McNeely's athletics plan put on hold

Athletics officials at Indiana University say they will re-evaluate plans for a $40 million student-athlete center that was a top priority for the school's former athletics director.\nTerry Clapacs, interim athletics director said the idea behind the plan is valid: IU needs more space for athletics services.\nBut Clapacs said he wants to take another look at whether some services should have a higher priority than others and whether the space should be added at once or in phases.\n"I'm not sure it was the right mix, or that all the things that were in that building need to be in that building," he said. "But we do need additional space. A new structure of some kind is a high priority."\nFormer athletics director Michael McNeely resigned under pressure Nov. 8 after 17 months on the job. The student-athlete center had been one of his priorities.\nClapacs said last week that his focus has been trying to eliminate or reduce a $3.3 million deficit in last year's athletics department budget. He remains unsure as to whether it can be done this year.\n"I don't know yet," Clapacs said. "It will be difficult. That certainly consumes a lot of my day, worrying about that problem."\nAs for the student-athlete center, Clapacs said he has not scrapped the vision that McNeely promoted, but said he plans to revisit the plan and set priorities.\nWhen McNeely left, IU officials said they would conduct a national search for his replacement, hoping to hire someone by spring or summer. They now are considering delaying the search so the next IU president can play a role in the selection.\n"That would be my feeling," IU trustees' president Fred Eichhorn said. "Terry's doing an excellent job and everybody seems to be pulling in the same direction out there."\nGerald Bepko took over as interim president Jan. 1 after former President Myles Brand left to head the NCAA. Trustees hope to select a new president by July.