The Illinois AD Search

Second and Chalmers · Dec 4, 2015

AutoPoster 3000 said:
Yes, except that the current leadership's definition of "interim" is "temporary" but instead "not authorized to perform the duties of the job."

It's really organizational CYA politics at its worst. The only thing accomplished by all this time wasting is that, should the hirings turn out to be failures in the long term, this cast of characters can say, "But look at all the due diligence we exercised!" That's the mindset when you're fundamentally an administrator and not a leader.

It's fine if those two didn't feel capable of vetting and hiring a non-Rick George AD. It really is. What is not okay is that they pulled the trigger on Mike Thomas despite that known ignorance, and then failed to empower the only person in their chain of command capable of making athletics-literate decisions.

When we suffer massive defections from our coaching staff, roster, and recruiting class this offseason, Killeen and Wilson will be able to say with complete honesty that they didn't see it coming. THAT'S the problem.

JoseyWales83 · Dec 4, 2015

Found the job link, see below...

https://jobs.illinois.edu/academic-...ivision-of-intercollegiate-athletics-a1500506

ILLmatic04 · Dec 4, 2015

IlliniJim20 said:
I know the football scoop quote doesn't show up when I hit reply, but can you offer some context? Is it strictly in reply to Shsnnon Ryan's tweet?

Thanks

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.

thatguy92 · Dec 4, 2015

Second and Chalmers said:
Hey man, if you have some home decor-related imagery to tell me I'm wrong, go to.

I just don't see the reason for panic. This is a pretty standard search committee and there's been no indication from anyone actually involved that Michael or Whittman would be a leading candidate.

Illiniaaron · Dec 4, 2015

AutoPoster 3000 said:
That's the mindset when you're fundamentally an administrator and not a leader.

I think that sums up what this entire process has been. It's as if these people enjoy developing some convoluted process that takes forever and justifies their employment as opposed to making a difficult decision and getting on with business.

Second and Chalmers · Dec 4, 2015

thatguy92 said:
I just don't see the reason for panic. This is a pretty standard search committee.

No panic. There's nothing too far wrong with the process NOW. The damage is already done.

doho19 · Dec 4, 2015

JoseyWales83 said:
Found the job link, see below...

https://jobs.illinois.edu/academic-...ivision-of-intercollegiate-athletics-a1500506

"This full-time, 12-month appointment has a negotiable start date with salary commensurate with experience. This position will report to the Chancellor."

We just threw more fuel on the dumpster fire over at football, and we don't want to look for 2 coaches at the same time again so don't worry about Groce, you want to start in June? That's cool, we are in no hurry.

Just trying to be funny, don't take this comment the wrong way, I know how the world works.

TomB · Dec 4, 2015

Kramer said:
Thanks Tom I really appreciate the response and explanation. One last question, do they speak to the applicants?

Yes. Sorry, I skipped that step. The committee conducts the interview.

Others may speak to the candidates but not take part in the formal interview process. For example, I suspect the candidate would probably meet and talk to each of the coaches who can give input to the committee afterwards. Also, sometimes candidates for positions are asked to give presentations or talks to full staff. Others besides the search committee may have input.

IlliniBubba · Dec 4, 2015

I was a little curious about the alumni judge that they named, so I did a quick Google search of Dan Flannel. Here's what came up:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-01-25/news/0801241008_1_rose-bowl-tickets-donations-profit

Kramer · Dec 4, 2015

TomB said:
Yes. Sorry, I skipped that step. The committee conducts the interview.

Others may speak to the candidates but not take part in the formal interview process. For example, I suspect the candidate would probably meet and talk to each of the coaches who can give input to the committee afterwards. Also, sometimes candidates for positions are asked to give presentations or talks to full staff. Others besides the search committee may have input.

Thanks again Tom, I'm getting my resume together.

TomB · Dec 4, 2015

Illiniaaron said:
I think that sums up what this entire process has been. It's as if these people enjoy developing some convoluted process that takes forever and justifies their employment as opposed to making a difficult decision and getting on with business.

They aren't developing a process. This is the standard hiring process for the University. Every department uses it and has for years. It's designed, in part, to satisfy some legal requirements, I believe.

FeelYourPaign · Dec 4, 2015

IlliniBubba said:
I was a little curious about the alumni judge that they named, so I did a quick Google search of Dan Flannel. Here's what came up:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-01-25/news/0801241008_1_rose-bowl-tickets-donations-profit

Pretty interesting. He recycles tickets for a profit, gives the money back to the University (presumably 100%, but maybe not) and then gets to be on the selection committee. Sounds just like Illinois politics in general. This whole thing just gets uglier by the day. Who is writing this nightmare? More creative than Stephen King

Illwinsagain · Dec 4, 2015

IlliniBubba said:
I was a little curious about the alumni judge that they named, so I did a quick Google search of Dan Flannel. Here's what came up:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-01-25/news/0801241008_1_rose-bowl-tickets-donations-profit

Wow, you think that the "powers that be" may have known about this? Strike 2 (strike one being the soccer coach, named in the lawsuit).

dgcrow · Dec 4, 2015

Illwinsagain said:
Wow, you think that the "powers that be" may have known about this? Strike 2 (strike one being the soccer coach, named in the lawsuit).

Illinois politics: "If you ain't corrupt, you ain't trying."

AutoPoster 3000 · Dec 4, 2015

Illiniaaron said:
I think that sums up what this entire process has been. It's as if these people enjoy developing some convoluted process that takes forever and justifies their employment as opposed to making a difficult decision and getting on with business.

