MADISON Wis.

Services have been scheduled Wednesday for Douglas Beard, a Maine native who became one of the senior administrators of the University of Wisconsin-Madison athletic department.

Beard, 46, died at his Stoughton home Friday night, according to the death notice from Olson-Holzhuter-Cress Funeral and Cremation Service. No cause was given.

Beard served as senior associate athletic director at UW-Madison, overseeing operations of the university's 23 sports programs, and had been on the staff since 2001. Before that, he was with the UW-Stout from 1987-89 and UW-Milwaukee from 1989-2001.

At UW-Milwaukee, Beard played a key role as the school went from the NAIA to the NCAA Division I level and became a power in the Horizon League.

"Everyone in our department is shocked and greatly saddened at the news of Doug's passing," Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement. "Doug was a quality person and someone we all leaned on."

Beard was named earlier this month as 2007 Manager of the Year by the College Athletic Business Management Association. The award is for making outstanding contributions to the profession of athletic business management.

Beard directly supervised the men's and women's hockey programs, event operations, food and beverage services, guest services, human resources and sports medicine units. The hockey programs won three national championships in the past two years, including back-to-back national titles by the women's program and a men's title in 2006.

Beard, originally from Kennebunkport, Maine, graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1985 and earned a master's degree in athletic administration from Kent State University.

Survivors include his wife Patricia and daughter Lindsay. The notice also mentioned Beard's devotion to his beloved dog, Comet.

The funeral was scheduled at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Olson-Holzhuter-Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton, preceded by visitation from 4-8 p.m.

- Associated Press