The Illinois AD Search

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#276      
Lake Camelot
I went through this process last year as a Bradley fan. It remains to be seen if the basketball coach and AD hired work out. But I am pretty confident they will. Especially the AD I am pretty sure was a great hire. What he had was a connection to the school in that he grew up in Peoria. The hires were made fast and the BB coach had time to sign 10 freshmen to the basketball team during recruiting.
I was hopeful Illinois had someone in mind and were working behind the scenes to line things up. If they really are a long ways off from making the hire (Like it sounds) Then I am very disappointed. I don't see this ending well as far as football goes. If they plan on getting rid of Groce then they plenty of time on that. But I mainly follow football. I think if we can't hire a coach by a week or two before the signing date. It is going to bury the program even more. That was the good break in getting rid of Beckman when we did. We had a head start in getting things lined up. Why did they wait to get rid of Thomas?
I am really angry now. They need to move quickly. This is stupid.
 
#277      
Joel Goodson
Lake Camelot said:
I went through this process last year as a Bradley fan. It remains to be seen if the basketball coach and AD hired work out. But I am pretty confident they will. Especially the AD I am pretty sure was a great hire. What he had was a connection to the school in that he grew up in Peoria. The hires were made fast and the BB coach had time to sign 10 freshmen to the basketball team during recruiting.
I was hopeful Illinois had someone in mind and were working behind the scenes to line things up. If they really are a long ways off from making the hire (Like it sounds) Then I am very disappointed. I don't see this ending well as far as football goes. If they plan on getting rid of Groce then they plenty of time on that. But I mainly follow football. I think if we can't hire a coach by a week or two before the signing date. It is going to bury the program even more. That was the good break in getting rid of Beckman when we did. We had a head start in getting things lined up. Why did they wait to get rid of Thomas?
I am really angry now. They need to move quickly. This is stupid.
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Do you think the people who are making the decision don't understand the urgency? How dumb do you think they are? Just because we little people are in the dark, doesn't mean nothing is happening.
 
#278      
Lake Camelot
Joel Goodson said:
Do you think the people who are making the decision don't understand the urgency? How dumb do you think they are? Just because we little people are in the dark, doesn't mean nothing is happening.
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You may be right. But my honest answer to your question as of now is. I think they don't know what they are doing. Or possibly they think it is better to go slow and get it right. I know many people will agree with that. But I don't really. I think speed is very important. Talk of a search committee alarms me. (For the AD)
 
#280      
Mark Seifert
Shampoobanana said:
She did say she was going to work with a search committee. Maybe not a firm like Parker Search but a search committee.

Dumb move when you already know the guy you want.
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I think there's a couple things in play here...

1) People get hung up on the Search in "Search Committee" but the name is an intentional misdirect. Those firms are 99% vetting and 1% search. You want to find out if your candidates are in the habit of riding Harleys with other employees of the Athletic Dept at previous stops, for example.

2) The 1% search is still important, as you have to be able to defend your choice within your organization, no matter what the circumstance. "We put together a list, we checked 'em all out, this is FOR SURE our guy."
 
#281      
BZuppke
As to the combo AD/football coach - it didn't work well under Mackovic. Each job is too demanding.
 
#282      
blmillini
Joel Goodson said:
Do you think the people who are making the decision don't understand the urgency? How dumb do you think they are? Just because we little people are in the dark, doesn't mean nothing is happening.
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Probably not the best question to ask given recent history.
 
#284      
ILLINIWEK86
I'm usually about the most optimistic Illini fan in the room, most places that I go. That said, I can't really blame any decent AD, or Head Coach to want to walk into this mess. Never was optimistic about Rick George coming here, and I honestly didn't see why anybody else really was? He played football here? He is an alumnus? Big deal. That doesn't mean anything. The reality here is that it's going to have to be someone willing to take on a wildfire with a bucket of water, and a very large, impatient, and irrational fanbase. Someone willing to be told no a hundred times by any decent coach because they know the administration is always going to put academics above the biggest moneymaker for the institution. They will have to listen to the previously mentioned fanbase tell them Chicago must be locked up etc, etc. It's an unenviable position surrounded by even more unlikable, and unrealistic individuals. Maybe our best days of athletics are behind us? Who knows?
 
#285      
FlCowboy94
Lake Camelot said:
You may be right. But my honest answer to your question as of now is. I think they don't know what they are doing. Or possibly they think it is better to go slow and get it right. I know many people will agree with that. But I don't really. I think speed is very important. Talk of a search committee alarms me. (For the AD)
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Queen Amidala: I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee!
( from Star Wars I phantom menace)

Me: we did not become Illinois fans to suffer and die ( figuratively ) while they discuss the search for a new AD in a committee! Lol
 
#287      
ILLINIWEK86
Second and Chalmers said:
Oh. Freaking. Please.

Get out of here with that nonsense.

