LOGAN – Utah State University has named Jerry Bovee as its interim athletic director the school announced Wednesday morning. The move comes in the wake of John Hartwell’s resignation from his position as athletic director and vice president at USU.
The news of Hartwell’s resignation broke Tuesday morning and in the early afternoon, Utah State released a statement that said an interim would be named “soon” and that a national search for a replacement “will begin imminently.”
“We are fortunate to have someone of Jerry’s caliber to seamlessly transition our athletic department,” USU President Noelle Cockett said in a statement. “There is no one better prepared to provide the needed leadership and stability as we move to the next chapter in Aggie Athletics.”
Bovee was hired by Utah State to be its deputy athletic director in 2019 after he spent the previous 10 years as the athletic director at Weber State. Prior to being named AD at WSU, Bovee spent two years as the school’s assistant vice president for administrative support services. Bovee also served 12 years as the assistant director of the Utah High School Activities Association. He began his career at USU, working four years at the school, first as the sales and promotions specialist and later as assistant athletics director for marketing and promotions
Now in his fourth year with USU, Bovee’s duties as deputy AD have included leading the athletics development staff, the Big Blue Scholarship Fund and Aggies Unlimited. He also oversaw the external departments that includes media relations and marketing. He was also involved in ticket sales and Aggie Sports Properties.
“I’m honored for the opportunity to serve in this capacity and certainly appreciate President Cockett’s confidence,” said Bovee in a statement. “I intend to continue the trajectory of excellence at Utah State. This is my alma mater and I’m proud to be an Aggie. We intend to work tirelessly to bring Aggies together in assisting our student-athletes, coaches and staff continued success on the courts and fields of competition, and in the classroom.”
Bovee graduated from Utah State in 1992, earning a bachelors degree and later his master’s degree in 2010 from Weber State in business administration.
USU’s statement said that “no timeline has been established for an athletic director appointment” and did not elaborate on its previous statement regarding a national search.