Zenger Not Involved at Rice University Now

Illinois State athletics director Dr. Sheahon Zenger issued a statement through the school stating he is not a candidate to become the next athletics director at Rice.

FOX 26 Sports first reported Saturday Zenger was a candidate for the job.

Monday Zenger acknowledged contact with Rice in a statement issued by Illinois State, which was first reported by the Bloomington Pantagraph.

"I received a preliminary call from a search firm regarding the position at Rice University," Zenger said in his statement Monday. "At this point, I have a tremendously satisfying job at Illinois State University and all my energy, efforts and concerns are focused on Illinois State and its athletics department."

24 hours later Zenger issued another statement through the school stating he was never a candidate to become the next athletics director at Rice.

"The individual who is conducting the search for Rice University is someone I know and respect in this business," said Zenger in his Tuesday statement. "As a result of that relationship I had a very preliminary conversation, but I never have been a candidate for the Rice job and I'm certain it is not going any further than this."

"I've said many times Illinois State is a special place, particularly with the leadership of (school president) Al Bowman, and I continue to find it very gratifying to serve."

Dr. Zenger has been the athletics director at Illinois State for five years.

The only confirmed candidate for the Rice job is acting athletics director David Sayler, who took over in October when Chris Del Conte left for TCU.

Rice has already said Sayler would be a candidate for the job on a permanent basis.

FOX 26 Sports has identified at least five other candidates. That group includes former Indiana athletics director Rick Greenspan, Providence athletics director Robert Driscoll Jr., Florida Atlantic athletics director Craig Angelos and Sam Houston State athletics director Bobby Williams.

Rice and its search firm, DHR International, are also considering a group of candidates who do not have experience as an athletics director.

FOX 26 Sports has identified one of those candidates and he is Brian Wickstrom, senior associate athletics director at UTEP.

FOX 26 reported Monday Ross Bjork, senior associate athletics director at UCLA, was a candidate for the job.

He has since sent an e-mail stating he is not involved in the process.