The Illinois AD Search

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#1,328      

fightingillini18

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fightingillini18
If Whitman, I'm not disappointed with him, I'd be disappointed they didn't hire him right away instead of cratering the football program first.
 
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217sports

217sports
Springfield
217sports
Well he was the assistant TO the athletic director when he was here in 2007
 
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Deleted member 346957

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Deleted member 346957
NewsTalk 1400 WDWS ‏@wdws1400 3m3 minutes ago
A source tells our newsroom that the rumor that Josh Whitman has been chosen as the next UI Athletic Director is not true. #Illini
 
#1,334      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
I know nothing. But I do recall the News-Gazette/WDWS report back on Dec 17 which immediately shot down alioneye's breaking news that Tim Banks was off the football staff. The speed at which they shot down that report reminds me of today, just want to throw that out there, carry on :)
 
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Jimmy McNulty

J
Jimmy McNulty
This doesn't just come from nowhere. Everything since the search firm has been lock-tite. Now not only do we have a but reports of a done deal. Where there's smoke...
 
#1,337      

FeelYourPaign

FeelYourPaign
So Cal
FeelYourPaign
Illwinsagain said:
that is extremely impressive for anyone, especially an athlete, due to time demands.
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Absolutely agree.
And also note that he is licensed to practice law in Illinois. That is a quite a few achievements for age 38, I think. just an observation, not an endorsement (or criticism).
 
#1,338      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
ties will be resolved
Joel Goodson
If the two finalists are George and Whitman, we're good (assuming one accepts).
 
#1,339      

Flight 33

F
Flight 33
Dan said:
I know nothing. But I do recall the News-Gazette/WDWS report back on Dec 17 which immediately shot down alioneye's breaking news that Tim Banks was off the football staff. The speed at which they shot down that report reminds me of today, just want to throw that out there, carry on :)
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Good point...and Robert had essentially the same response today, tweeting something along the lines of "who's refuting it?", meaning he thinks it's another 'timing' issue
 
#1,340      

Lake Camelot

L
Lake Camelot
Joel Goodson said:
If the two finalists are George and Whitman, we're good (assuming one accepts).
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I agree, and I think there could be a debate on which is a better fit. Which is good. I don't think you can really tell if either will be successful. But I would be happy with either. Only it should have been at least two months ago. This won't totally make up for it to me.
 
#1,342      

FeelYourPaign

FeelYourPaign
So Cal
FeelYourPaign
Smacko said:
You would have to think this would be a good job for Whitman.
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I personally think its way beyond "good", its exceptional for him. Puts him closer to home (W. Lafayette, ugh) and back at his alma mater with an enormous pay raise. Huge, if true.
 
#1,344      

joe4304

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joe4304
There is an enormous difference in George's qualifications and Whitman's. I hope Josh is the Illinois AD -- some day. But we all know the success of our athletic department depends heavily on a successful football team. Josh oversees a D3 program that doesn't have a winning record during his time there. My hope is that he's successful enough to move to a Group of 5 program in a few years, and then has enough success to get a Big Ten opportunity.

There are no Power 5 ADs who moved into their current role directly from Division 3, and there's a reason for that. The route to Big Ten AD is generally either a) senior staff member (Goetz, Mason, Alvarez); b) AD at another D1 program (Smith, Phillips, Barta, Barbour, Anderson); c) alum, often times athlete who has had considerable business success (Brandon then Hackett at Mich, Glass, Burke).

So who might fit that criteria? Route A, only possibility I see is Mike Small and he says not now. Route B, George or Phillips if either is interested, Frazier, Bowen, or others; c) Lubin, may be others I can't think of.

If the new AD doesn't fit in to one of these 3 categories, I will be very surprised.
 
#1,345      

Serious Late

Serious Late
Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
Serious Late
joe4304 said:
There is an enormous difference in George's qualifications and Whitman's. I hope Josh is the Illinois AD -- some day. But we all know the success of our athletic department depends heavily on a successful football team. Josh oversees a D3 program that doesn't have a winning record during his time there. My hope is that he's successful enough to move to a Group of 5 program in a few years, and then has enough success to get a Big Ten opportunity.

