Nick Floyd's office window from the third floor northeast side of the Ward Sports Medicine has a view of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, the Murphy Center and Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. He can even see the Pirate statue on the plaza below.

The view is appropriate as Floyd oversees the East Carolina athletics program as interim athletics director. Floyd takes over following Mike Hamrick's move to the AD post at Nevada-Las Vegas. The ECU AD's office is next door to Floyd's but he will continue to work out of his own office, that of senior associate athletics director.

In appointing Floyd as AD on an interim basis, Chancellor William V. Muse said the search for a permanent AD wouldn't begin until after the 2003 football season. Obviously, Muse has sufficient confidence in Floyd that there is no urgency from that standpoint to initiate a search immediately.

"My responsibility will be to provide leadership to the department of athletics and keep the programs moving forward in a positive fashion and doing the things that everyone has come to expect in Pirate athletics," Floyd said. "Basically, I'll be making normal decisions athletics directors make and performing normal functions of the position."

One might wonder why an AD search won't get underway immediately. Some have indicated that a superior pool of candidates may be available later. A four-month delay could also save about $60,000 in salary, based on Hamrick's annual base income of $180,000. One wonders if there is someone waiting in the wings who has expressed a desire to Muse for an extended timetable.

The biggest issue for ECU athletics, that of an improved conference affiliation, shouldn't be drastically affected by the circumstances of an AD transition The Big East will probably add Louisville and Cincinnati before giving ECU realistic consideration, according to sources. With the external issue of conference affiliation on simmer, there are still internal areas to advance.

"There are decisions to be made on a daily basis," Floyd said. "There are projects in the works — the new baseball stadium, the new Pirate Club ticket office and other smaller facilities projects that must go forward. Those types of decisions must continue to be made. We want to continue to do everything to keep the program moving forward in a first class manner."

Floyd said he will delegate some matters that he would normally handle in his position as senior associate AD so that he can attend to the responsibilities of AD.

"Obviously, I have to fulfill all the requirements of the athletics director's position." Floyd said. "Other members of the staff will assume added responsibilities as well."

Floyd came too ECU in June of 2001. His full title is senior associate athletics director for administration and Olympic sports at East Carolina. Floyd was previously an associate commissioner for Conference USA, serving as the league's chief financial officer for three years. The desire of his wife, Elizabeth, to return to a warmer climate from Chicago, was a driving force in Floyd's decision to come to ECU.

Floyd was involved in the negotiation of C-USA's television agreement and development of bowl ties. He also served as director of the C-USA men's basketball tournament.

Floyd graduated from Clemson in 1982 and received his MBA from Ole Miss.

Floyd's father, Ralph, was athletics director at Indiana after serving as an associate AD at Clemson. Nick Floyd has 17 years of experience in athletics administration, including five as senior associate athletics director at Southern Miss before joining the C-USA staff.

At Southern Miss, Floyd served as the athletics department's chief financial and administrative officer. He coordinated football scheduling and oversaw the construction of a new baseball stadium. He managed a budget expansion from $2.7 million in 1986 to $9.5 million in 1999.

He also developed a friendship and respect for a Golden Eagles defensive coordinator named John Thompson during his time in Hattiesburg, Miss.

The Floyds have two children, Suzanne and Nixon.

Floyd hasn't been mentioned prominently among possible AD candidates at ECU but shouldn't be ruled out.

"I'm not going to speculate about the future at this point in time," he said. "I'm just filling in at this point and doing what needs to be done in this position."

Floyd said the men's basketball schedule was in the process of being finalized. The Pirates are expected to open the season at home against Campbell on Nov. 22, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. ECU may have as many as 17 home games for the 2003-04 season.

"We're still working on one or two non-conference games," Floyd said.