CHESTNUT HILL - Boston College has officially announced the hiring of former Miami (OH) athletic director Brad Bates as its newest Director of Athletics, the school announced in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon in the Yawkey Center. Bates replaces longtime AD Gene DeFilippo, who retired at the end of September.

Bates, who graduated from the University of Michigan and received a doctorate from Vanderbilt University, arrived at Miami back in 2002 and has been "instrumental in not only upholding Miami's athletic tradition but also in ushering Miami athletics into the next generation of intercollegiate athletics," according to MURedHawks.com.

From the Miami website... "Bates' unique vision of developing a Culture of Champions at Miami has made the RedHawk athletic program a model for all intercollegiate athletic programs. During the summer of 2011, Miami University met all the requirements for recertification as a member of Division I."

Boo Corrigan of Amry and former BC football player Quentin Williams were both rumored names in consideration. Prior to joining Miami (OH), Bates was the Senior Associate AD at Vanderbilt and served as a head strength coach at Colorado. Bates and his wife, Michele, currently reside in Oxford, Ohio.