The Air Force Academy has named as its next athletic director: James Knowlton, an Army veteran who held the same post at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the past seven years.
Knowlton will replace Hans Mueh, who retires Jan. 31 after 10 years on the job. Mueh's retirement, which comes five months ahead of schedule, was announced in October following the delivery of an inspector general report to academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson.
The inspection of the athletic department and its culture came on the heels of a Colorado Springs Gazette story that detailed allegations of drinking, drug use and sexual assault at parties. A 2011 party led to an investigation of 32 cadets for alleged misconduct. Three of the cadets — two football players and a female basketball player — were convicted of misconduct at courts-martial and expelled.
Knowlton graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1982 and served as deputy and interim director of athletics at West Point from 2003 to 2006, according to a news release from the Air Force Academy. He served in the war in Iraq, where he led a battalion of 750 soldiers out of Fort Carson, Colorado, it said.
At RPI, Knowlton oversaw 23 National Collegiate Athletic Association intercollegiate NCAA teams whose members in the 2012-2013 academic year averaged grade point averages GPAs higher than 3.0, according the academy news release.
Among the applicants for the academy job, Knowlton stood out for "the right level of intensity and experience, while still understanding the unique military culture at our United States Air Force Academy," Johnson said in an email statement.
"He will balance the demands of the NCAA business with our absolute necessity to win with character," the statement continued. "He brings a fresh perspective, but knows the importance of athletics to all of our cadets, not just intercollegiate cadet-athletes. I am confident he will set a culture and climate aligned with our core values. I look forward to him joining our team."
Knowlton's hiring is tentative pending the completion of standard pre-employment requirements, according to the academy news release.
