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January 20, 2000

Contract extended for AD Pederson

The University has ex- tended the contract of Athletics Director Steve Pederson, as a reward for his job performance and to make sure he stays at Pitt.

Pederson and Pitt senior administrators won't disclose details of the extension, except to call it "competitive" in terms of compensation and duration.

Since his hiring in October 1996, Pederson has led the athletics department through momentous times, including decisions to:

* Demolish Pitt Stadium and move home football games to Three Rivers Stadium next season, and to the Steelers' new stadium on the North Side in 2001.

* Move Pitt's basketball teams into the new, $70 million John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen convocation center, possibly by January 2002.

* Hire coaches Walt Harris (football), Ben Howland (men's basketball) and Traci Waites (women's basketball).

* Increase revenue by instituting an annual $1,000 per seat fee for premium seats in Fitzgerald Field House; negotiate deals to increase sales of Pitt merchandise and apparel featuring the University teams' new colors and logo; and open a Downtown ticket office to sell seats in the planned Petersen Center.

Those (and other) moves have not been universally popular with Panthers fans, especially the Pitt Stadium demolition. But Pederson enjoys the support of Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Pitt trustees and many University students and employees.

"Steve's performance has really exceeded my expectations," Chancellor Nordenberg said, in a written statement. "He has displayed an amazingly high level of energy, creativity and commitment, right from his first day at the University, and his pace has never diminished.

"He has breathed new life into our athletic programs, energized his staff, hired wonderful new coaches and positioned us to have the best new athletic facilities in the country. He has been a real force for improvement and excellence, and I am confident that the University will continue to benefit from his commitment."

Pederson, also in a written statement, said: "We're pleased that the chancellor is happy with the direction of our athletic program and wants us to continue the work that we have started."

Susan Albrecht, an associate professor of nursing who chairs the University Senate athletics committee, called Pederson's contract extension "absolutely wonderful news."

Committee members "spoke very positively" of the extension at their Jan. 13 meeting, Albrecht said.

Albrecht maintained that "Steve has re-energized and refocused the athletics department" by helping to improve playing and training facilities, hiring outstanding coaches, and increasing visibility for Pitt athletics.

Whether or not you like the new, darker blue-and-gold colors and "Pittsburgh" logo, "you see a lot more of the new colors and the new logo than you did the old blue-and-bright-yellow colors and the old 'Pitt' script," Albrecht said.

Better still, she added, Pederson is "totally committed" to winning within Pitt and NCAA academic standards. "There's no wavering in his dedication to academics," Albrecht said.

— Bruce Steele


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