At 6:53 p.m. today, Athletic Director Gene Smith will watch the sun set over "A" Mountain from his corner office that overlooks Sun Devil Stadium.
When the sun rises Saturday morning, Senior Vice President Christine Wilkinson will begin her third stint as interim athletic director.
Wilkinson said she's prepared to hit the ground running, even though she wasn't approached about a return to the athletic department until last Wednesday.
Wilkinson's transition should be less turbulent now that Senior Associate AD Tom Collins is out of the running for the vacant AD position at Middle Tennessee State.
"He is a very experienced administrator in collegiate athletics," Wilkinson said of Collins. "I would be one of the first to advocate for him getting a position. It would be a major loss to the department. I have relied on him when I have served previously."
Collins said he was disappointed that he was not selected for the Middle Tennessee State job, but he contends he's ready to help the athletic department move forward.
"They've chosen to go in a different direction," Collins said of the Middle Tennessee State administration. "We have a lot of issues here, and we are just trying to focus on the transition from Gene to Christine and get our teams heading in the right direction going into postseason play."
Collins also has been recruited by other universities that are looking for new ADs.
"It's only a matter of time," Smith said of Collins, who has been called Smith's right-hand man by more than one source within the athletic department. "TC will get his athletic directorship soon. It's going to happen. There are some good jobs open, and he's in the hunt and he is ready."
Smith confirmed that ASU men's basketball coach Rob Evans will return next season. There had been widespread speculation about Evans' future after the Sun Devils failed to make the NCAA Tournament.
"I can only say that Rob is going to be the basketball coach next year," said Smith, indicating that he doesn't know if a contract extension is in the works. "The institution is having conversations with him."
Ready for action
Smith and Collins anticipate that Wilkinson won't have any problems filling Smith's shoes while the University wraps up its search for a permanent AD.
Wilkinson comes from a distinguished athletic pedigree. Her father, Bill Kajikawa, coached ASU's football, men's basketball and baseball teams' starting in 1927.
"I often tell people I was here before I was born," Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson keeps Coke bottles commemorating ASU's 1987 Rose Bowl victory in her office.
"I grew up being on the campus throughout the year, knowing the athletes and administrators who, at different points in my life, could be like uncles," Wilkinson said. "I could average [watching] 40 basketball games a season."
Wilkinson tossed out the first pitch Wednesday night when the ASU softball team hosted No. 2 UA at Farrington Stadium. She plans to immerse herself in ASU sporting events this weekend. She'll attend the ASU Thunderbird Invitational, and she'll also watch the softball and women's tennis teams.
"I fully intend to make this a major priority of what I do for however long it may be," Wilkinson said.
Starting Monday, Wilkinson will split time between the athletic department and her other administrative duties, which include community college relations, commencement planning and working with the Arizona Board of Regents.
Wilkinson oversaw the creation of the women's soccer team when steering the athletic department from 1995-96 as Kevin White prepared to replace Charles Harris. She'll also set the table for the next AD.
"I believe the assignment will be a transition between the departure of the current athletic director and the hiring of another person," Wilkinson said. "Because the search had been ongoing, it [the time period] could be much shorter."
Wilkinson accepts the mantle of leadership while several ASU teams make runs toward the postseason. Compounding the situation is the fallout of the shooting death of former ASU defensive back Brandon Falkner.
"I believe that is why I was actually appointed in the interim," Wilkinson said. "It was a very traumatic time for the many individuals impacted."
Smith said Wilkinson's experience in counseling psychology and Student Affairs should help in the healing process.
"I think we are further along now because we have had the grieving counselors in our facilities," Smith said. "I think the people inside have found their way and are in a better place."
Pressing issues
Smith said most of the school's student-athletes have coped with Falkner's death, but admits that ASU football coach Dirk Koetter has had little time to grieve.
"Her skills will help relative to Dirk and keeping his focus on the kids," Smith said. "[Koetter] has had to be the rock and has just recently began to find his space and deal with himself personally."
Wilkinson said it's hard not to lose sight of the tragedy when so much emphasis has been placed on the search for answers and accountability.
"We need to be supportive of the investigation that professor [Myles] Lynk will be the lead on," Wilkinson said. "We need to consider what processes and policies that are in place need to be improved or perhaps realize that they were working and that this incident was beyond a policy."
Wilkinson said she doesn't plan to pursue a career in athletic administration. Nevertheless, she's excited about the prospects of being interim AD again.
"I have been given a number of opportunities throughout my career at the University," Wilkinson said. "My goal is to advance the institution to whatever next level we are striving for and in whatever capacity I can serve the University best."
Reach the reporter at mark.saxon@asu.edu.
