Anteaters hire Smith as interim athletic director

Paula Smith has been named UC Irvine’s interim director of intercollegiate athletics effective Aug. 1, Chancellor Michael Drake announced.

Smith will assume duties from Bob Chichester, who announced on May 31 that he was stepping down as athletic director in August after five years. Chichester will serve as special assistant to the chancellor.

Smith, a member of the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet, has served as associate athletic director/senior woman administrator at UCI since July 2006.

She previously served in a similar position at UC Riverside from 2001-06. Prior to that, she was assistant athletic director of student services at UCI for two years.

Smith, a 1988 graduate of New Mexico State University, also worked at the Big West Conference office for 11 years, including six as assistant commissioner.

A 12-member committee has been formed to select UCI’s next athletic director.

The position has been posted and the closing date for applications is Aug. 15.

— From staff reports