HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The contract of Bob “Kayo” Marcum, Marshall University’s interim athletic director since July 1, has been extended through June 30, 2005, President Dan Angel announced today.

Marcum was hired on an interim basis with the understanding that he would serve at least one year. However, Angel decided after just five months to extend his contract two years.

“We’re very pleased with Bob’s experience,” Angel said. “He has a large network of contacts throughout the country. He’s doing an outstanding job, so we want to go ahead and continue his leadership as our athletic director.”

Marcum, a Huntington native, said he is confident Marshall athletics will continue to grow on a national level.

“I’m pleased and appreciate the confidence President Angel expressed in me,” Marcum said. “I’m looking forward to working with the coaches and alums to make Marshall University athletics bigger and better.”

Marshall football Coach Bobby Pruett said Marcum has done “an excellent job” in his short time at Marshall.

“I’m really excited about having the great experience and leadership of Kayo Marcum to lead our athletic program for two more years,” Pruett said. “He has a lot of contacts around the country, and I like his decision making. He just brings great experience to our program.”

When he was hired, Marcum was asked to evaluate the athletic program and help plan its future.

“Anytime you come into a new situation you evaluate the present conditions and determine what you think can be done in the future,” he said. “I think with Dr. Angel’s leadership and the quality coaches we have, we can make our program even better and be more competitive in the Mid-American Conference. We have a foundation we can build on, but we certainly have room for improvement.”

Marshall men’s basketball Coach Greg White said he was happy to hear of Marcum’s contract extension.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have someone of Bob’s knowledge and character running our athletic program at Marshall,” White said. “I’m most pleased to see him get the contract extension.”

Women’s basketball Coach Royce Chadwick called Angel’s decision to extend Marcum’s contract “awesome.”

“He’s done a tremendous amount of work for my program in particular, elevating what we’re doing to a higher level,” Chadwick said of Marcum. “We’re excited to be a part of the national prominence that’s coming our way through our athletic department.”

Marcum graduated from Huntington High in 1955 and Marshall in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies and physical education, and from the University of Akron in 1970 with his master’s degree in education administration.

He served as Associate Athletic Director at Iowa State University from July 1971 through August 1978, Director of Athletics at the University of Kansas from August 1978 through January 1982, and Director of Athletics at the University of South Carolina from January 1982 through March 1988.

Marcum came to Marshall after retiring from the University of Massachusetts. He went to UMass from Atlanta, where he was vice president and general manager of the Atlanta Motor Speedway from October 1990 through February 1992. He was vice president of the Charlotte Motor Speedway from July 1988 through October 1990.

During Marcum’s time at UMass, the school produced more Atlantic 10 all-academic selections than any other league university. UMass led the conference in academic all-league picks six times during that span. Marcum was the 1999 Northeast Region I-AA Athletic Director of the Year.