Looking forward to seeing you at our events!

Congratulations on our outstanding selection for WVU Athletic Director
by President Clements and the screening committee which consisted of WVU
Alumni Association Chair Nancy DiPaolo! – Steve Douglas.

Oliver Luck, former WVU and NFL quarterback, Academic All-American,
named WVU’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

June 10th, 2010

President James P. Clements today (June 10) named former West Virginia
University and NFL quarterback and Academic All-American Oliver Luck as
West Virginia University’s director of intercollegiate athletics,
effective July 1.

Luck, 50, president and general manager of the Houston Dynamo soccer
franchise in Houston, Texas, will fill the position when Ed Pastilong
retires on June 30. Pastilong will serve as Athletic Director Emeritus
through 2012.

Oliver Luck “is the clear choice to carry forward what has truly been a
golden era in athletics. I am thrilled to welcome Oliver back to West
Virginia and WVU, and I am confident that he will do an outstanding
job.”

The two-time Academic All-American is a member of the Academic All
American Hall of Fame and was a Rhodes Scholar finalist. He was also a
National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, graduating from WVU magna
cum laude in 1982 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

“Oliver Luck is someone who has succeeded at the highest of levels at
everything he has done – from his college and professional football
playing days to his academic pursuits and his professional business
career,” said President Clements. “He is the clear choice to carry
forward what has truly been a golden era in athletics. I am thrilled to
welcome Oliver back to West Virginia and WVU, and I am confident that he
will do an outstanding job.”

“It is truly an honor to be selected to serve my alma mater as
athletic director, and to succeed such a fine gentleman as Ed Pastilong,
who has served WVU so well for so many years,” Luck said. “My
passion and love for West Virginia University has never wavered, and to
return to a school that has built a solid foundation in academics and
athletics over the last two decades is exciting.

“And while it’s a challenging time in intercollegiate athletics
with discussions on conference realignments and other issues, I look
forward to working with the University administration, athletic staff
and coaches and others to remain a successful, attractive and fiscally
responsible intercollegiate athletic program,” he said.

“WVU is truly one of the outstanding land-grant universities in the
country, and I am so pleased to be a part of its momentum and growth,”
he said. “This is a tremendous opportunity —a chance to return to a
University and a state that I love at a dynamic and strategic time in
its history. I want to thank President Clements and the screening
committee for their confidence in me.”

“My passion and love for West Virginia University has never wavered,
and to return to a school that has built a solid foundation in academics
and athletics over the last two decades is exciting.”

Luck assumes the position at a time when the University is engaged in a
long-term strategic planning process, which Clements has said is “an
ideal time” to lead the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics into
the next chapter in WVU’s history.

Screening Committee Chair Dr. Sam Ameri said he was impressed with
Luck’s academic background and his emphasis on academics. “Oliver
Luck truly believes in the mission of this University – teaching,
research and service – areas so important to the faculty, staff,
students and our state citizens,” he said.

“I also like his focus on our student-athletes and graduates being
ambassadors for WVU and representing themselves in a way that the image
of the University is enhanced,” he added.

A formal welcome celebration and press conference with Luck is expected
to be held Monday, June 14. More details will follow.

Luck’s Background

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Luck played quarterback for the
Mountaineers from 1978-1981, setting school records for touchdown passes
and completions, and leading the team to a Peach Bowl victory over
Florida as a senior. He ended his career as a three-year starter with
school records of 43 career touchdown passes and 466 completions out of
911 passing attempts. His 5,765 career passing yards ranks him fourth on
the school’s all-time passing list. He was named MVP in 1980 and 1981,
and also earned the 1981 Louis D. Meisel Award for the WVU scholar
athlete with the highest grade-point average. He was inducted into the
WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

In 1982, he was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the
Houston Oilers, and either started or played back-up quarterback through
the 1986 season. During that time, he earned his law degree from the
University of Texas cum laude.

After retiring from football, Luck became vice president of business
development for the National Football League and President and CEO of
NFL Europe.

In 2001, he became chief executive officer of the Harris County-Houston
Sports Authority, overseeing the development and management of over $1
billion of professional sports and entertainment venues in Houston:
Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros; Reliant Stadium, home of
the Houston Texans and the Livestock Show and Rodeo; and the Toyota
Center, home of the Houston Rockets.

He became president of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo in 2005,
and the team won two MLS Cup championships in his first two years in the
position.

He is married to the former Kathy Wilson. They have four children:
Andrew, the starting quarterback at Stanford; Mary Ellen, an incoming
freshman volleyball player at Stanford; daughter Emily, an incoming high
school junior; and 7th grade son, Addison.

Luck, who was appointed to the WVU Board of Governors by Gov. Joe
Manchin in 2008, resigned his Board position this week. (Contract
information will be available in the near future.)

Clements thanked the screening committee for its careful and thoughtful
review of the applicants and insight into the process that helped him
with his decision.

“I appreciate the hard work and diligence of the screening
committee,” Clements said. “There were many outstanding candidates
in this national search. I am confident we’ve found the ideal person
to lead this department to even greater success.”

WVU Athletic Achievements

Luck will lead a strong, healthy athletic department.

