The search for the new Arizona athletic director is officially over after hiring Central Michigan AD Dave Heeke per Arizona Athletics and originally reported by Detroit Free Press’ Mark Snyder.

UA president Ann Weaver Hart announced Saturday that Heeke was named as the UA vice president for athletics pending Arizona Board of Regents approval according to the Arizona Athletics press release. 

Heeke will replace former athletic director Greg Byrne who accepted the same position at Alabama and interim AD Erika Barnes.

Heeke has been the CMU AD since 2006 and has experience managing athletic program’s budget. Before Central Michigan, Heeke spent 18 years at Oregon and served as the associate athletics director handling the $40 million budget. Once Heeke took over at CMU, he campaigned to upgrade the CMU Events Center and had a $22.5 million project to renovate the Rose Center where the Chippewas play basketball, volleyball and wrestling.

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