Klamath Falls, Ore. – Dr. Chris Maples will be stepping down this June after serving as Oregon Tech President for the past 8 years.
President Chris Maples has long joked that his career path would hinge on the retirement of O.I.T. Men’s Basketball Coach Danny Miles. “I’ve said ever since I got here that if Danny left, I wasn’t going to stay around,” said Maples. In reality, Maples says his 8 years at Oregon Tech is simply long enough. “Because it’s really time to go,” notes Maples, “I never wanted to be one of those guys that was around 15, 20 years from now, and people think, ‘He should have left 3 years ago’.”
Maples’ last day as president is June 30th. “The board is going to work together to identify hopefully and interim starting July first, so we can have continuity,” said University Board Secretary Sandra Fox, “And in the meantime, probably look for a search firm to help us find a permanent president.”
Ironically, Maples is on a committee searching for a new president for Southern Oregon University. “We have a lot of applicants,” said Maples, “The good, high quality applicants. I’m really excited – S.O.U. is going to get a really good president out of this.”
Maples points to completion of the Martha Anne Dow Center, construction of a field of solar panels, and expansion of the school’s geothermal system as a few of his high points in office. He said, “There’s a lot I would never have anticipated honestly in an 8 year run.”
Maples has simple advice for his successor, “To take care of an institution that is loved, and revered by everybody who’s come through these doors.”
Maples says it’s unclear exactly what he’ll be doing next, as he doesn’t have a specific job lined up. He is the sixth person to serve as president since the school opened in 1947.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.