More than two months after John Cohen left for Auburn, Mississippi State has found his replacement as AD, naming Zac Selmon to the role on Friday, notes the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. He is the first Black AD in school history. Georgia Southern AD Jared Benko, who previously worked at MSU, "was another top candidate according to a source."
Selmon, 37, has been working in OU's athletics department since 2015. He "played a key piece in stakeholder relations -- helping fundraise through the traditional forms of college athletics as well as NIL." He also oversaw fan experience, ticket sales and strategic communications.
Among outlets covering the Sooners, a few think Selmon's departure from Norman is just temporary, and that he'll eventually come back to succeed Joe Castiglione. The Tulsa World's Eric Bailey tweeted, "I always believed (and still do) that Zac Selmon will eventually succeed Joe C at Oklahoma when that time arrives." SB Nation's Crimson & Cream Machine account added, "Something tells me he’ll be getting a call a few years down the road after Joe C rides off into the sunset."
The Clarion Ledger's Stefan Krajisnik noted, "It's clear [MSU President] Mark Keenum has interest in a young, rising star in the industry who has an eye for the new direction of college athletics." The Tulsa World's Eli Lederman tweeted, "Selmon has long been viewed as a future AD."