We are, at this point, a small loyal and dedicated fanbase deeply aware of how big the hill to climb is.
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Having millions of fans, and alumni spread throughout the country would be considered large. Impatient in the fact that it would take any decent coach or AD more than three, or four years to right the wrongs of more than a decade of ineptitude. Irrational in the fact that there are actually many that carry an over entitled sense that we SHOULD be of any national relevancy, when none of our major revenue sports has won a national title since what, world war 2? Basketball has came close only twice, and football has never even came close since then. Let's not act like we are on the cusp of greatness when we can barely field teams that are barely worth watching. It's going to take a little consistency among personel from the top, to the bottom MANY years to actually build something that is REALLY worth a crap. I don't see how so many people can obliviously look past that. You need administrative backing to have a solid athletic program. That is far from the case here at Illinois, and since the elimination of the bridge program it has been a slow, painful fall into mediocrity. It's the truth whether you want to admit it, or not. People refuse to believe that a lot of today's better coaches had a lot of hard times at the schools they have built into winning programs, but in today's world of instant gratification people don't care about building. "We are Illinois, we deserve better than this!" Bull crap! You have to give people time to build. Illinois hasn't earned anything, and sadly everybody sees that except for a strong majority of this fanbase. The only thing this fanbase deserves is a reality check, and that's exactly what we are getting. Get on board, or go root for Indiana. This is going to be a long road to get to where everybody wants to be. Get used to it.
 
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#288      
GameOfThrows
ILLINIWEK86 said:
Having millions of fans, and alumni spread throughout the country would be considered large. Impatient in the fact that it would take any decent coach or AD more than three, or four years to right the wrongs of more than a decade of ineptitude. Irrational in the fact that there are actually many that carry an over entitled sense that we SHOULD be of any national relevancy, when none of our major revenue sports has won a national title since what, world war 2? Basketball has came close only twice, and football has never even came close since then. Let's not act like we are on the cusp of greatness when we can barely field teams that are barely worth watching. It's going to take a little consistency among personel from the top, to the bottom MANY years to actually build something that is REALLY worth a crap. I don't see how so many people can obliviously look past that. You need administrative backing to have a solid athletic program. That is far from the case here at Illinois, and since the elimination of the bridge program it has been a slow, painful fall into mediocrity. It's the truth whether you want to admit it, or not. People refuse to believe that a lot of today's better coaches had a lot of hard times at the schools they have built into winning programs, but in today's world of instant gratification people don't care about building. "We are Illinois, we deserve better than this!" Bull crap! You have to give people time to build. Illinois hasn't earned anything, and sadly everybody sees that except for a strong majority of this fanbase. The only thing this fanbase deserves is a reality check, and that's exactly what we are getting. Get on board, or go root for Indiana. This is going to be a long road to get to where everybody wants to be. Get used to it.
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Truth.

Especially true for football.

I think most fans are rational and know it will take time to build a winner. The good news is Beckman was actually building something resembling a program so if we get this hire correct, there is already a foundation in place from which to build.. And in basketball, if we get the correct hire we can be competitive in a few years

It takes money though to hire really good coaches. It's ironic that we have this supposed world class institution, but leadership that doesn't recognize how important football and basketball success are for the marketing of our University. I.E. we have a bunch of stubborn leaders who are oblivious to reality. Hopefully, they have learned their lesson and are willing to change. Great ones adjust, the rest don't.
 
#289      
IlliniJim20
ILLINIWEK86 said:
Having millions of fans, and alumni spread throughout the country would be considered large. Impatient in the fact that it would take any decent coach or AD more than three, or four years to right the wrongs of more than a decade of ineptitude. Irrational in the fact that there are actually many that carry an over entitled sense that we SHOULD be of any national relevancy, when none of our major revenue sports has won a national title since what, world war 2? Basketball has came close only twice, and football has never even came close since then. Let's not act like we are on the cusp of greatness when we can barely field teams that are barely worth watching. It's going to take a little consistency among personel from the top, to the bottom MANY years to actually build something that is REALLY worth a crap. I don't see how so many people can obliviously look past that. You need administrative backing to have a solid athletic program. That is far from the case here at Illinois, and since the elimination of the bridge program it has been a slow, painful fall into mediocrity. It's the truth whether you want to admit it, or not. People refuse to believe that a lot of today's better coaches had a lot of hard times at the schools they have built into winning programs, but in today's world of instant gratification people don't care about building. "We are Illinois, we deserve better than this!" Bull crap! You have to give people time to build. Illinois hasn't earned anything, and sadly everybody sees that except for a strong majority of this fanbase. The only thing this fanbase deserves is a reality check, and that's exactly what we are getting. Get on board, or go root for Indiana. This is going to be a long road to get to where everybody wants to be. Get used to it.
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I think you exaggerating things a bit here.

Yes we have a very large alumni base across the country. However, I would venture to guess a large majority of them don't care about athletics at all, or at best have a passing interest.

