Cliff Odenwald resigns as UIL director of athletics

UIL has named Dr. Mark Cousins as the interim director of athletics to replace outgoing director Cliff Odenwald, who resigned Dec. 31.

The process for finding a replacement for Odenwald will be initiated in mid-March, said Dr. Charles Breithaupt, executive director of the UIL.

From Dallasnews.com:

"The timing being what it is, we've got every sport playing or about to be playing with the exception of football and volleyball," Breithaupt said. "To post the job right now just wouldn't be right, timing-wise. Mark knows the inner workings of our athletics department, as does the staff. We've got an outstanding athletic staff."

Odenwald's tenure at the UIL was marked by several sweeping changes, including a rules compliance program for coaches and central-site championships for all classes in football. He joined the league as an associate athletic director in June 2007, hired to oversee the UIL's newly created steroid program. He became the league's director of athletics in February 2009, after Breithaupt vacated the post in order to become the league's executive director.

The outgoing director worked in the North Texas area as a coach and administrator for 19 years before joining the UIL.