A 1985 MSU graduate and an associate athletic director for the Spartans since 1995, Hollis will take over for Mason on Jan. 1 as the school's 18th director of athletics.

"I was told, 'It's going to be like drinking out of a water faucet, and all of a sudden there's a fire hose coming at you,"' Hollis said. "I'm fortunate to have been at Michigan State and been close to a lot of decisions."

Previously, Hollis worked for commissioner Joe Kearney with the Western Athletic Conference for nearly nine years. He also spent two years as assistant and associate athletic director at Pittsburgh.

After returning to MSU, Hollis had spectacular successes with the "Cold War" hockey game against Michigan in Spartan Stadium that drew 74,554 fans, and the "BasketBowl" matchup with Kentucky in Detroit's Ford Field that drew 78,129. Both events set attendance records for their sports.