NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Vanderbilt University has an athletic director for the first time in nine years.
In a news conference Thursday morning, Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos said David Williams will now as athletics director in addition to his role as vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs.
He previously served as vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs, general counsel and university secretary.
A national search was expected to begin in the coming days for general counsel and university secretary.
Zeppos said he asked Williams to take on a larger role in response to Vanderbilt's increased success and investment in its athletic and recreation programs.
"By every measure, the game has changed for Vanderbilt athletics over the past nine years. Our efforts to ensure that Vanderbilt athletes are students first have paid off on the playing field, in recruiting, in the classroom and across our campus. This success is largely thanks to David Williams," Zeppos said Thursday morning. "It is important now that his many other duties be assumed by others so that he can focus his efforts on maintaining and building on this momentum."
Williams took the helm of Vanderbilt athletics after former chancellor Gordon Gee restructured the athletics program in 2003.
