The Illinois AD Search

[TomB]

Yep, and we have no heavy hitters on our committee that can do that. Nobody that carries any weight.

Your "heavy hitters" don't need to be on the committee. In fact, they might function better if they are not.

And, we're so dumb we actually put a coach on the committee even though she was named in one of the lawsuits. Does anybody at Illinois understand public relations, or even know what it is?

Which coach would you put on the committee that is not actively in season? Perhaps she was the coach that had the time available in her schedule.

Here's Jeremy Werner on Michigan's AD search committee:



So Michigan has Jim Hackett - the guy who hired Jim Harbaugh - leading their committee. We have an animal science professor. Yep, that's pretty similar.

So the difference is that they included the interim AD and we didn't. Sounds like a favorable comparison. Also, Hackett has no interest in being with Michigan long term.

 

[ijustkrushalot]

I am still concerned about the lame duck status of the chancellor... in an ideal world the search committee would compliment the chancellor and help screen applicants before a decision was made (the BOT meeting should never be more than a rubber stamp)

to me, actually identifying potential AD's is an issue... Babs can't do that, the committee isn't really set up for that either... this is actually where having a search firm is useful because a decent one could help find who is looking to move up. My concern is that they're going to be sitting in a conference room calling the Colorado Athletic Department, and then after being hung up on calling down to Charleston to see what Tom Michaels is up to. (it won't be that much of a farce, but you get the point). I don't think you can expect a volunteer board to cull all 360 athletic departments and know who's a riser. Hopefully those people apply for the job (they'll obviously know about it) but being able to made a connection helps.

Where I work we've used similar formats where we have an interview panel that is made up of residents and stakeholders, and a separate that is made up of employees (both under the individual and in other departments). It works well and I think there is very real value to having a booster, a coach, an athlete, etc sit in a room and size up each of the finalists... they also exist to lend credibility to the final choice.

If they will be used to do that, this is a good move (it's too bad we didn't start this back in September/October)... if they're expected to do most of the legwork and do 80% of the work once HR drops some resumes on a table, I'm a bit worried.

 

[Dan]

Interim AD won't pursue full-time job
http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/...-04/interim-ad-wont-pursue-full-time-job.html

 

[Second and Chalmers]

this is actually where having a search firm is useful

Blasphemy! He's a witch!

 

[TomB]

I am friendly with Dan Flannell and am glad that he's a part of this committee. To say that he bleeds orange and blue is an understatement, and he is a very intelligent and well connected man.

I would love to see a Colangelo type involved, definitely. Don't know why there isn't more of an athletic representation on the committee. That's my beef.

Of the eight people on the committee, 2 are players (past of present), one is a coach, two are DIA employees. How much more of an athletic representation should there be?

Oh, and the chair has been involved in the athletic department for the last fifteen years.

As for why no basketball or football representatives, think about it:

1) These are two high profile programs who have been underperforming. You certainly don't want Cubit or his staff having too much influence over hiring the person that decides if they keep their jobs. Ditto the basketball staff.

2) Do you really want to put a current football player in the position of influencing a hiring decision that affects his coach's job? Think about THAT pressure. (Softball coach was just hired. Presumably her job is not at risk at the moment.)

3) The basketball staff REALLY needs to concentrate on what's happening on the court at this point.

4) Football staff is (hopefully) busy recruiting and in and out of town.

 

[chrisc]

Can't win huh? We've got concerns over who's chairing the committee because of how it looks. We've got concerns over an engaged booster who donates the money back to the program.

I'm pretty sure at the level that we are talking everyone will have something that doesn't look quite right.

Unfortunately due to how this has been handled to this point with Cubit and the whole interim administration, I feel people are ready to pick apart every bit of the process in order to continue have it fit the narrative that the entire process is flawed.

I wonder if people would have the same degree of scrutiny if the other parts of the process had been adequate.

Is the committee perfect? No. Would any of you want to wait an extra two weeks in order for the committee to be fully vetted and alternates identified when the folks originally identified didn't pan out? I am sure the answer would also be no.

I think some of you need to just pump the brakes on this. Plenty to pick apart outside of the committee IMO.

Hey, take it easy on the sane, reasonable thinking! We are supposed to be bashing and complaining about everything right now.

 

[TomB]

to me, actually identifying potential AD's is an issue... Babs can't do that, the committee isn't really set up for that either... this is actually where having a search firm is useful because a decent one could help find who is looking to move up. My concern is that they're going to be sitting in a conference room calling the Colorado Athletic Department, and then after being hung up on calling down to Charleston to see what Tom Michaels is up to. (it won't be that much of a farce, but you get the point). I don't think you can expect a volunteer board to cull all 360 athletic departments and know who's a riser. Hopefully those people apply for the job (they'll obviously know about it) but being able to made a connection helps.

....

If they will be used to do that, this is a good move (it's too bad we didn't start this back in September/October)... if they're expected to do most of the legwork and do 80% of the work once HR drops some resumes on a table, I'm a bit worried.

The committee could engage a search firm. That would be a good idea, actually.

Normally, committee members rank the candidates based upon their resumes, cover letters, or any other information they provided. They then meet and compare notes and decide which candidates they want to interview. Usually, this is pretty easy, but then most committees consist of three people, not eight. I think a search firm may help this process out a lot.

 

[Illinifan1951]

If you have never served on a search committee in the education setting there are a great number of rules to be followed. This committee has the approval of Coach Henson so that is good enough for me.

 

[KRSAS]

If you have never served on a search committee in the education setting there are a great number of rules to be followed. This committee has the approval of Coach Henson so that is good enough for me.