I also do not see an entitled pov among alumni, you mention, beyond message boards to be honest. Even then, I see "we should be . . ." comments more as no reason we can't be v entitlement. Heck, most are clamoring for consistent bowl games with occasional Big Ten West title. In basketball, similarly, we want consistent NCAA tournament appearances. We are perhaps a bit more cocky in basketball, because we WERE a consistent force, proving it can be done.

Every fan base will have delusional types who think they should be national champs in every sport. Don't really see that here IMHO.
 
#290      
Sleepy Floyd
Dream scenario: we hire Greg Christopher who worked at Bowling Green and is now AD Xavier he hires Dino and we get Chris Mack to coach basketball.
 
#291      
BZuppke
We need a strong and experienced AD - strong to deal with an administration that is ambivalent to athletics and experienced to know what to do. I don't think some of the inexperienced names mentioned here will get anything done. Not to pick on him but what does Tommy Michaels know about big time TV contracts, high finance and hiring a power 5 football coach. It would be unfair to him to put him in this position at this time in his career.
 
#292      
TomB
Mark Seifert said:
I think there's a couple things in play here...

1) People get hung up on the Search in "Search Committee" but the name is an intentional misdirect. Those firms are 99% vetting and 1% search. You want to find out if your candidates are in the habit of riding Harleys with other employees of the Athletic Dept at previous stops, for example.

2) The 1% search is still important, as you have to be able to defend your choice within your organization, no matter what the circumstance. "We put together a list, we checked 'em all out, this is FOR SURE our guy."
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Search committee, not search firm. Two different things. People here don't seem to understand how that process works. An explanation seems in order, with the assumption that the DIA conforms to the same hiring rules as the rest of the University.

When hiring in the university for a position, a search committee is formed. This normally consists of three people. University employees usually from the same department. I imagine this one would include the interim chancellor and a couple people from the DIA. Note that a committee is formed even if there is a candidate identified beforehand.

Their first job is to make the job description. Usually the committee would prepare a job description and decide on advertising the position. I think for these hires that would not apply as the job description exists and candidates will be contacted rather than resumes sought.

Next, they agree on candidates to interview from the pool of applicants. They may talk to one candidate of five. Depends on the position and candidate pool. This is not normally a big deal. Just a short meeting. Probably less in this case as they will select the best candidate(s) from those that expressed an interest when contacted.

Then they interview the candidates as a group. This can be face to face or over skype/telephone.

Next, they meet and decide which (if any) of the candidates to offer the job to. This is not time consuming. If there is a clear candidate, it takes five minutes. If there are multiple good candidates and differing opinions, no more than an hour.

At that point the committee's job is done. The committee is not involved in salary discussions or contract negotiations, just candidate selection.

Honestly, a committee does not slow anything down. The hard part is getting good candidates to talk to. For typical positions you would advertise. For these, you might engage a search firm or use personal contacts to invite someone.
 
#293      
sdillini
TomB said:
Search committee, not search firm. Two different things. People here don't seem to understand how that process works. An explanation seems in order, with the assumption that the DIA conforms to the same hiring rules as the rest of the University.

When hiring in the university for a position, a search committee is formed. This normally consists of three people. University employees usually from the same department. I imagine this one would include the interim chancellor and a couple people from the DIA. Note that a committee is formed even if there is a candidate identified beforehand.

Their first job is to make the job description. Usually the committee would prepare a job description and decide on advertising the position. I think for these hires that would not apply as the job description exists and candidates will be contacted rather than resumes sought.

Next, they agree on candidates to interview from the pool of applicants. They may talk to one candidate of five. Depends on the position and candidate pool. This is not normally a big deal. Just a short meeting. Probably less in this case as they will select the best candidate(s) from those that expressed an interest when contacted.

Then they interview the candidates as a group. This can be face to face or over skype/telephone.

Next, they meet and decide which (if any) of the candidates to offer the job to. This is not time consuming. If there is a clear candidate, it takes five minutes. If there are multiple good candidates and differing opinions, no more than an hour.

At that point the committee's job is done. The committee is not involved in salary discussions or contract negotiations, just candidate selection.

Honestly, a committee does not slow anything down. The hard part is getting good candidates to talk to. For typical positions you would advertise. For these, you might engage a search firm or use personal contacts to invite someone.
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You are significantly over-simplifying this. What you write is possible, but probably unrealistic best-case from a speed perspective. You also could have 12 people on the committee as easily as you could have 3, with conflicting agendas and a lot of process and rules being established. The UI is a big bureaucracy. Bureaucracies + committees generally equal slow. Plus don't discount the negative of the "who's in charge here" aspect of the current confusion. We will quickly in the middle of football coach hiring season, with no one to show a potential candidate that this is the chain of command you'll be reporting to. It's a catastrophe.
 
#294      
Shampoobanana
Committee:
A group of people positioned or occurring closely together.

Cluster:
A group of similar things positioned or occurring closely together.
 
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#295      
jmwillini
I have been told a cluster is something completely different. Lol
 
#300      
Hoppy2105
That tweet last week said we would hear something in the next couple days right?
 
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