Colorado State Athletic Director Mark Driscoll Announces Resignation to Return to Banking

Mark Driscoll, Colorado State University’s athletic director since August 2003, today announced his resignation and decision to return to his banking career.

Driscoll will resume his previous position as president of First National Bank in Fort Collins. He will remain at Colorado State through March 31.

"Mark Driscoll has been a tremendous supporter of Ram athletics and we thank him for his years of service to Colorado State athletics," said President Larry Edward Penley. "Since his days as a Ram quarterback, he has been an outstanding booster and representative of the university. We wish him the best."

Penley also announced today that he is appointing a search committee and has begun a national search for a new director. Chuck Neinas of Neinas Sports Service Inc. has been asked to serve as a consultant in the search. Neinas, based in Boulder, is one of college sports’ most well-known advocates and promoters. He is a former College Football Association executive director and an advisor to the American Football Coaches Association.

If a new athletic director is not able to be named by the end of March, Christine Susemihl, currently senior associate athletic director and a longtime employee of Colorado State athletics, has agreed to serve as interim athletic director. Susemihl previously served as interim athletic director before Driscoll was hired.

"This has been a very difficult decision for me and my family, but I miss the excitement and challenge of the business world," Driscoll said. " I was presented an opportunity recently that I felt I could not pass up. This provides me a chance to return to a business that I worked in for 24 years and enjoyed.

"I have a passion for athletics and for Colorado State University that will never change," he said. "I hope to still be able to have an impact and help out the university and athletics, but I’ll be doing it within the community. I have thoroughly enjoyed working in athletics at my alma mater and as a former student athlete. But over the past several months, I have really missed what made being in private business fun and a challenge for me.  The more I thought about it, the more I missed it."

Driscoll earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Colorado State. He was the quarterback on the Rams’ team that led the nation in passing in 1974. After graduation, he served as an assistant coach before moving into the banking industry, where he rose to the presidency of First National Bank, one of the state’s leading financial institutions. Driscoll has also served as color commentator on Ram football broadcasts for the Colorado State Sports Network.

In her capacity as senior athletic director, Susemihl has also served as Colorado State’s NCAA compliance coordinator.

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