I think you've even giving them too much credit here. They just don't know what the hell they're doing.
The Illinois AD Search
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I think you've even giving them too much credit here. They just don't know what the hell they're doing.
orangeswarm76
- hastings Nebraska
Up to this point everything they have done has been dysfunctional which people like me take as incompetence. The overwhelming feeling that they do not care message is coming across to the fan base which is very small right now. It's the fact that they are doing nothing to prove to the public that they are pursuing any candidates , they are dragging their feet because they are clueless. I do not live in a shell and realize fully we will not hire a superstar coach(why would someone) but at least let the people that care about the program know there are things being done. We sit back and read how no one has contacted George , tiley we don't know anything. While programs like Syracuse which are like us in many ways hires babers, an up and coming coach. I'm just saying the silence and doing nothing is driving this program into the ground we can't sink much further.
This is both genuinely upsetting and encouraging.
On one hand he seems at least mildly interested in the job. In another interview he said he moved on from Illinois Tennis because he had a 10 year plan and once that was up he felt he had accomplished what he wanted. Coincidentally it has been about 10 years since he left for tennis austrailia.
On the other hand: WHAT THE H*LL HAVE THESE MORONS BEEN DOING THAT HE HASN'T EVEN BEEN CONTACTED YET. IT'S BEEN ALMOST A MONTH
Of course, you're right. The most likely reason that Wilson and Killeen can only seem to parrot managementspeak phrases and buzzwords like stakeholder, consultations, learning curves, etc., is that they are not actually doing anything. Saying that you're planning to form a committee that you hope will produce a short list of candidates is itself an lightly veiled admission that nothing is happening. They haven't formed a committee and don't have a short list of candidates, much less made any overtures towards anyone. I'm sorry to keep hitting on this same point but I've just never in my life seen an "organization" adopt such a casual, leisurely attitude regarding such a critical, time-sensitive decision. It's truly mind boggling and without any precedent that I'm aware of.
I've done some research the past week and I haven't found anything even on the radar screen of this.
The closest was when Vandy fired Rod Dowhower after two 2-9 seasons and named his defensive coordinator Woody Widenhofer (great names!) head coach. Pretty embarassing, even considering Widenhofer's defenses were considered a strength of the team. But that was a conscious, affirmative decision to hand someone the reins permanently. Nothing at all like what we've done. The comparison would have been firing Beckman after 2013 and giving Cubit a 5-year deal.
And this is frigging Vandy we're talking about. They didn't have an interim athletic director, they didn't have an athletic DEPARTMENT period.
orangeswarm76
- hastings Nebraska
Another hint that things are disarray is Alex goleshs comment in the gazette " I hope that the administration stuff gets sorted out" really warms a person up.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I appreciate the references, at least there is some reason to smile, as we die from a thousand papercuts.
While I completely agree with the sentiment of this post, I have to step up and defend the McDLT. That was a fantastic sandwich.
I agree - they are paralyzed by ignorance - they have no idea what to do next or how to move forward and they are trying to figure it out.
First of all, you don't fire an athletic director 3 weeks before the end of a season when you don't have a permanent head coach (do it way earlier and have an AD in place for the hire or let him make the hire and then part ways).
Second, once you make the decision to fire your AD, put a plan together or have a plan IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRING and start working it fast and furious. Time is of the essence.
Third, try and appear competent and on a consistent message when dealing with the media.
This is an epic cluster and these two have no idea what they are doing and the kind of damage they are inflicting on the university. I think Kowalczyk has some idea of the damage, thus the 'dagger to the heart' comment. That said, a strong interim AD would assert control and unify the message here. I hope we don't end up making Kowalczyk the permanent hire. Yuck.
illinifaninwi
- DeForest, Wisconsin
Never heard of the McDLT. The original commercial is priceless.
orangeswarm76
- hastings Nebraska
I was talking to my cousin who lives in Bloomington today, he says the problem is we are trying to be too much like northwestern without lowering our academic standards or implenting a bridge program our coach pool will suffer greatly. We can still be an academic school just don't discourage people from coming here or working here with such high standards. I myself do not want to be like northwestern.
I had no idea that the standards in the Department of General Studies and Department of Recreation, Sports and Tourism were that high...
http://chicago.suntimes.com/colleges/7/71/1151972/ex-bear-doug-plank-puts-hat-ring-illinois-ad-job
Now the 62-year-old Plank has his sites set on arguably his biggest mission yet — athletic director of the University of Illinois. After conferring with people associated with Illinois in the past few months, the Ohio State graduate has submitted his resume for the job vacated when Mike Thomas was fired on Nov. 9.
Now the 62-year-old Plank has his sites set on arguably his biggest mission yet — athletic director of the University of Illinois. After conferring with people associated with Illinois in the past few months, the Ohio State graduate has submitted his resume for the job vacated when Mike Thomas was fired on Nov. 9.
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I'm in. No idea how good he would be, but he seems to be a very successful person. He would bring excitement to the school and more importantly to the message board. I love it when things get rolling on here.
Redfoxdogs
- Gurnee, IL
I don't see why everyone isn't applying. You don't even have to be good at the job, just hang around for a few years, collect a bundle of cash and get fired. I can see where an OSU or UM grad might find this an amusing little sideline. Feeling discouraged I guess.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
I just applied. Hoping I can count on the influential IllinoisLoyalty contingent of our fanbase.
Soxfreak64
- Bloomington
Hey, wouldn't that be the topping on our sundae!
The hairball atop our sh** sundae, if you will. Nothing against Plank, but if he is our eventual AD I'm out.
You've got my vote. Epic burns of the East Central Illinois media is plenty good enough for me.
My Mom always tells me about sitting in class in Lincoln Hall and Revie Sorey would pull up in a brand new Corvette on Wright Street and run into the lecture hall 5 minutes late every time.
Looks like they're announcing the search committee today.
James Kilgore! Ron Guenther! Stephen Kaufman! James Montgomery!
The chair is the committee is Matt Wheeler, a professor of animal sciences and a faculty athletic representative.
I believe Nicole Evans is the softball player Robert from Illiniboard wrote about awhile back for her service to the community.
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