Dec. 13, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Richard Margison, UAB Vice President for Finance and Administration, will take on the additional responsibility of administering the Blazer Athletics department on an interim basis, effective immediately, allowing Watson Brown to devote all his energies to his head football coaching duties.

UAB President Carol Z. Garrison made the announcement Tuesday, following conversations in which she and Brown agreed that "football needed his undivided attention" after serving more than three years in a dual role.

"This allows Watson to focus solely on recruiting, evaluating where the football program stands and putting into place the elements necessary for a successful season next year," she said. Garrison has not offered a projected timetable for the interim arrangement, saying only that "it will certainly be a period of at least several months. For now, we need to tend to the business at hand."

"This is a great appointment," Brown said. "Richard is very knowledgeable about our program, from an administrative perspective, because he's been very helpful to us in our business operations through the years, and he is a fan who follows our teams closely. All of us will benefit from his leadership."

Margison joined UAB as vice president in 1998, coming from the University of Illinois where he was associate vice president for business and finance. As UAB's senior administrative officer he oversees all of the university's business operations and facilities, and has worked closely with the athletics department's leadership.

"I plan to be involved in the management of the athletic department on a regular basis and to immerse myself quickly in this role so that all of our coaches and staff have the support they need to be successful," Margison said.