UMASS NAMES JOHN F. McCUTCHEON DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

AMHERST, Mass. ­ University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor John V.
Lombardi announced this afternoon that John F. McCutcheon has been named the
University¹s new permanent director of athletics. McCutcheon replaces Ian
McCaw, who left UMass in September to become athletic director at Baylor
University. The announcement was made at a 3:30 p.m. news conference at the
Mullins Center at UMass Amherst.

"UMass Amherst is delighted to welcome John McCutcheon as permanent director
of athletics," Lombardi said. "He brings a solid record of accomplishment,
strong managerial and fund-raising skills, and proven ability to steer our
program toward greater success. John is also familiar with the New England
sports environment and has all the talents necessary to meet the high
expectations of our athletes and staff, students, faculty, fans, and alumni
supporters."

Lombardi said while the UMass athletic program is in a period of transition,
having McCutcheon as its director will build on the existing strengths and
record of success. "John McCutcheon¹s appointment is a key step required to
get moving toward improving our top-ranked athletic programs," Lombardi
said.

"I am extremely honored to have been given the opportunity to be the next
athletic director at the University of Massachusetts," McCutcheon said
today. "It is my goal to provide the direction, enthusiasm and leadership to
make UMass athletics a program in which our students, alumni and supporters
can take great pride. I look forward to addressing whatever challenges we
may face as we build on the tradition of the University of Massachusetts
athletic program."

McCutcheon becomes the sixth permanent athletic director at UMass since
1911, The five previous directors were Curry Starr Hicks (1911-1948), Warren
P. McGuirk (1948-1971), Frank McInerney (1972-1992), Robert Marcum,
(1993-2002), and McCaw (2002-2003).

McCutcheon comes to the University from California Polytechnic State
University in San Luis Obispo where he has been the Director of Athletics
since 1992. At Boston College, he served as associate athletic director for
business and operations from June 1991 to Aug. 1992. Prior to that he was an
assistant athletic director from July 1988 to June 1991, and athletic
business manager from July 1980 to July 1988. He was assistant athletic
manager at the University of Maine, Orono, from July 1977 to July 1980.

Susan Pearson, associate provost for faculty relations and the budget, a
co-chair of the search committee, said, "We are delighted that Chancellor
Lombardi has appointed John McCutcheon, who won enthusiastic support from
the search committee, our coaches, and members of the athletic department
staff. John¹s experience as AD at an academically distinguished Division
I-AA university, his extensive Division I intercollegiate athletic
experience, his familiarity with intercollegiate athletics in New

England and thorough understanding of the issues facing UMass and
intercollegiate
athletics generally, and his unquestioned integrity make him the ideal
candidate to lead our program."

Thorr D. Bjorn, interim athletic director, welcomed McCutcheon¹s
appointment. "I¹m very excited to have the opportunity to work with John
McCutcheon. Someone of his caliber will do great things for the athletic
department. I look forward to working with him for years to come." Bjorn has
served as interim athletic director since September.

McCutcheon earned his bachelor of science degree in health, physical
education and recreation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana,
Penn., in 1975. He also earned a master of education degree from Ohio
University in Athens, Ohio, in 1978. He has been a member of the National
Association of College Directors of Athletics since 1992 and was a member of
the Collegiate Athletic Business Managers Association from 1978-1992.

Among his accomplishments at Cal Poly, McCutcheon coordinated the
reclassification from Div. II to Div. 1-AA and secured membership in the Big
West Conference. He also developed an athletic facility master plan and
initiated a $20 million capital campaign for facility improvements that has
collected $18 million from private, corporate, state, and student sources.

McCutcheon has been given a five-year contract with a base annual salary of
$190,000. Annual program performance goals and other incentives could add as
much as approximately $20,000 in any year.