I will always despise search committees for athletic positions. Most times the "nice" guy isn't the one you need leading your team.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Dan Bernstein ‏@dan_bernstein 10m10 minutes ago
Source: a group of U. of I. trustees is protesting to the president over this preposterous search committee. "Infighting is intense."

Dan Bernstein ‏@dan_bernstein 7m7 minutes ago
Illinois source describes athletics situation as "Mass confusion. Everything going on is a joke."

Bernstein is usually pretty reliably misinformed, just passing this along.

No use crying over spilled milk at this point. The damage is done. One wonders where this outcry was when it could have actually helped something.

 

[illini809]

Why does everyone want Rick George?
I wouldn't call Colorado's athletic program a powerhouse by any means.
Why would Rick George be better than, lets say, Tom Michael?

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Why would Rick George be better than, lets say, Tom Michael?

Because people with deep pockets have made clear that they would be deeper still with George running the show. Ignore his resume. That is where the George stuff is coming from.

 

[EJ33]

Sounds like a favorable comparison. Also, Hackett has no interest in being with Michigan long term.

So, comparing Hackett to an animal science professor is a favorable comparison? Hackett played football at Michigan, was CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation, and made one of the best coaching hires in recent memory. Our guys is an animal science professor. What about those two people is remotely similar?

Hackett's interest in being AD is irrelevant. His leadership and presence on the committee will help them enormously in landing a high caliber AD.

 

[SoxFanCPA]

Bernstein is usually pretty reliably misinformed, just passing this along.

No use crying over spilled milk at this point. The damage is done. One wonders where this outcry was when it could have actually helped something.

Actually Bernstein is usually spot on.

 

[Crazy Joe Davola]

Did the facts she tweeted include this:
He is not some guy they pulled out of the ivory tower who has no clue what a football is. He's actually a pretty appropriate choice.

Being named in a lawsuit by an athlete is pretty relevant. It becomes even more relevant when you realize that the man whose job she is helping replace was also named in that lawsuit.

 

[EJ33]

Why would Rick George be better than, lets say, Tom Michael?

Because there is a 10x difference between what great people can do vs. what "quality" people can do.

George stepped into Colorado and immediately began raising more money than they've ever raised. Lots of people seem to think that he is great at what he does. His resume is miles beyond what Tom Michael has ever done. He loves Illinois and apparently alums with deep pockets love him.

Why do you think Tom Michael or Josh Whitman or Sean Frazier is good enough to do the incredibly hard job of lifting this athletic program out of the basement?

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Why does everyone want Rick George?
I wouldn't call Colorado's athletic program a powerhouse by any means.
Why would Rick George be better than, lets say, Tom Michael?

The rest of his resume.

 

[EJ33]

The rest of his resume.

:clappy:

Also, it's not his fault that their athletic program isn't a powerhouse. He's just starting and they're pretty darn happy with him. Colorado, like Illinois, is a really challenging job.

 

[IlliniOX08]

Why do you think Tom Michael or Josh Whitman or Sean Frazier is good enough to do the incredibly hard job of lifting this athletic program out of the basement?

Michael & Whitman - previous experience in the Illinois DIA (Is that really a good thing?), and current experience at a D-III school and FCS school, respectively.

Frazier - He played football at Alabama, where he was a four year letterwinner and part of an SEC title team. Was in Wisconsin's DIA for six years and progressed up to serve as Barry Alvarez' Chief of Staff. In his second year at NIU the annual fund there grew by 24%. Has experience in dealing with Chicagoland as a result of his experience at NIU and overall the prospects on him are high.

If it's not Rick George, I certainly hope it's Sean Frazier. The more I've read on him the more I wish he'd be part of the conversation. Guy has real, relevant experience with athletic programs considerably more accomplished and competent than ours.

 

[Jkat00]

Mark Tupper ‏@MarkTupper 2h2 hours ago
Glad to see Sullivan's Dan Flannell is on the search committee. He's a smart man who won't settle. Wants #Illini to be great. #dechr

Jeff Johnson ‏@therealJeffJ97 3m3 minutes ago
Best hire on the search committee, Flannell the retired judge, real smart guy, understands Illini sports, need for an Illini guy good

 

[BZuppke]

I agree with you OX, but I would rank Whitman miles ahead of Michael. Whitman is extremely intelligent and while he doesn't have the resume yet, I think he will be impressive in time. I don't know why anyone would even mention Tommy Michael as AD for a power 5 school. There is absolutely nothing on his resume that lends himself to this job.

 

[BZuppke]

Also, Bernstein may have some sources, but this sounds over the top. I doubt very much that Wilson is doing anything in isolation. I'm sure she's working with Trustees and Killeen along the way and they are well aware and comfortable with her forming the committee which as some have said is protocol at the University.

 

[IlliniJim20]

Yes. I haven't figured out how to embed tweets on here, but that's what they said when quoting Shannon's tweet.

TomB had a great explanation for the process and how it works. That's fine as far as it goes. But to an outside observer, all they see is 'animal science professor chairs AD search committee at Illinois' and everyone laughs. This once again shows Bard's utter lack of understanding that perception is very, very, very important in college athletics.

Thanks, that's what I thought, and also what I was planning on replying.

On the one hand, perception is reality. On the other hand, utterly amazed at what can pass for "journalism/reporting." My initial reaction was also one of "wth" until the TomB post. However, that is just as a fan, not as an Internet presence whom has multiple followers.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

On the one hand, perception is reality. On the other hand, utterly amazed at what can pass for "journalism/reporting."

Yeah, facts, imagine that.

 

[217sports]

Bernstein is just stirring it up. On the surface it may look like a so so search committee but I ensure you they have a great group here.