TUCSON, Ariz. -- Washington athletic director Scott Woodward pulled the trigger -- but it wasn't on football coach Tyrone Willingham.

Not even three weeks into his tenure, Woodward has dismissed Marie Tuite from her positions as senior associate athletic director for sports programs and senior women's administrator.

The athletic department is likely heading for a serious shakeup with vacancies in several senior offices.

In addition to the senior women's sports administrator spot, the director in charge of football and men's basketball is open, as is the head of the fund development team. Ken Winstead resigned Sept. 24 after nine years in the position.

Tuite, who oversaw 18 of Washington's athletic programs and directly supervised the assistant athletic director for sport operations, had been at Washington for 14 years.

Woodward, who is in Tucson for the Huskies-Arizona football game, said he informed his staff Friday afternoon and is waiting to learn if Tuite will resign or be fired.

Tuite did not return phone calls Saturday.

Woodward served as the university's interim AD from Feb. 1 until Sept. 16, when the interim tag was removed.

In Woodward's e-mail to athletic department staffers, he wrote, in part: "I have decided to seek a new direction for our Olympic Sports programs and I have informed Marie Tuite that I will be replacing her with a new Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Programs."

Woodward also wrote that he has begun a search and plans to have a replacement in the "next few weeks."

The move is somewhat of a surprise given the length of Tuite's tenure.

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