Varady to head Razorbacks’ fundraising arm

University of Arkansas attorney Scott Varady, left, and chancellor John White share a smile while waiting for an elevator on Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, following a hearing at the Washington County Courthouse in Fayetteville
University of Arkansas attorney Scott Varady, left, and chancellor John White share a smile while waiting for an elevator on Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, following a hearing at the Washington County Courthouse in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE -- Scott Varady, the University of Arkansas' associate general counsel for more than 19 years, was working in his office in the administration building Monday morning when he got a call on his cell phone.

Jeff Long was calling.

Varady has received a lot of calls from Long, Arkansas' athletic director since 2008, but he figured this one was different.

Varady at a glance

NAME Scott Varady

POSITION Executive director of Razorback Foundation.

AGE 51 (born Feb. 21, 1964)

HOMETOWN Fayetteville

FAMILY Wife: Melissa. Son: Nathan. Daughter: Emily.

WORK HISTORY Will begin his job as Razorback Foundation executive director Dec. 1. … Has been the UA’s associate general counsel for more than 19 years. … Before coming to the UA he was an associate at Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. in Little Rock with a focus on commercial litigation. Prior to that he was an associate at Swidler & Berlin, Chartered, in Washington, D.C., where his practice focused on telecommunications, environmental insurance recovery litigation and general litigation. … Served as a staff member for Sen. Dale L. Bumpers on the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee and for Rep. Bill Alexander. … Received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1993, graduating magna cum laude, and was inducted into The Order of the Coif, and was a member of The Tax Lawyer law journal. … Born in Fayetteville but grew up in Little Rock.

EDUCATION B.A. in political science from Arkansas in 1985. … Received a master of science in foreign service while concentrating in international business diplomacy, finance and trade from Georgetown in 1988. … Graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1993.

It wasn't about an impending legal matter involving someone infringing on the Razorback copyright or a coach's contract or a marketing agreement. It was about Varady.

"When I saw Jeff's name," Varady said, "I knew I was probably going to find out one way or the other."

Varady, 51, found out he's going to be the new executive director and legal counsel for the Razorback Foundation. He'll start his new job Dec. 1.

Arkansas announced Varady's hiring in a news release Tuesday.

"I just feel very humbled and very blessed, and excited," Varady said. "You go through a whole range of emotions."

Varady, an Arkansas graduate who was born in Fayetteville and grew up in Little Rock, said he decided to apply for the Razorback Foundation executive director's position after Sean Rochelle announced in August he was resigning to go into private business.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to expand the skills I have and the relationships that I've developed over the last two decades to hopefully contribute something positive to the foundation, to the athletic department and to the university," Varady said. "My whole professional life has been devoted to helping students, and I believe this is another way to do it."

Varady, Long and Razorback Foundation Board Chairman Ken Mourton met with the foundation's staff Tuesday morning.

"You should have heard Scott talking to us," said Norm DeBriyn, the foundation's interim executive director who is retiring in January. "You could tell how excited he is and how he's on top of everything that's going on here.

"He knows the Razorback Foundation, there's no doubt, and he knows the university like the back of his hand. He also brings a lot to the table with his law background."

John Matsko, the foundation's senior associate director, and Marvin Caston, an associate director, were among the applicants to replace Rochelle.

"Jeff and Ken talked about what a tough decision it was," DeBriyn said. "I think that speaks highly for John and Marvin. They're both very important to the foundation. We really value them."

Varady has been heavily involved with athletic department issues in his role as associate general counsel, including negotiating and drafting coaches' contracts sponsorship and media rights agreements and trademark and licensing issues. He coordinated and represented the university in three major NCAA infraction cases and has consulted with the legal counsel of the Razorback Foundation on in matters relating to the department.

"Scott has demonstrated the ability to build relationships and engender goodwill for the university even when working in difficult circumstances," Long said in a news release. "As a native Arkansan, Scott has a lifelong, deeply rooted passion for the Razorbacks and the University of Arkansas.

Varady earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Arkansas in 1985 and law degree from Georgetown in 1993. He received a master of science in foreign service while concentrating in international business diplomacy, finance and trade from Georgetown in 1988.

Before going to work at the UA, Varady worked for law firms in Little Rock and Washington. He also was a staff member for former Sen. Dale Bumpers.

Varady said while he's excited about his new job, it's tough to leave the general counsel's office, where he worked for Fred Harrison, general counsel for the UA system.

"I've been very,very blessed to work with great presidents and great chancellors and to have the greatest boss in Fred Harrison that anyone could ever ask for," said Varady, who will be the foundation's sixth executive director since 2008. "It's no exaggeration to say he's family to me, and that was the hardest part of this, no question.

"But you have to embrace opportunities and challenges in life, and I think going to the Razorback Foundation is a great fit for me."

Sports on 10/07/2015

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