WKU president Gary Ransdell on Wednesday promised a detailed, deliberate search for a new athletics director in the wake of Ross Bjork’s departure to Mississippi.

Ransdell announced on Thursday that a familiar face will run the athletics department in the interim.

Todd Stewart, senior associate AD, will hold the title of interim AD, Ransdell announced on Thursday at the introductory press conference of new women’s basketball coach Michelle Clark-Heard.

Stewart has been WKU’s senior associate athletics director since 2010.

Before that he served for two years as associate AD for communications and media relations.

“Todd Stewart will be the interim athletic director for the forseeable future while we engage in a full, formal, thorough search for our permanent next athletic director,” Ransdell said. “Let me rephrase that, our permanent next athletic director. Not sure how permanent is, I think we can work on that one.”

According to a WKU release, during his tenure as senior associate AD Stewart “assisted in strategic initiatives that advance the mission of Athletics, served as a critical advisor for all important decisions for the department, and helped formulate and implement the department’s communication strategy, vision, and philosophy.”

Prior to coming to WKU Stewart served as associate commissioner, communications, for the Sun Belt Conference, executive director of communications and media relations for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and assistant director of public relations for the Indianapolis Colts.