There are no Power 5 ADs who moved into their current role directly from Division 3, and there's a reason for that. The route to Big Ten AD is generally either a) senior staff member (Goetz, Mason, Alvarez); b) AD at another D1 program (Smith, Phillips, Barta, Barbour, Anderson); c) alum, often times athlete who has had considerable business success (Brandon then Hackett at Mich, Glass, Burke).

So who might fit that criteria? Route A, only possibility I see is Mike Small and he says not now. Route B, George or Phillips if either is interested, Frazier, Bowen, or others; c) Lubin, may be others I can't think of.

If the new AD doesn't fit in to one of these 3 categories, I will be very surprised.
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Sincere question, how does Whitman not meet you criteria for "C"? Does running multiple D3 programs not qualify as business success? He has certainly nailed the alum portion. In my opinion, a combination of alum and post-collegiate experience makes him a great candidate. Honestly, the alum part is far less important than being 38 and already having the breadth of experience he has. I am very intrigued.
 
#1,346      

Deleted member 569417

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Deleted member 569417
There is only one category that matters to most Illinois fans that seem to have influence over this University - 1) Being an Ex Illini.

Proven success? Experience? At a Division I program? Let alone a P5 program? Not a concern for the Illinois administration or its local donors that simply long for the country club access the Guenther provided. Winning is of little or no concern. Access and saving money are.

I wouldn't be shocked if this search didn't include a single person that wasn't an Ex Illini. The candidate pool that they limited themselves to, has rendered the belief that a Division III AD that no one in St Louis could even name, is somehow a great choice. Good lord.

Now we're left hoping that a Division III guy is the diamond in the rough home run hire. Sure, I suppose he could be fine. He is clearly intelligent, he seems to have a good personality. Beyond that? Who knows. All I know is had Illinois performed an actual job search, instead of limiting their candidate pool to like 4 people, he'd appear like the small time hire of a University that hasn't, doesn't, and will not ever prioritize Athletics, that he is.

I guess Whitman he's the best choice, as Michael is light years behind Whitman in terms of any having any success, anywhere. And, if Larry Lubin was a legit candidate by anyone at Illinois, then my alma mater is even more screwed up and pathetic than I thought.

But the thing that drives me crazy is we could have hired Whitman 15 minutes after canning Thomas. And, we wouldn't have been stuck with Cubit for another godforsaken pathetic recruiting year. We didn't go outside the box at all for this job. It was always going to be George, Whitman, Michael, or some moronic choice of an Ex Illini. Why we waited 3 months and spent another $140K to do what anyone with a brain could have predicted this small time program was going to do anyway is baffling.

Illini gonna Illini.
 
#1,348      

ILLINIShox24

ILLINIShox24
Orange Krush '04 & '05
ILLINIShox24
FeelYourPaign said:
For those who are like me and don't know anything about Josh Whitman, here is a link to the announcement of his hiring to be Wash U's AD back in 2014. Interesting history, all pointing up.

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/general/2013-14/Whitman-AD
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Sounds like a fantastic candidate.

Ton of experience. Seemingly brilliant. Distinguished alum. Football player, our program in the deepest hole.

Yeah George has more experience, but if Whitman is second fiddle to him, I think we should be ecstatic to have him.

Suddenly feeling optimistic.
 
#1,349      

the national

the national
the Front Range
the national
ILLINIShox24 said:
Sounds like a fantastic candidate.

Ton of experience. Seemingly brilliant. Distinguished alum. Football player, our program in the deepest hole.

Yeah George has more experience, but if Whitman is second fiddle to him, I think we should be ecstatic to have him.

Suddenly feeling optimistic.
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Wow, he was only 35 at the time of the article. I'm nearly 31. What have I don't with my life.

This guy played in the NFL, got his law degree, was a top national scholar, played for our beloved sugar bowl team. I remember he was a good TE but man this guy is one smart dude with great connections.
 
#1,350      

joe4304

J
joe4304
Serious Late said:
Sincere question, how does Whitman not meet you criteria for "C"? Does running multiple D3 programs not qualify as business success? He has certainly nailed the alum portion. In my opinion, a combination of alum and post-collegiate experience makes him a great candidate. Honestly, the alum part is far less important than being 38 and already having the breadth of experience he has. I am very intrigued.
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Fred Glass was a partner at Baker & Daniels in Indy. Morgan Burke a VP at Inland Steel. Hacket and Brandon were CEOs of major corporations. Success at Wisconsin-Platteville pales in comparison to the business careers of those 4.
 
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