EAST LANSING, Mich. - Clarence Underwood, who has served Michigan State University in a variety of roles, will now serve the university as director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
The appointment of Underwood as athletic director was approved by the MSU Board of Trustees at its Dec. 10 meeting. The appointment takes effect immediately.
"I'm very honored to be appointed athletic director of Michigan State University," Underwood said. "This university has an outstanding history of academic and athletic achievement and I'm proud to be a part of it."
"With his background and vast experience in athletics administration, Clarence Underwood is the right man for the job," said MSU President Peter McPherson. "We're fortunate to have a man of his caliber leading our athletics program at this exciting time."
Underwood has served as interim athletic director since April of 1999. Prior to that he was MSU's senior associate athletic director, a post he held since 1994.
Underwood began his MSU career as a student, earning a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1961. He also received a master's degree and a Ph.D. from MSU.
After a teaching stint in the East Lansing public school system, Underwood joined the MSU staff as assistant athletic ticket manager, a post he held from 1969 to 1972. From 1972 to 1982 he was an assistant director of athletics.
In 1982, Underwood accepted the position of associate director of the MSU Alumni Association, where he served as the national liaison to 65 regional alumni clubs.
In 1983, Underwood was appointed deputy commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. As deputy commissioner, he supervised the compliance and legislative services department, and served as chief liaison between the conference and the league's football and men's tennis coaches, as well as overseeing the football, volleyball and women's basketball officials.
Underwood returned to MSU in 1990 as an assistant athletics director for compliance and implemented the university's first formal compliance program. In 1994 he was appointed senior associate athletics director where he served as the departmental point person on all student-athlete welfare issues.