formally naming Mohajir as the new athletic director.
Lee was reassigned in August to an associate chancellor position in ASU's fund-raising arm and associate athletic director Doug Abel had served as director in the interim.
The Red Wolves won the 2011 Sun Belt football championship — but lost head coach Hugh Freeze when he was hired by Ole Miss.
ASU then created a splash by hiring former Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn as head coach.
Mohajir is a 1993 graduate of ASU.