Still a Tiger: Walters '67 to stay as Director of Athletics

Yesterday afternoon, Princeton Director of Athletics Gary Walters '67 removed his name from consideration for the same position at UCLA, thus ending the possibility of his leaving his alma mater this year.

Last week, he, along with a few others, was listed as being a finalist for the position at the prestigious California school.

Yesterday, though, he announced that he would stay in Jadwin Gym.

"I am announcing my withdrawal from the selection process," Walters said. "I have great respect for UCLA as an athletic and academic institution. I hope the process has been as edifying for them as it was for me. I wish them well in appointing a new leader who will have the opportunity to add luster to the school's already impressive record."

In his press release, he also commented on being Director of Athletics at the University, a position he has held since 1994."I feel extraordinarily fortunate to be the Director of Athletics at Princeton University," Walters said. "It is a University with a magical name that has a unique place in the past and present of intercollegiate athletics. I'm looking forward to further strengthening Princeton's commitment to the ideal of the scholar-athlete."

During his tenure, Walters has overseen 90 Ivy Championships and also 17 National Championships. Princeton has also finished in the top 25 of the Sears' Director's Cup standings on three different occasions — 1996, 1998, and 2001.

The University is poised to do so again this year, being placed at 18th after the fall and winter seasons. Moreover, in the last few years, Princeton has been named as one of the top 10 jock schools and also as having one of the 10 best women's programs by Sports Illustrated.

A 1967 graduate of the University, Walters played point guard on the basketball team for three years and majored in psychology.

Soon after graduation, he coached basketball at Middlebury, Union, Dartmouth and Providence, before entering the private sector in 1981. He stayed there for 13 years before returning to Princeton in 1994 to take the helm of Tiger athletics.

Earlier this year, Walters was named to the NCAA Division I basketball advisory committee.

Walters has also helped facilitate the improvement of athletic facilities at the university, among those being the construction of Princeton Stadium, Shea Rowing Center and also the Class of 1952 Stadium.