Associate athletic director Harold Gibson, a fixture in the athletic department at Washington State University, has resigned to become president of the Copper Bowl.

Gibson, reached Wednesday night at his home in Moscow, Idaho, said his primary responsibility will be finding a long-term title sponsor for the college football game, held annually in Tucson, Ariz.

The 43-year-old Gibson said his new contract will be open-ended, with job security tied directly to the bowl’s financial solvency.

The Copper Bowl has not had a president in the past, Gibson said. Larry Brown will remain the Copper Bowl’s executive director, he added, but will focus more on community relations.

“What they’ve asked me to do is come in and run it administratively, which will free Larry up to concentrate on some areas that can generate additional revenues for the bowl,” Gibson said.

Gibson has served as controller, assistant athletic director and associate athletic director since being hired by WSU in May 1981. He has been responsible for overseeing the department’s business and financial affairs, including radio and television contracts. Prior to coming to WSU, Gibson spent four years as business manager for the Moscow School District.

Gibson, married with two daughters, said he did consulting work for the Copper Bowl in April, but hadn’t been in contact until recently, when bowl chairman Jack Camper called.

WSU defeated Utah 31-28 in the 1992 Copper Bowl.

Gibson, whose last day at WSU is Oct. 4, said he is most proud of the athletic department’s fiscal solvency and commitment to gender-equity.

“I certainly don’t take credit for it, but I was just proud to be a part of it,” he said.

, DataTimes