The Illinois AD Search

Second and Chalmers · Dec 16, 2015

Smacko said:
while the search firm does not make a final decision, they are paid to provide guidance and information on candidates.

They are paid to provide exactly as much guidance and information as the client requests. If you're farming out real substantive analysis and decision-making to them, that's a mark of a bad client, not a bad search firm.

Information-gathering and logistics are the core services being provided. That, and plausible deniability for all parties.

Ryllini · Dec 16, 2015

Second and Chalmers said:
Wow, did you see Korn Ferry fax that resume? What a job. Set the scan setting darker too, that's the mark of a real professional. :hand:

(Seriously though, if you're scanning something that's just black-and-white text, you should always set your scanner to the darkest possible setting. Pro tip.)

I don't know why you are coming at me, I clearly included some of the red flags that they have had their hand in while stating what is pretty obvious that they have helped in some big time hire as well. You don't become one of or the absolute leader in their industry or any industry without doing so.

Second and Chalmers · Dec 16, 2015

Ryllini said:
I don't know why you are coming at me, I clearly included some of the red flags that they have had their hand in while stating what is pretty obvious that they have helped in some big time hire as well.

The search firm deserves ZERO credit or blame for the wins-and-losses success of the matches they make. Zero.

A search firm should be measured in terms of their, speed, secrecy, and reach. That's it. If the search firm is involved in getting Urban Meyer to Ohio State and they leak it all over the press, they have failed. If they are involved in Tim Beckman to Illinois and the whole thing is handled delicately and wrapped up quickly, they have succeeded.

217sports · Dec 16, 2015

Smacko said:
You are assuming that an outside search firm will get it right. Search firms are just as capable of screwing the pooch as anyone else.

I know that so might as well get as much help as possible and do as much homework on candidates as possible.

For example, if the rumor of us contacting candidates through school email addresses is true then that would have been avoided with a search firm.

I see no negative in this. I understand that they don't make the final hire but they help expand the list and get as much information on the people on that list.

217sports · Dec 16, 2015

Second and Chalmers said:
The search firm deserves ZERO credit or blame for the wins-and-losses success of the matches they make. Zero.

A search firm should be measured in terms of their, speed, secrecy, and reach. That's it. If the search firm is involved in getting Urban Meyer to Ohio State and they leak it all over the press, they have failed. If they are involved in Tim Beckman to Illinois and the whole thing is handled delicately and wrapped up quickly, they have succeeded.

That is exactly what we need based on all the "leaks" that have been happening which has lead to this whole process being called a mess by how they have been approaching candidates.

Ryllini · Dec 16, 2015

Second and Chalmers said:
The search firm deserves ZERO credit or blame for the wins-and-losses success of the matches they make. Zero.

A search firm should be measured in terms of their, speed, secrecy, and reach. That's it. If the search firm is involved in getting Urban Meyer to Ohio State and they leak it all over the press, they have failed. If they are involved in Tim Beckman to Illinois and the whole thing is handled delicately and wrapped up quickly, they have succeeded.

I never said I would blame or give them credit for anything. Just stating what little is known about them and who they been connected to during searches. It is obviously public knowledge or the NG wouldn't have that information to pass out to their audience. So who is at fault that they can be linked to those previous searches, the firm, the News Gazette or the institutions?

Second and Chalmers · Dec 16, 2015

Ryllini said:
I never said I would blame or give them credit for anything.

Ryllini said:
They have had their hand in the Texas AD hiring, fired two years later, in the hiring of Steve Sarkisian, fired for being drunk, and the hiring of Herman who was fired in an admissions scandal.

They may have hit numerous hires out of the park, and it is obvious they have

Come on now.

You echoed what even people who know better tend to create when discussing this topic, the vague sense that a search firm made a substantive contribution to any hire in which they were retained. That is EXTREMELY misleading.

Ryllini · Dec 16, 2015

Second and Chalmers said:
Come on now.

You echoed what even people who know better tend to create when discussing this topic, the vague sense that a search firm made a substantive contribution to any hire in which they were retained. That is EXTREMELY misleading.

