SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — William Martin, a member of the Wittenberg University class of 1962 and the university’s board of directors, has been named acting president of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), effective immediately. Martin is the director of athletics at the University of Michigan and had been serving the USOC since 1995, most recently as vice president-secretariat until USOC president Marty Mankamyer resigned earlier this month.

“Bill is a man of tremendous integrity who is a smart business manager, and has earned the respect of coaches, players and staff as well as students, faculty and Regents,” said University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman.

In accordance with the USOC Constitution, the current vice president-secretariat will act as president until the election of a new president by the USOC board of directors, after the USOC executive committee makes a nomination. The next full board meeting of the USOC is in April. This is a volunteer position, and Martin has no plans to leave the University of Michigan.

Recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole U.S. agency, the USOC is the custodian of the U.S. Olympic Movement and provides world-class support for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including training, entering and underwriting all expenses for U.S. teams in both the Olympic and Pan American Games. The USOC also supports the bids of U.S. cities to host both the winter and summer Olympic or Pan American Games.

Martin, who majored in economics at Wittenberg, earned his M.B.A. from the University of Michigan and a graduate degree in economics from the University of Stockholm, Sweden. He is also the president of the United States Sailing Foundation, and he founded a Superball 3-on-3 basketball tournament benefiting area schools in Michigan. In 2000, the Ann Arbor News honored Martin for his community efforts by naming him its “Citizen of the Year.”

Martin joined the Wittenberg Board of Directors in 1994, and his term continues through 2005.