DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS PETE BOONE

Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone

Pete Boone is in his eighth year as Director of Athletics at the University of Mississippi, a period which has seen the Ole Miss athletics department grow from a $10 million budget in 1995 to over $30 million in 2005-06.

It is Boone's second tenure as Director of Athletics at Ole Miss, having served in that capacity the first time from 1995 to 1998 before returning to the banking business to co-found the Business Bank of Baton Rouge.

When Boone speaks to Ole Miss student-athletes, he often reminds them to "enjoy the journey." It's a philosophy that he, too, has gone by, beginning in 1968 when the Grenada, Miss., native first stepped on the Ole Miss campus as a center on the Rebel football team, playing first for legendary coach John Vaught and then coach Billy Kinard as he earned three letters (1970-72).

In the spring of 2002, Boone returned to pick up his "journey" with Ole Miss when he was introduced at a May 6 press conference as the new Director of Athletics. He officially took over athletics director duties for a second time on June 1, 2002.

During Boone's eight years as Director of Athletics, Ole Miss has experienced continued growth from adding sports to his overseeing in excess of $60 million in athletics improvements.

A number of new projects are currently in the planning stages as Ole Miss moves forward to meet the challenges of the 21st century both on and off the field of competition. In the near future, plans are being made for a basketball practice complex, an academic services facility and a $4 million athletics administration building.

The FedEx Corporation announced on April 14, 2005, a $2.5 million gift to create an academic support center for Ole Miss student-athletes. The money will be used to renovate a portion of the Starnes Athletics Training Center. When complete, the 22,500-square-foot building will house the Office of Student-Athlete Academic Support.

"In recruiting, we make a commitment to young men and women and their parents," Boone said at the announcement. "We promise to provide a positive environment of support to help them achieve their maximum potential in their academic and athletic pursuits. The FedEx Academic Support Center enables Ole Miss to go beyond that promise. The Center's front-line technology and classroom environment provide our student-athletes one of the best learning environments in the country."

One future project that appears to have the right timing is the plan to expand Oxford-University Stadium, which played host to the 2005 NCAA Baseball Championship Oxford Regional and Super Regional. The Super Regional in Oxford drew 26,074 for a three-game average of 8,691, the largest attended among the NCAA's eight Super Regional sites, which far exceeded the current 3,500-seat facility. The $5 million project will include the addition of 1,000 Club seats and an expanded area for families and students in left-center and right field to accommodate up to 2,000 more fans. Also, the project will include new baseball coaches offices.

In the fall of 2004, Ole Miss began utilizing an $18.5 million, state-of-the-art Indoor Practice Facility, a jewel in the growing athletics compound surrounding Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. A 6,800-square-foot indoor batting facility was built down the first base line at Oxford-University Stadium in the fall of 2003 at the cost of $300,000.

Recent construction of a multi-million dollar rifle range and multi-purpose facility, in conjunction with the City of Oxford, was a major addition to the women's rifle program, with Ole Miss athletics providing $500,000 to the project. Another project currently underway is the upgrading of the women's softball complex, which represents $1.2 million in improvements.

Following 22 years in the banking business, Boone's first tenure at Ole Miss began in January of 1995, and success quickly followed. Several Ole Miss programs achieved success at the regional and national levels, winning conference titles and advancing to postseason play. Boone also oversaw the strengthening of women's athletics at Ole Miss, with the department adding the sports of soccer in 1995 and rifle and softball in 1996-97. Soccer and softball facilities were built for $1.5 million.

Under Boone's watch, Ole Miss has made tremendous strides in facility improvements and staff additions to meet the rapidly changing world of collegiate athletics. Boone's first period as Director of Athletics saw him involved in a number of projects -- either underway or in the planning stages at the time -- that totaled $20 million. The two major endeavors were the $12 million Rebel Club expansion to the east side of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and the building of the $4 million Gillom Sports Center. The Rebel Club area is believed to be one of the first of its kind in college athletics.

Boone, a 1972 graduate of Ole Miss with a bachelor's degree in Banking and Finance, is married to the former Scottye Howard of Grenada. The couple has two sons, Taylor and Lexie. Taylor is married to the former Laurel Joachim of Atlanta, Ga. Taylor and Laurel have a son, Morgan, a three-year-old future Rebel.