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Hired in spring 2005, Mike Bohn has had an eventful tenure as athletic director. He has brought in new head coaches in three of CU鈥檚 most prominent sports 鈥� football and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball 鈥� led CU鈥檚 move to the Pac-12 and received a contract extension through June 2016.

Do you consider orchestrating the move to the Pac-12 the accomplishment you鈥檙e most proud of at CU?

Well, it鈥檚 certainly one of them. But I鈥檓 very proud of a lot of things. For example, the teamwork that went into creating an incredible environment for our men鈥檚 track & field team to win the Big 12 Championship in 2008 was certainly very, very special. I鈥檓 extremely proud of what we鈥檝e done to help the basketball enterprise long-term with the practice facility that also helps volleyball.

I鈥檓 also proud of the partnership with Colorado National Golf Club that supports our men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 golf programs. And I鈥檓 proud of the Stampede [pep rally] tradition that we鈥檝e started in downtown 麻豆影院 the evening before football games.

Since CU officially joined the Pac-12 during the summer, have you noticed a palpable excitement among the fans and in the department?

Everywhere you go people are excited. So it鈥檚 a big change for us 鈥� I don鈥檛 want to say a cataclysmic change but pretty close. And I think it鈥檚 exactly the boost we needed to build the intensity of interest in our program.

Has the move affected ticket sales or boosters kicking in more money?

It has. For example, before we joined the Pac-12, we had about 97 Buff Club members out of 23,000 alumni in California. And currently we鈥檙e at 500 with a goal of 3,000 in that state alone.

How much of a difference does the lucrative new Pac-12 media rights deal make for the CU athletic department?

It is significantly more revenue than we received in the Big 12. However, our season ticket sales, our donations and our sponsorships are all vital elements for us to continue to grow and meet the goals we have.

What are your biggest priorities looking ahead?

Our biggest priority right now is to improve our recruiting efforts and do everything we can to address the competitive nature of this league. It鈥檚 known as the conference of champions.

Is there any thought, at least long-term, of adding any sports?

We would love to add some sports. Again, it鈥檚 going to come down to the resources we have to put it together. I will say the first sport we add will be a women鈥檚 sport to help with our commitment to proportionality and the number of women participating.

Is there a sport you have in mind?

I think women鈥檚 lacrosse seems to be gaining a lot of momentum. A lot of people talk about baseball on the men鈥檚 side, and it would be wonderful to add baseball and some other sports, but it鈥檚 going to come down to that intensity of interest from our fan base and our donor base and our alumni to be able to fund those programs.

Whenever you speak to public groups, you always end by saying 鈥淕o Buffs.鈥� Why is that important?

If you鈥檙e going to be a leader you鈥檝e got to demonstrate a commitment and a passion. And that鈥檚 my way of saying that my passion and commitment to the program, to our community, to our campus and what the Buffs represent is intense.