The Search Party is an ongoing series that breaks down athletic director vacancies at schools like Utah State, Arkansas State, and more.
In the San Fernando Valley, Cal State Northridge is in the market for a new leader in the athletics department.
In late March, the university announced that Shawn Chin-Farrell, who had been hired in 2021, was no longer with the program. The decision was a bit surprising, but the interim choice was even more unexpected. Rather than naming someone from within the athletics department, President Erika D. Beck tapped Mary Beth Walker — a former CSUN provost and vice president for academic affairs — to lead in the interim.
Walker stepped down from her administrative role in January 2023 and has since served as a professor of economics and consultant to the university. This is her first experience in athletic administration. The appointment raised a few eyebrows, but the reasoning appears clear, as some indications suggest that certain “internal affairs situations” are still playing out. Beck opted for a neutral, respected campus leader from outside athletics to provide stability and oversight before naming a permanent hire.
This will be Beck’s second AD search since taking over in January 2021 — and the 10th in CSUN’s 65-year history. It’s also the third AD change since 2022, making stability one of the most valuable qualities the next leader can bring. It also adds a little pressure to Beck to make this hire have a longer shelf life.
Facilities in Motion — and Why They Matter
For a department operating on a $20 million budget — ranking in the bottom third of the Big West — CSUN has invested in what I would call “mini-upgrades” in its facilities over the past three years. The list is long; a $1.5 million renovation of Premier America Credit Union Arena, a six-figure gift to create a dedicated student-athlete academic center, locker room upgrades for men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, and baseball, a new all-sports team video and meeting room, an indoor golf range, dedicated batting cages for softball and baseball, improved seating for soccer and softball, and a new roof for the Sports Performance Center.
These upgrades send a clear message to candidates that while CSUN may not have the largest budget or best facilities in the conference, there’s a willingness to invest strategically. The next AD won’t be walking into a facilities arms race but will always be within striking distance of the top of the league… just never at the top.
On the baseball side, they also added home-field lights for the first time in program history. A plus as they have raised the budget for the baseball program over the last few years. There has been success in the past on the diamond for the Matadors, but they haven’t come near their ceiling. (Shout out to CSUN alum Denzel Clarke, who has made a splash in his rookie year for the A’s)
Still, Los Angeles is a competitive sports market where attention is currency. Having good facilities is only part of the equation; the challenge will be using them creatively to generate interest and revenue.
Men’s Basketball — The Current Driver
Right now, men’s basketball is CSUN’s clearest opportunity for revenue growth, but is limited with the smallest arena in the league (2,500). Head coach Andy Newman, hired from Cal State San Bernardino, where he was previously with Chin-Farrell, has led the program to its most successful two-year stretch in more than two decades.
The 2024–25 team went 22–11, tying the school record for overall wins, setting a new Big West record for conference victories (14), matching the Division I record for road wins (10), and equaling the D-I winning streak record (7). The Matadors also reached the NIT for the first time in school history. All of this came while navigating the tail end of NCAA sanctions from recruiting violations committed by the prior coaching staff, which included three years of probation and other self-imposed penalties.
Newman’s contract runs through April 2028 with a $325,000 base salary and up to $200,000 in attainable bonuses. His success has already put him on the radar beyond Northridge. The next AD’s first major decision may be whether to lock him in with an extension before another program makes a move. There are some clauses in his contract that are very coach-friendly (which will be a completely different story here on HERO Sports) that could be the reason why he hasn’t been extended yet, as he surely won’t get the same language again.
Women’s Basketball and Softball — Different Stages, Similar Stakes
Women’s basketball is in the early stages of a rebuild under second-year head coach Angie Ned. Her contract runs through 2029 with a $210,000 base salary — in the bottom third of the conference — and the expectation will be steady progress toward competitiveness.
Softball is a legacy program at CSUN, with four Division II national titles, back-to-back Women’s College World Series appearances in 1993 and 1994, and 14 NCAA Tournament trips overall. This past spring, the Matadors reached the Big West Championship game before falling to Hawai‘i. In June, head coach Charlotte Morgan left for Fresno State, and interim Jodie Cox was elevated. There was plenty of time to find a permanent replacement, but they opted to go with Cox as an interim, a move that once again raised more questions in the industry. The next AD will decide how to position the program to reclaim its place among the sport’s elite in the Big West and nationally.
(To see how Chin-Farrell’s hires did, click here, s/o Mirage of Wins!)
The Campus Factor
California State University, Northridge is one of California’s largest public universities, with an enrollment of typically around 38,000 to 40,000, making it the third-largest in the state. It’s a commuter-heavy campus, with fewer than 10% of students living on-site. That presents challenges in building consistent game-day environments, but it’s not unique in the Big West. Housing can be a key selling point in recruiting, and CSUN competes with peer institutions that face similar dynamics.
The Matadors’ facilities — including Matador Diamond, Premier America Credit Union Arena, and Matador Soccer Field — are good, but athletic performance over the past decade has often been middle-of-the-pack. Coaching turnover has been a recurring theme in several sports.
Operating within the Cal State system means navigating statewide policies, shared governance, and political realities. But there’s also institutional commitment to fundraising. The $40 million gift from author MacKenzie Scott, the largest in CSUN’s history, demonstrates a robust campus-wide development operation. While athletics may not directly benefit from that gift, a rising tide can lift all boats.
Challenges and Opportunities
CSUN’s biggest challenge — and opportunity — is its location. Again, being in Los Angeles means constant competition for entertainment dollars and media coverage. It also means access to a vast talent pool, potential corporate partnerships, and one of the largest alumni networks in the state.
This is where creativity matters. A “minor league” approach — with theme nights, community engagement events, and unconventional marketing — could help CSUN stand out. It’s not just about filling seats; it’s about carving out a place in a crowded market.
The Search Process
The Pictor Group, a well-respected search firm with deep industry connections, is leading the AD hire. It’s expected and confirmed that members of the administration will also be involved, along with Pictor. President Beck will not be involved until early September. The Pictor Group is known for having strong networks, specifically among top female candidates. It’s interesting to note that CSUN proudly notes in President Beck’s bio that she is CSUN’s fourth consecutive female president; there’s no indication that gender will influence the athletic director hire.
From all indications, this will be an external search aimed at finding a candidate that Beck can fully support and invest in. Interviews are expected to take place in late August and early September, with a hiring announcement by October 1.
