Jan. 16, 2008

RUSTON - Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Jim Oakes announced Wednesday that he will be stepping down from his position at the end of June.

Oakes, who was hired by Louisiana Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau in 1994 after a 13-year stint as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston, said he felt that the time was right for his decision.

"It is a good time in my career to do something else for a while, and it is a good time for the athletic program to bring in someone new as athletic director," Oakes said. "I am very pleased with the direction of Tech Athletics and believe most of our programs are poised to have outstanding success. We have a quality group of coaches and administrators who are truly dedicated to our school."

Reneau said he was truly appreciative of Oakes' loyalty and dedication to his alma mater over the last decade.

"I'm saddened by Jim's decision and tried to encourage him to change his mind, but I wish him well in any endeavor he takes," Reneau said. "He has been a very positive factor in moving our athletic department to a different level during the 13 years he has served as athletic director for Louisiana Tech University."

During Oakes tenure at the university, the Homer, La., native was instrumental in numerous successes with the highlight being moving Tech into the Western Athletic Conference in 2001.

Under Oakes's leadership, the athletic department and its programs received full certification from the NCAA on two occasions while not a single Louisiana Tech athletic program ever received an NCAA sanction.

Louisiana Tech's student-athletes have also recorded the highest graduation rate in the state of Louisiana and the Western Athletic Conference this year.

"It is a shame that Jim took the blame for many loses in many sports here at Tech and probably never got credit for one win," said Tech head baseball coach Wade Simoneaux. "He is a dedicated Tech guy that ran a clean program from top to bottom."

Other accomplishments under Oakes' tenure include:

• tripling Tech's athletic budget since becoming A.D.
• receiving national recognition for hosting Tulane's football team following Hurricane Katrina
• overseeing several important facility improvements
• securing a spot for Tech in the inaugural Eddie Robinson Classic in 1998, a nationally-televised contest against defending national champion Nebraska
• scheduling marquee home football games against Miami, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Cal
• hiring numerous head coaches including Derek Dooley, Gary Crowton and Jack Bicknell
• being name Tom Landry Associates along with his wife Tammie by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes

"We have not always won as many games as I would have liked, but we have always tried to run the athletic program with integrity and the highest level of sportsmanship," Oakes said. "I am particularly pleased that we have the highest student-athlete graduation rate in the state of Louisiana."

Reneau said the university would begin a search for Oakes' successor as soon as feasible.