Then it is a poorly written article that probably should be taken go. The NG gave that impression even by saying THEY were in the news most recently about the Texas AD firing.

We don't know what advice was giving by the firm, but obviously the NG felt compelled to convey that message.

Second and Chalmers · Dec 16, 2015

Ryllini said:
Then it is a poorly written article that probably should be taken go. The NG gave that impression even by saying THEY were in the news most recently about the Texas AD firing.

We don't know what advice was giving by the firm, but obviously the NG felt compelled to convey that message.

I agree, the article should either not contain those details, or should address them with a more thorough explanation of what a search firm's role generally is.

To the extent that you were just summarizing the article for the benefit of those who can't read it, sorry for jumping down your throat. But the message that is in that article needs forceful rebutting.

AutoPoster 3000 · Dec 16, 2015

thatguy92 said:
Remember when I said it was going to take a while? Hurdles have been cleared and now the ball is rolling. Whether you like the plan or not, it is being executed in the exact way it was designed - in order to have the best shot at getting the best candidate, not simply trying to quickly fill the vacancy. Still fans must remember the general population does not know most of what is going on. I am encouraged by seeing that things are going according to plan which IMO still has the top candidates that most smart fans want as the end goal.

A hurdle that held them up for six weeks from making a decision whether to retain a search firm? And how do these Tribune articles fit in the plan? There are also advantages to proceeding expeditiously. For example, you minimize the risks of further embarrassing an already beleaguered institution with open dissension and public mutiny among its inner circle.

mattcoldagelli · Dec 16, 2015

Ryllini said:
Then it is a poorly written article that probably should be taken go. The NG gave that impression even by saying THEY were in the news most recently about the Texas AD firing.

We don't know what advice was giving by the firm, but obviously the NG felt compelled to convey that message.

A poorly written article? In the News-Gazette?

[faints]

thatguy92 · Dec 16, 2015

AutoPoster 3000 said:
A hurdle that held them up for six weeks from making a decision whether to retain a search firm? And how do these Tribune articles fit in the plan? There are also advantages to proceeding expeditiously. For example, you minimize the risks of further embarrassing an already beleaguered institution with open dissension and public mutiny among its inner circle.

A six week hurdle? Yes. The tribune articles are largely inaccurate (which isn't a surprise since they're being written by Shannon Ryan). While there are advantages to moving quickly, it really was not an option. And while some inside the institution may currently have their gripes, they won't if things play out as intended.

illinisc · Dec 16, 2015

thatguy92 said:
A six week hurdle? Yes. The tribune articles are largely inaccurate (which isn't a surprise since they're being written by Shannon Ryan). While there are advantages to moving quickly, it really was not an option. And while some inside the institution may currently have their gripes, they won't if things play out as intended.

Interesting. She got into some very detailed specifics about how we've been initiating contact and vetting potential candidates. Typically she wouldn't provide those type of details without multiple credible sources backing her up. I'm guessing you have some sort of information that contradicts her statements about us contacting candidates through their current school's email address?

I would agree with many that Barb Wilson has either no clue as to what she's doing OR she's a mastermind at creating a cloud of smoke. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago she came out and said she wasn't sure if she was going to use a search firm? It just seems funny that this get's announced right after the Trib criticizes the University of conducting its search unprofessionally. Maybe its just a coincidence?

frankfortillini · Dec 16, 2015

Smacko said:
Basically we are paying $140,000 to people who have no skin in the game because the people in charge are too chickenshit or incompetent to make a decision themselves.

+1

I really do not see how Korn Ferry adds any value here. I have worked with them professionally and they are an outstanding search firm but for our new AD?? It's not like there is a huge pool to work through or a difficult network to access.

BZuppke · Dec 16, 2015

thatguy92 said:
A six week hurdle? Yes. The tribune articles are largely inaccurate (which isn't a surprise since they're being written by Shannon Ryan). While there are advantages to moving quickly, it really was not an option. And while some inside the institution may currently have their gripes, they won't if things play out as intended.

