Partnering to Grow Tourism
Arizona Athletics & MTCVB
By Steve Rivera
Photo: 2008 USA Volleball Camp
Photo: Courtesy Arizona Athletics

James Francis attended the University of Arizona on a football scholarship in the early 1990s. Now, 20 years later, he’s one of the higher ups in Arizona Athletics, a senior associate athletic director.

Tucson and the UA grew on him. He started a family and later his mom and dad moved here. Not that “play and stay” has become a catch phrase, but it isn’t uncommon to see many student-athletes – or students for that matter – come to UA and stay in Tucson.

The athletes are just more visible because of the sports that brought them here.