Texas A&M begins search for AD

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) Texas A&M has hired a search firm to help find its next athletic director, a day after Bill Byrne retired from the position.

The school hired Parker Executive Search, a firm that has worked on athletic director searches at dozens of schools including five in the Southeastern Conference, where A&M is moving July 1.

Texas A&M Regent Jim Wilson and Jason Cook, the school's vice president for marketing and communications, will co-chair the search committee.

Nine other people make up the committee, including two professors, softball coach Jo Evans, Adaora Elonu, a former women's basketball player who remains a student, and former football player Terrence Murphy.

School President R. Bowen Loftin says he hopes to have the new athletic director in place when the fall semester begins.

Updated May 9, 2012