Prettyman Departs for Athletic Director Position at Indiana State University
Longtime Toros AD to assume ISU post on July 1
April 7, 2005

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CARSON, Calif.--(April 7, 2005)--Indiana State University has hired Ron Prettyman to be the university's new director of intercollegiate athletics, Indiana State President Lloyd W. Benjamin III has announced.

Currently the athletic director at California State University at Dominguez Hills, Prettyman will assume the Indiana State position July 1. Retiring Indiana State athletic director Andrea Myers will continue until then on a half-time basis.

"Indiana State University has a stellar reputation in the NCAA with one of the finest academic records in the nation," Prettyman said. "This will continue to be a priority. But a close second priority will be the enhancement of a winning tradition."

As athletics director at CSUDH for 10 years, Prettyman left his mark on not only the athletics department, but on the University as well. He expanded the program from eight sports to its current level of 11, and oversaw the acquisition of the Hughes Education and Athletic Center which houses the Toros athletics department and provides two classrooms and a computer lab for student-athletes.

During Prettyman's tenure, CSUDH won a NCAA Division II men's soccer national championship, was the national runner-up in 2001, and has hosted the NCAA Division II Final Four women's soccer championship and first and second round NCAA Division II men's soccer championships.

Says CSUDH Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Boice Bowman, "While I am sorry to see Ron go, I am also pleased that he will have such a great opportunity. Ron was an excellent administrator and an outstanding Athletics Director for us at CSUDH, and has always been actively involved in campus activities and has been recognized for his community service. He is well prepared and his ability to bring out the best in others will serve hin well as he moves to his new position at Indiana State University. He will be missed, but we all wish him well."

An active member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Prettyman was named NCAA/NACDA Administrator of the Year in 2004 and is a past president of both the NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Association and the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Among his numerous affiliations, Prettyman is the past President of the NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Association, as well as a former member of the NCAA Nominating Committee, the Gardena/Carson YMCA Executive Board, the L.A. Watts Summer Games Advisory Committee, the Pigskin Classic Organizing Committee and the Professional In-Residence Program at the NCAA/Betty Ford Center.

Prettyman also was named the NAIA District III Administrator of the Year in 1991, 1992 and 1994, served on the L.A. 2012 Olympic Bid Committee in 2001 and was selected by his peers to serve on two NCAA national committees and the NACDA and National Directors Cup executive committees. Currently, Prettyman serves on the Carson Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, and the NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee

"My tenure at Cal State Dominguez Hills has been one that I will always cherish and remember," Prettyman reflects. "Vice President for Student Affairs Boice Bowman has supported me and allowed me to lead the Athletics Department and I have been fortunate to have a first class administrative team, support staff and coaches who are among the finest in the nation.

"The Athletics Department has been an integral part of initiating and developing the partnership with Anschutz Entertainment Group and Home Depot Center that is located on our campus, and I am proud to say that CSUDH is a better place now than it was when we started here 10 years ago."

Prior to his time on the Carson campus, where he has been since 1995, Prettyman served as athletics director at Vanguard University, where he also was an associate professor of health, physical education and recreation classes, and head coach for the men's and women's tennis teams, baseball and women's basketball teams.

Prettyman received his bachelor's degree in health, physical education from Southern California College in 1977 where he was a standout basketball player for three years and tennis for two years. He then earned his master's degree in education from Cal State Stanislaus in 1988.

Ron currently resides in Los Alamitos with his wife of 27 years, Carol. They have two children together, Shara (26) and Ronnie (23), who is currently on a baseball scholarship at NCAA I power and defending national champion Cal State Fullerton.

A nationwide search for Prettyman's replacement will begin immediately.