Central Michigan University named a new Athletic Director Tuesday morning after nearly a month-long search following the departure of Michael Alford.

CMU President Bob Davies announced the hire of Amy Folan as the next Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics. Folan comes to CMU from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was the executive senior associate athletics director since 2012. In that role, she looked over the Longhorn Foundation, fundraising for UT and the Texas Athletics ticketing office.

Davies said the goal was to find someone that would help continue the university climb stating that her leadership will have an immediate impact on the program. Under Folan the Longhorn Foundation saw six of its most successful fundraising years in history, and in 2019 it held its largest membership and annual fund total since the program began.

Folan's new career path at CMU will officially begin on October 5, when she will take over for Rachel Blunt who has been serving as the interim AD since August 31.

"I am honored to be joining the CMU Chippewa family," Folan said. "Central Michigan is a tradition-rich program with an incredible record of success, and I look forward to working with our student-athletes, coaches, university and surrounding communities, fans and supporters to build on the CMU tradition of excellence and continue to raise the bar."

Folan finished her undergraduate program at the University of Connecticut where she was also a member of the women's soccer team. She has a masters degree from the University of Georgia in Sport Management and has been at the University of Texas since 2002.

Folan and her husband, Joseph, have two children. She will report directly to President Davies and her fundraising background should help continue the program on an upward path. She has a big job to fill following a rough stretch with the Covid-19 Pandemic having a big impact on the program.