A last-minute change of heart by an Oklahoma State University administrator will leave Kansas University without a permanent director of admissions and scholarships this fall.

KU officials expected to announce last Friday that Larry F. Kruse, director of high school and college relations at Oklahoma State University since 1991, would fill the KU position. But Kruse called KU the day before, saying he would accept a promotion at OSU instead.

“We had the press release ready to go on this guy, and he called back and said he wasn’t coming,” said Richard Morrell, KU’s registrar and chairman of the search committee.

Kruse made an oral commitment to KU in early July, said Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, senior vice provost. He hadn’t signed a contract with KU.

“We didn’t have any way to make him come,” she said. “It came as a surprise, it’s safe to say.”

KU now will re-open its search. But with most recruitment efforts peaking between September and February, McCluskey-Fawcett said she didn’t expect to have a new director until spring.

Lisa Pinamonti, associate director of admissions and scholarships since 2000, will continue serving as interim director, a role she assumed when Alan Cerveny accepted a position at the University of Nebraska in April.

McCluskey-Fawcett said she expected to advertise the position again.