KANSAS INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR (Odds)

A former CEO of Kansas City Power and Light Co., A. Drue Jennings is currently KU's interim athletic director after replacing Al Bohl in early April.

Jennings, who earned a bachelor's degree from KU in 1968 and a law degree in 1972, played football for four years at KU and also is currently a member of the KU Endowment Association executive committee and the KU Alumni Association board. He served on the KU Athletic Corporation Board from 1991 to 1995.

"Drue Jennings is an outstanding individual who truly loves the University of Kansas," KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. "Drue has given a tremendous amount of his time and energy to the University over the years, and this is another example of that," Williams said. "He is a very ethical and organized person, and we are lucky to have someone with his integrity to lead the athletic department at this difficult time."

Earned a B.S. from KU in 1968 and a J.D. in 1972. ... Played football for the Jayhawks for four years. ... Has served on numerous boards and committes of KU organizations.

When Jennings was named to the interim post, Hemenway pointed out that Jennings would not be a candidate for the full-time AD position. After being part of the four-person committee that hired Bill Self to replace Roy Williams, though, Jennings has shown some of the characteristics of a high-quality athletic director.

After the news conference in which Self was named the basketball coach, Hemenway reiterated his stance that Jennings would not be a candidate for the position.

Though he did a great job during the search for a men's basketball coach, Jennings is a dark-horse candidate until he says he's actually interested in the full-time position.

"Drue Jennings has been a friend for a long time and I just respect the man so much, but he's told me he would take this position for just a certain period of time and we're going to stay on that track."

Jennings grew up in Kansas City, Kan., graduated from Argentine High School and taught at Wyandotte High School for a year before attending law school at KU. He joined KCP&L in 1974 as an attorney, became chief executive officer in 1988 and chairman of the board in 1991.

news/nextad/story/107054 (5-2-2003) Interim replacement Jennings popular fit (4-10-2003)

In the early 1980s, Jennings and Emanuel Cleaver, then a city councilman, teamed up as the first chairmen of the Harmony in a World of Difference program in Kansas City. Jennings also helped lead the Bartle Hall Convention Center Expansion Campaign and the Campaign for Science City at Union Station, and helped found Bethany Medical Center.

Jennings and his wife, Susan Kolman Jennings, gave $55,000 to help the expansion of KU athletics facilities in 1992. In 1999 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Citation from KU Alumni Association.