Over the past two decades, more than $85 million in facility
renovations have taken place within the Department of Intercollegiate
Athletics, including many at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium,
making WVU’s football facility among the nation’s best. Suites on
three sides of the stadium were added, along with club seating, an
indoor practice facility, new locker rooms, an academic center and hall
of traditions.

Other improvements include a new soccer stadium and women’s soccer
training facility, gymnastics and wrestling facilities, and renovations
to the Coliseum and Hawley Field.

The department’s budget has also grown from $20 million to more than
$59 million over the past two decades, and WVU joined the BIG EAST
football conference in 1991 and became a full-fledged member in 1995.

A growing endowment fund and an academic honor roll were also
established, along with a sports hall of fame.

In addition, WVU has finished in the Top 50 in the Director’s Cup
standings two out of the last three years; WVU is currently ranked No.
15.

bl/06/10/10

–

Stephen L. Douglas
President
WVU Alumni Association
Join today http://alumni.wvu.edu
Follow me on Twitter-
http://twitter.com/WVUSteveDouglas

–
Gelareh

I saw some old friends and met many new ones, which is why events like this are so important. Over 125 people attending the Shrimp Boil, through a driving rain storm, speaks volumes of the commitment and loyalty of our Mountaineers in the Houston area. The Lone Star Shrimp Boil has become one of the great signature events for the Alumni Association, in the same breathes as the NCAC Crabfeast and Boone Co. Pig Roast. You have all contributed to this and for that we will be eternally grateful.

Thanks again for you hospitality and I look forward to spending another Shrimp Boil with you in the future!

The 2010 WVU Lone Star Alumni Chapter Shrimp Boil and Coaches Caravan will be held
Saturday, May 15th from 11am to 3pm.

This year’s event will be moved to the newly renovated dining room of The Flying Dutchman located on the Kemah Boardwalk.  Bring the whole family and enjoy all the Kemah amenities after the Shrimp Boil.

We are ESPECIALLY excited to announce our special guests:

WVU Men’s Football Coach Bill Stewart
WVU Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Billy Hahn
WVU Swimming Coach Vic Riggs
WVU Alumni Association Chapter Outreach Officer Gregg Cave
Mountaineer Athletic Club Executive Director Niles Eggleston
Mountaineer Athletic Club Director of Athletic Development J. Locklier

WVU Lone Star Alumni Chapter
SHRIMP BOIL and COACHES CARAVAN

Saturday May 15th
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
The Flying Dutchman
9 Kemah Boardwalk
Kemah, TX 77565
http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/

$45 Per Person
No Admission Fee for Kids under 12.
Although Lunch will be provided, Kid’s menu will be available for $4.99 per The Flying Dutchman

Register By May 10th

Pay Online for the WVU Lonestar Chapter Shrimp Boil and WVU Coaches Caravan!  A free T-shirt for every paid adult will be provided.  Please indicate needed sizes below.  Children 12 and under eat for free!

The next game is this Saturday night against the Blue Devils from Duke for the right to play in the National Championship game.  Tipoff is at 7:47 PM CDT and, of course, Luke and Robert at the Ragin Cajun at Westheimer and Gessner will have the game on all the big screens.  They might even lead a few cheers over the microphone!  Please RSVP to jason.d.smith@comcast.net if you plan to attend.  There were over 50 Mountaineer faithful at the last watching party and we’re hoping for even more at this one, so we need to let the guys know what they’re in for!

Let’s Goooo Mountaineers!

Let’s Gooooooo Mountaineers!!!

The basketball regular season is winding down and our men’s basketball team is jockeying for position in the big dance just a few weeks from now.  The Lone Star chapter is getting together this Saturday, February 27^th to see the Bearcats of Cincinnati come to Morgantown for this season’s next to last home game.

This game has been designated by the national alumni association as the national game watch event for this season.  This means that all of the other alumni chapters across the country will be gathered together watching the game as well.  That also means that all of these chapters, including ours, have volunteered to participate in a charitable food drive.  We ask that you please bring any non-perishable food items to the watching party and we will donate it to the Houston Food Bank.  Examples of acceptable items include canned foods, peanut butter, cereals, pasta noodles and dry beans.

Come on out and join us this Saturday at the SRO Sports Bar for a 1PM central tipoff.  The restaurant address is 9800 Hempstead Road and is located in the north side of the Northwest Shopping Center off highway 290 and 610.  Please RSVP to jason.d.smith@comcast.net if you plan to join us so we can let our hosts know how many to expect.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Let’s Gooooooo Mountaineers!!!

Wednesday, February 17^th is your opportunity to meet up with other fellow Mountaineers in the Houston area in our chapter’s first-ever networking happy hour.  This is your chance to connect with those in the same, or even a different profession than your own.  See what others are involved in and what other opportunities may exist in Houston that you may not have known about.  The success of any networking event is gauged by the number of people in attendance, so please RSVP to jason.d.smith@comcast.net, bring your business cards and join us on Wednesday, February 17^th at the Vintropolis Wine Bar at 10001 Westheimer from 5:30 – 7:30PM.  House wines are only $3 per glass during happy hour.  We hope to see you there!

Let’s Gooooooo Mountaineers!