EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State interim president John Engler decided the university had no need to conduct a national search for a new athletic director after receiving feedback on interim leader and longtime Spartan employee Bill Beekman.
Engler and a host of other Michigan State brass formally introduced Beekman as the school's new permanent athletic director Monday morning.
Engler cited Beekman's "calming presence" and his ability to handle legal and business matters as reasons for offering him the job.
"I think we could have looked across the country and been hard-pressed to find somebody that knows Michigan State the way Bill does with the qualities he has," Engler said.