Cleveland State University President Michael Schwartz today introduced Lee E. Reed as the University's new Athletic Director, succeeding John Konstantinos who retired July 1. Reed comes to Cleveland State from Eastern Michigan University, where he has been Associate Athletic Director/Internal Affairs since January 1998. Prior to that, he served as Executive Assistant to the President of the Ypsilanti, MI campus.

According to President Schwartz, "Cleveland State University is extremely fortunate to have a man of Lee Reed's ability, dedication and integrity join our leadership team in this most important capacity. With many exciting and major events scheduled to involve our University and its athletic program in the near future, it is essential that we have first-class leadership to carry on the momentum that has been building for the last few years. Lee is the man to do the job. He is a people-oriented person who gets things done and readily wins the cooperation of those around him."

Cleveland State has been selected to host the Midwest Region first- and second-rounds of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2005 and also has been picked to co-host, along with the Mid-American Conference, the 2006 NCAA Women's Basketball Mideast Regional tournament as well as the 2007 Women's Final Four.

Reed was formally presented to the Cleveland State community and the media during a press conference held in the CSU Convocation Center. He emerged as the selection of choice following an extensive national search that produced a number of candidates with impressive credentials.

Reed has had the opportunity to experience NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics from a variety of viewpoints. He has served as a college coach, athletics administrator, member of a university president's executive staff, and has worked in private business as well. Reed is a former student-athlete at Cleveland State where he played basketball from 1979-1983, his final year as team captain.

"Lee Reed has a great work ethic and attitude that show through in everything he does. He is the rare type of person that makes other people want to be near him, a leader who commands respect when he enters a room," said Steve Slane, Cleveland State psychology professor and member of the search committee that selected Reed. "The search committee was presented an excellent and well-balanced slate of candidates. Under search chair Sue Ziegler's leadership, the process was designed so that all committee members were heard and had ample opportunity to review the strengths of all the candidates."

Reed takes over a strong Viking NCAA Division I athletic program, with 16 varsity sports involving more than 240 student-athletes. The University fields men's varsity intercollegiate teams in basketball, soccer, wrestling, tennis, swimming, fencing, baseball and golf, and women's intercollegiate teams in basketball, volleyball, fencing, softball, tennis, swimming, cross country and golf.

Before joining Eastern Michigan University, Reed served as an administrative assistant at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) (1994 and 1995) and as Tournament Director/Facilities Staff Assistant at the University of New Mexico (1992-94). Reed participates in many professional activities and organizations, including the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) and the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE). He has served on numerous management, advisory and planning committees and as a presenter at athletic, educational and marketing conferences.

The 40-year-old Reed and his wife, Katafa, have three children, Lee Jr., 13, Christian, 5, and Francys, 3. He received a Bachelor of University Studies-Psychology Degree and a Master of Science-Sports Administration Degree from the University of New Mexico.