Alumnus to lead athletics during national search

Drue Jennings

A. Drue Jennings, a KU graduate and former CEO of Kansas City Power and Light, has been named KU interim athletics director, Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced last week. He succeeds Al Bohl.

Jennings, who earned a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a law degree in 1972, agreed to serve as interim athletics director pending the outcome of a national search. Plans for that search will be announced at a later time, but Hemenway expects internal candidates to be given strong consideration.

Jennings, 56, of Leawood, played football for four years at KU and is currently a member of the KU Endowment Association Executive Committee and the Kansas Alumni Association Board. He served on the KU Athletic Corporation Board from 1991 to 1995. Jennings will not be a candidate for the position.

"It is important that the entire Department of Intercollegiate Athletics focus its energies, and those of KU's many fans, on those things that matter most," said Hemenway, "the education of our students and the success of all team sports. That will be the highest priority as we begin the search for a new athletics director."

"Drue Jennings is an outstanding individual who truly loves the University of Kansas. Drue has given a tremendous amount of his time and energy to the University over the years, and this is another example of that," Williams said. "He is a very ethical and organized person, and we are lucky to have someone with his integrity to lead the athletic department at this difficult time."

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