Mike Holder’s to be presented as Athletic Director emeritus on Friday

President Burns Hargis announced in an email Thursday that Deputy Athletic Director Chad Weiberg will take over the Athletic Director position effective on July 1 at the end of current Athletic Director Mike Holder’s contract.

Holder has overseen Oklahoma State athletics for the last 16 years and will be most remembered for his role in upgrading the athletic facilities. OSU had constructed new facilities for baseball, tennis, and women’s soccer in the past seven years; Holder also oversaw the construction of the Sherman E. Smith Training Center as well as the reconstruction of Boone Pickens Stadium.

Hargis praised Holder’s outstanding years, saying in a mass email “we are in awe in the massive upgrade in athletic facilities under Mike’s leadership... serving with Mike to elevate and advance our alma mater has been a great privilege for me. Mike loves OSU. He has dedicated his career to building a championship golf program and athletic department centered around helping athletes succeed in their sports, in the classroom and, most importantly, in life.”

The announcement also comes with news that Hargis will give Holder the title of “Athletic Director Emeritus” where he will act as a special adviser to the athletics department.

Weiberg takes over the position after serving as Deputy Athletic Director since he returned to Stillwater in 2017. Weiberg graduated from OSU with an undergraduate degree in business administration in 1994 and a Master’s in business administration in 2002. He previously served in the athletic department at Kansas State and Texas Tech.

Holder voiced support for Weiberg’s hiring, saying in a written statement “today is about the future of Oklahoma State University athletics. Chad Weiberg is the new sheriff in town and he needs all of us to saddle up and ride for the brand... if you do your part, then the best is yet to come.”

Just about every Oklahoma State athletic facility has been upgraded in some way since Holder assumed the Athletic Director post 16 years ago, giving the Cowboys and Cowgirls some of the best facilities in college sports.