Haskell Indian Nations University’s nearly yearlong search for an athletic director came to an end this week, when the school announced the hiring of Todd Davis to oversee its athletic department.

Davis, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Tribe, spent the last seven seasons as the AD at Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. He has been involved in college athletics for more than 25 years and served as an athletic director for 19 of them, with a stint as AD at Darton State College on his resume as well.

He walks into a situation at Haskell where administrators this spring elected to suspend the football program for an undetermined period of time due to a lack of finances.

A news release explaining the move in mid-June indicated that, “The decision of the university and the future of the football program will be based on whether adequate donations and external financial support is available to properly rebuild the program with the staffing, training, conditioning and coaching required by student-athletes to experience a safe and highly competitive intercollegiate experience at Haskell.”

The release said the 2015-16 year would be a “redshirt year, with new coaching staff and investment in the program by alumni, donors and athletic boosters. A Spring Training in 2016 will precede the launch of a revamped program.”

According to the news release announcing his hiring at ndnsports.com, Davis, who originally is from Oklahoma, has overseen three national championships, one NJCAA runner-up finisher, three national top-five finishes, six College World Series baseball appearances, 27 NJCAA All Americans and 15 regional championships.

Davis graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in sports administration.

He and his wife, Susie, have three children, Drew (19), Brooks (17) and Macy (14).

He is expected to arrive in Lawrence in a couple of weeks and begin his new role on July 27.