I have independently heard the same thing about "hurdles". Apparently politics and bureaucracy are what we're talking about here and it took that much time to work through all of that. This source of mine also has high praise for Wilson despite what her public image sometimes is. "She's committed to doing this right and making a great hire".

Lake Camelot · Dec 16, 2015

217sports said:
$140,000 is nothing to get it right. Should've been done a lot sooner.

I disagree. They may get it right. But I have seen a lower percentage of good hires when search firms are involved. I say you will need that money for another salary and this is a waste.

sigint · Dec 16, 2015

BZuppke said:
I have independently heard the same thing about "hurdles". Apparently politics and bureaucracy are what we're talking about here and it took that much time to work through all of that. This source of mine also has high praise for Wilson despite what her public image sometimes is. "She's committed to doing this right and making a great hire".

These pro-Illini, insider sources seem very myopic to me.

Wilson and Killeen probably do want to "do this right and make a great hire." It would be pure insanity if they did not at least have an idealistic notion of wanting athletic success. However, the way the entire situation was handled going back to when MT was fired is an elephant in the room that should not be ignored. If politics and bureaucracy are going to prevent you from moving in a timely manner on a new AD and football coach, you have to be savvy enough to give yourself enough time to accomplish these things before they need to be accomplished. It's not like the AD situation came out of left field. They had no desire to truly understand the timelines they had to meet, and thus they screwed the people who do care about the program by leaving us with this whole Cubit situation.

But it's all okay because they really want to get the AD hire correct!

Deleted member 3875 · Dec 16, 2015

This search firm has a horrendous track record of bad hies they have coordinated. Are there no other firms that do similar work?

TooHot4Tots · Dec 16, 2015

$140k puppet! Nice

IlliniJim20 · Dec 16, 2015

carmelillini said:
This search firm has a horrendous track record of bad hies they have coordinated. Are there no other firms that do similar work?

Another posted listed several success stories as well. Unfortunately, we live in a society that focuses too often on the negative. Nobody will bat 1.000.

Joel Goodson · Dec 16, 2015

I don't care if they spend $140K, $1.4M, use a Ouija board or a band of chimps, or any combination thereof, to make this decision, as long as it's the right one.

Deleted member 57255 · Dec 16, 2015

Dumb.

mattcoldagelli · Dec 16, 2015

SaltLakeIllini said:
If you are referencing the Shannon Ryan tweet, I can't say that I ever remember her tweeting/reporting something positive in regard to UI athletics.

What was the last positive thing Illini athletics actually did?

frankfortillini · Dec 16, 2015

IlliniJim20 said:
I guess I read that post as positive results for Michigan, Oregon and Virginia. I now see it can be taken either way.

And no, I will never confuse Shannon Ryan and positive Illini articles/tweets :thumb: just not a fan, but I should say no more. Don't want to derail thread.

Perhaps they can add value here and I guess it can't hurt. $140k is not bad considering Korn Ferry can get anywhere from 25% to 100% of the first year salary for major executive placements.

SaltLakeIllini · Dec 16, 2015

mattcoldagelli said:
What was the last positive thing Illini athletics actually did?

Well, and this is just an example, every time she referenced Janet Rayfield being on the search committee she felt compelled to add "currently under investigation for..." in parenthesis after listing her name. I saw that multiple times. Today Rayfield gets cleared....and it's radio silence from Shannon on that.

I don't know if you want to take her being cleared as a "positive" but SR certainly has a specific POV that she expresses when it comes to UI athletics. If I was in the ADept at UI, I'd probably revoke her press pass...but I suppose that's why I'm not in the ADept.

The Illinois AD Search

Second and Chalmers

Ryllini

Second and Chalmers

217sports

217sports

Ryllini

Second and Chalmers

Ryllini

Second and Chalmers

AutoPoster 3000

mattcoldagelli

thatguy92

illinisc

frankfortillini

BZuppke

Lake Camelot

sigint

Deleted member 3875

Guest

TooHot4Tots

IlliniJim20

Joel Goodson

Deleted member 57255

Guest

mattcoldagelli

frankfortillini

SaltLakeIllini