This summer, the winds of change swept through Sacramento State’s athletic department, with three members of the athletics administration departing the Hornets’ Nest.

John Morris, the assistant athletic director for student service/compliance coordinator, marketing and promotions director Damon Dukakis and marketing graduate assistant Curt Borton all left to take higher positions at other schools.

A graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Law, Morris leaves after spending two and a half years running the Hornets’ compliance programs and supervising the athletics advising office and life skills office.

Morris’ responsibilities included overseeing compliance with NCAA rules regarding recruiting, eligibility, financial aid, benefits, amateurism, and both playing and practice seasons. Morris also oversaw the operation of Sac State soccer teams and gymnastics.

Morris will become the new senior associate athletic director for compliance at the University of Washington. His duties at UW will include overseeing compliance with both NCAA and PAC-10 rules in the Huskies programs.

According to Mark Livingston, associate athletic director for marketing, Morris is a very intelligent and very capable assistant athletic director and is making a very large and very uncommon leap to arguably one of the best athletic programs in the country.

Athletics Director Terry Wanless said, “People have to recognize the quality of people on our staff.”

A graduate of the UC Santa Barbara and St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Dukakis leaves Sac State’s athletic program after three years.

Dukakis will be joining the staff of fellow big sky conference member Portland State as the associate athletic director for external affairs. He will oversee marketing, promotions, and corporate sponsorship programs.

Described by Livingston as a very aggressive, outstanding employee, Dukakis left the Hornet program for a job that can be described as a large step towards becoming an athletic director at a school someday.

Just as college athletes never spend more that four or five years on one team, people working in an athletic director’s office rarely spend much time at one school according to Livingston.

“Its common for people to spend anywhere from three to five years at one job, and then move on,” Livingston said.

Neither vacant position has been filled as of yet. However, applicants are currently being reviewed and a decision on the replacements is expected to come soon.

Also leaving the athletic department this summer was marketing graduate assistant Curt Borton. Borton will remain within the California State system, however, as he will accept the position of director of marketing at CSU Bakersfield.