FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO — The University of Montevallo recently announced the appointment of Dawn Makofski, assistant athletic director for compliance, as the interim director of athletics for the university.

A search will be under way soon for the individual who will next step into this role following the resignation of current UM Director of Athletics Jim Herlihy, who has accepted the director of athletics position at Saint Anselm College in his home state of New Hampshire.

“I am grateful for all that Jim Herlihy has done in the service of our student-athletes,” stated UM President John W. Stewart III. “Jim’s leadership has established Montevallo athletics as one of the most respected and competitive in the Southeast.”

Makofski, who joined the University of Montevallo as assistant comptroller in March 2008 before moving to the athletic department in September of that year, holds a BBA in finance from the University of Montevallo. She oversees NCAA compliance and academic support. In addition, she serves as co-advisor to the student-athlete advisory committee and assists with home-game administration.

She also serves as the senior woman administrator for the department and as the University of Montevallo representative to the Alabama Athlete Agent Commission. She is a member of the National Association of Athletics Compliance.

During his time at Montevallo, Herlihy guided the Falcons athletic program through a period of transition, spearheading five new sport offerings. He has been instrumental in the development of new facilities for cross country, outdoor track and softball and has overseen significant renovations and upgrades for the facilities used for baseball, tennis and soccer.

Under his guidance, the University transitioned from the Gulf South Conference to the Peach Belt Conference. Additionally, under Herlihy’s guidance, the program has embraced the NCAA Division II philosophy of community engagement and increased its student-athlete population by more than 100 percent while promoting a culture of academic excellence.