The University of Houston has announced that Mack B. Rhoades IV will take over as the school's new Athletic Director.

Rhoades was previously the athletics director at the University of Akron. During his 3 years at the school, the Zips have seen unprecedented growth in their athletics program that includes a new $54-million on-campus football stadium that will open this fall and plans for basketball arena improvements.

Rhoades spent seven years at UTEP before leaving for Akron in January of 2006 and will replace Dave Maggard, who retired last month after his seven-year tenure at UH.