Eastern Oregon University Athletic Director Rob Cashell has been named Commissioner of the NAIA’s Cascade Collegiate Conference.

Cashell, who is in his eleventh year at EOU, will begin full-time as the conference commissioner on July 1. He has served as interim commissioner since January 2012, when Dave Haglund left the CCC to become commissioner of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Cashell’s last official day at the University will be May 11.

“First, let me say that Rob has done a tremendous job for EOU,” said Bob Davies, president of EOU and chair of the CCC Council of Presidents. “He has dedicated himself to our student-athletes for the last 11 years, and he will be missed. At the same time, the Cascade Collegiate Conference is extremely lucky to have the caliber of someone like Rob taking the helm. He was unanimously supported by the presidents of each of the member institutions and is recognized throughout the nation for his leadership, vision and commitment.”

Best of 54 applicants

The search process yielded 54 applicants from around the country and boasted candidates from both the NAIA and NCAA levels — including current conference commissioners and associate commissioners, athletic directors and individuals from other national athletic associations and professional teams.

“It was a very deep pool that was rich with talent,” said Davies. “In the end, Rob was the clear choice. He epitomizes the true spirit of the student-athlete that is the hallmark of the Cascade Conference and the NAIA. He is a true ‘Champion of Character’ and is a working symbol of what the NAIA and its member colleges and universities stand for.”

EOU women’s basketball head coach Anji Weissenfluh will serve as acting athletic director until a successful search for a new for a new athletic director is completed.

“I am excited and honored to be named acting Director of Athletics,” said Weissenfluh. “Rob has done an outstanding job and I hope that I can fill his shoes. The Cascade Conference is getting an outstanding commissioner. If his accomplishments at Eastern are any indication of the success he will have as commissioner, the conference is in wonderful hands.”

“I have always been impressed by Anji’s commitment to the balance of the student-athlete: perform well in the classroom, be role models in the community and be competitive on the court,” said Davies. “I know that she will bring this same level of passion and commitment to her role as our athletic director.”

While at EOU, Cashell served on the President’s Executive Cabinet and oversaw the Division of Athletics which is home to 12 intercollegiate programs. Since 2006, Mountaineer teams have placed first, second and third in the then formed Cascade Collegiate Conference All Sports Award balloting, never finishing lower than fourth in the 10-member conference.

“I am honored to have been chosen as the Commissioner of the Cascade Collegiate Conference,” said Cashell. “I believe we have the finest conference in the NAIA and I am eager to support the nearly 2,000 student-athletes and athletic staffs who represent our 10 campuses.”

Cashell picked top AD

In 2007-08, Cashell was named the Cascade Conference and NAIA Region 1 Athletic Director of the Year. He was nominated for the prestigious award again the following year and in 2009-10, was once again was named Athletic Director of the Year. In addition, he was honored by NACDA as the Under Armour West Coast Athletic Director of the Year.

Prior to joining the Mountaineers, Cashell served as Athletic Director at the University of Montana Western from 1996-2001 and was the first full-time athletic director in the school’s history. A native of Montana, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Montana Western in 1990 with a Health and Physical Education major, and a minor in History. He received a Masters Degree in Counseling and Career Services from Montana State University-Northern in 1994.

During his tenure at EOU, the Athletic Department saw significant change. Starting in 2001, Cashell oversaw over $3 million worth of renovation projects which included an expanded fitness center and private team locker rooms, a new competition soccer field and football practice field, newly constructed press boxes, a booster suite, restrooms and concessions at Community Stadium, a resurfaced track, a reconstructed softball field, and Quinn Coliseum upgrades to the main gymnasium. In addition, private support for athletics has increased over 300 percent.

In 2003, Cashell guided the department in its efforts to seek sole membership in the NAIA and joined the highly respected Frontier Conference for the Mountaineer football program.