Former 'U' attorney to join NCAA

The University's former top attorney has found a new client to represent.

Cole

Elsa Cole, former general counsel for the University, has been selected to fill the position of general counsel for the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Cole said she announced her resignation two months ago so that President Lee Bollinger could select his own administrative team.

Elizabeth Barry and Daniel Sharphorn have shared the position of interim general counsel since March.

"Elsa Cole comes to the NCAA with great experience in university administration and an excellent understanding of the issues the Association has to confront," NCAA Executive Director Cedric Dempsey said in a written statement.

Cole, who is on vacation this week, was unavailable for comment.

Vice President for University Relations Walter Harrison said he was delighted to hear that she was selected.

"It's an absolutely perfect choice," Harrison said. "I have worked with Elsa on a lot of matters and have always found her to be insightful, sensitive and forceful in developing positions for the University to take."

The announcement of Cole's new position is laced with irony in light of the Michigan basketball team's recent run-ins with the NCAA. Last month, the Athletic Department admitted to committing two NCAA violations for its involvement with Detroit booster Ed Martin.

But University officials said yesterday they do not anticipate a conflict of interest between Cole's intricate knowledge of private University matters and her new position with the NCAA.

"If she knew something about the NCAA and the University, she would have to recuse herself - that's standard legal ethic," Harrison said.

Senior Associate Director of Athletics Keith Molin said he has "the utmost respect for Cole's integrity," and does not foresee any conflicts.

"Elsa has always conducted herself in a professional manner and there is no doubt in my mind she will continue to do so as general counsel in the NCAA," Molin said.

In her new position with the NCAA, Cole is required to oversee the management of all legal issues affecting the organization and the coordination of all litigation.

"(Cole) would be involved to find counsel to represent us and to give advice to our staff," said Wallace Renfro, NCAA director of constituent communications.

Renfro said Cole was selected from an applicant pool of 120 candidates nationwide.

Cole, who was appointed to University general counsel by former President James Duderstadt in 1986, resigned in February.

As the University's top attorney, Cole was involved in the first defense of the Code of Student Conduct and specialized in areas of sexual harassment law and student due-process issues.

Cole's starting date at the NCAA, whose headquarters lie in Overland Park, Kan., was Monday, but she is not expected to officially report to the office until April 30.

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