Richard Konzem didn’t receive the promotion he wanted, but he acknowledged his alma mater hired the best man for the job.

“On a personal level, career-wise, it has been disappointing,” Konzem said Tuesday after Kansas University introduced former Connecticut athletic director Lew Perkins as its new AD. “But for Kansas, the thing that I care the most about is that we have success at this school and in this athletic department. This was the best hire. Lew Perkins was clearly the best hire. I feel great about it, and I look forward to winning some championships with him here.”

Konzem, a Salina native and Kansas graduate, has spent 22 years in KU’s athletic department. The senior associate athletic director has applied for the AD job twice in the last three years and been rejected both times.

“That was a goal that I set when I was in college,” said Konzem, who started his career in KU athletics as a student manager for track coach Bob Timmons in the 1970s. “I’ve never lost sight of that goal. I want to be the athletic director at Kansas. I will continue to work hard every single day to make this a real successful place so that if that opportunity ever comes, this will be a great opportunity to take over.”

Konzem, 45, still could get his chance. Perkins is 58 and has a strong record as a mentor. His proteges include Big 12 Conference commissioner Kevin Weiberg, Big 12 associate commissioner Dan Beebe, Kansas State athletic director Tim Weiser, KSU associate AD Casey Scott and Jeff Hathaway, who was Colorado State’s AD before replacing Perkins Tuesday at UConn.

“One of the most impressive things about Lew Perkins is the people that have worked for him and the positions that they’ve been able to obtain,” Konzem said. “He has surrounded himself with quality people and given them a chance to succeed.”

Perkins said he would have no problem working with KU staffers — such as Konzem and associate athletic director John Hadl — who were candidates for the job.

“I met with the staff, or the majority of the people, and I was very direct,” Perkins said. “We talked about what parameters I liked. I like loyalty, hard work, ethical compliance, and we’ll set goals and objectives. It’s about accountability. So if everybody does their job and everybody does what they’re supposed to be doing, I think it’s going to be more of an issue for them than it is for me.

“I need everybody, especially people who have been here a long time. I need their advice. I don’t have all the answers.”

Konzem has been here a long time. He earned his master’s degree in athletic administration from Southern Cal in 1981 and hasn’t budged since returning to his alma mater.

Konzem has served KU in a variety of roles, including Williams Fund director, NCAA compliance director and ticket manager. He was interim AD in the summer of 2001 after Bob Frederick resigned.

In his 22 years at KU, Konzem has pursued employment at another university only once. He interviewed for the athletic director’s job at Saint Louis in 1994.

“I enjoy my job,” he said. “I get to come to Allen Fieldhouse and walk in those doors every single day. I get to work at the school I love and where I went to school. Every day I have contact with legendary people. I can’t explain how much I enjoy that.”

Konzem has played prominent roles in some big decisions in the last year. He chaired the five-man search committee that recommended baseball coach Ritch Price last summer and was part of the three-man committee that hired men’s basketball coach Bill Self in April.

Despite his personal disappointment, Konzem was upbeat about his situation Tuesday. His wife, Debbie, is a vice president for SBC in Topeka, and his parents still live in Salina.

“I have a lot of reasons to still be here,” he said.

Interim AD Drue Jennings praised Konzem and Hadl.

“Their value is so different,” Jennings said. “John’s approach to people, meeting with them and talking with them, is unmatched on the college level. Richard has been here 22 years. He’s even been an interim AD. He’s worked compliance, with the Williams Fund. He’s been there, done that. He’s extremely talented. I think they are both very valuable assets to the university.”