Well, the thing about that administrator mindset is that they're more afraid they will be accused of having made an imprudent decision than a wrong one. It's ok to botch the whole thing as long as you adhere to the letter of the policy manual and honor the "process;" that way, if the outcome is bad, it's the fault of the process, not the processers. I mean, they were only doing their job, right? So they default to the steps they are best at. Scheduling meetings. Consulting with "stakeholders." Forming committees. Drawing up lists. They create an unnecessarily complicated and methodical blueprint which must be followed and then, when people criticize the pace at which they're proceding, they can say, "but it takes time to progress through all of these steps." As if they weren't the one who set them up in the first place.

Soxfreak64 · Dec 4, 2015

TomB said:
Why exactly?

I'm not saying he would get my vote, but his resume says enough to not toss in the ludicrous pile. In addition to playing at Ohio State, he has also been a color analyst, an assistant coach in the NFL and college level (Ohio State) and been a head coach in Arena football. Add to that the fact that he has successful business experience and it's not a completely irrelevant resume.

It seems like every candidate not named Rick George that gets mentioned gets dismissed by someone on this board. It makes no sense.

Assistant coaching experience and head coaching in the AFL does NOT mean he has the ability to make a good coaching hire.

Former football player at OSU does NOT mean he has the connections necessary to bring in funding.

Business experience of successfully running 20+ fast food franchises does NOT mean he has the experience or ability to run a multi million dollar DIA.

Just because he submitted a nice resume does NOT mean he is better than at least 5 other extremely viable candidates we've examined in depth already, all of which (though flawed) bring immeasurably more to the table than this guy.

IlliniOX08 · Dec 4, 2015

Second and Chalmers said:
No panic. There's nothing too far wrong with the process NOW. The damage is already done.

Well we all know it's not ideal. The only question is whether it's a dagger to the heart of our programs?

mattcoldagelli · Dec 4, 2015

Soxfreak64 said:
Business experience of successfully running 20+ fast food franchises does NOT mean he has the experience or ability to run a multi million dollar DIA.

Yeah, but our DIA? He just might.

AutoPoster 3000 · Dec 4, 2015

TomB said:
They aren't developing a process. This is the standard hiring process for the University. Every department uses it and has for years. It's designed, in part, to satisfy some legal requirements, I believe.

I'm sure that's exactly how Wilson and Killeen see it. Why should this be different than any other campus executive hiring decision. The most important thing is that we adhere to the process. The process is king.

And that's how we became the only university in the major college sports universe that needs 16 months to hire a football coach and has leadership that somehow thinks that's reasonable.

URH Snyder 490 · Dec 4, 2015

TomB said:
The committees don't actually make the hire. They make a recommendation to the person who does (Wilson).

Also, the chair of the committee is usually not the person who will supervise the person hired.

This committee consists of:
A coach
A former player
A current player
Two associate athletic directors
Two alumni (Lawyer and Judge)
And is chaired by a professor who is a faculty representative to the athletics program who is a long time member of the athletic board:

http://senate.illinois.edu/10_sec_cc.asp

I don't see anyone on the committee that doesn't make sense.

For those who have listed a few other alumni...you can't be on a committee if you are unable to devote time to attend meetings. Not being on the committee does not mean that they cannot be consulted for input.

As for the process, the committee will:
1) Determine the qualifications they are looking for.
2) Seek candidates. (This can be through contacting or advertising)
3) Evaluate the candidates who submitted resumes/applications/ or otherwise applied. From this they determine which candidate(s) to interview and the format of the interviews.
4) From those interviewed, determine which, if any, candidates to recommend to Wilson. The committee chair will write up the reasoning for the candidate they selected.

It sounds a lot more complicated than it really is.

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.

CaliIllini · Dec 4, 2015

dgcrow said:
Illinois politics: "If you ain't corrupt, you ain't trying."

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.

BZuppke · Dec 4, 2015

I don't have a problem with the timing. We've blown the hiring a new coach for 2016 so I'd like them to take their time and get it right. Also you never know who might be interested. Not saying he's my guy but who would have thought Doug Plank would submit a resume. Finally after January 4 the bowls will be done and serious discussions can commence with sitting ADs at other bowl bound schools if they are candidates. I pray we get this right and I wouldn't wring my hands yet.

themudflap · Dec 4, 2015

Soxfreak64 said:
Assistant coaching experience and head coaching in the AFL does NOT mean he has the ability to make a good coaching hire.

Former football player at OSU does NOT mean he has the connections necessary to bring in funding.

Business experience of successfully running 20+ fast food franchises does NOT mean he has the experience or ability to run a multi million dollar DIA.

Just because he submitted a nice resume does NOT mean he is better than at least 5 other extremely viable candidates we've examined in depth already, all of which (though flawed) bring immeasurably more to the table than this guy.

Doesn't mean he doesn't either.

EJ33 · Dec 4, 2015

Second and Chalmers said:
Their job is to spend a month hiring Tom Michael or Josh Whitman, either of whom would have taken the job the day Mike Thomas was fired.

That wouldn't surprise me at all. Sean Frazier from NIU will be the other obvious candidate. We'll end up with a MAC-level good hire when we need a Power 5 superstar (i.e., a 5 star vs. a 3 star). (Note, I think Whitman has the potential to be a superstar down the road - his resume is super impressive.)

This committee and process is *extremely* unlikely to land a heavy hitter, which is what we need. Does anybody think Rick George is going to interview for the job with a professor of animal sciences? Not going to happen.

The committee composition speaks volumes...just more signals that we don't take this hire seriously and we're not going to go big on this hire.

Our front porch will continue to be a national joke and our academic reputation will continue to slide.

ILLmatic04 · Dec 4, 2015

FootballScoop Staff ‏@FootballScoop 2h2 hours ago
Might be the most Illinois set of tweets I’ve ever read in my life

The Illinois AD Search

Orange Crush '89