What is the story on a new AD?

[squirrelgotdead]

You have to be kidding! This is not a 1 year process! We are not vetting a candidate for The President of the United Sates. It takes a shorter amount of time for Fortune 500 companies to find a CEO then this has taken. She knew that KK was leaving I bet months ago and we should have had a plan in place for this. That is what you call contingency planning. AD leeaves you start a planned process to replace him. Without the proper leadership and a knowledgeable person I will bet, that certain aspects of our athletic department will suffer. We may not see it or feel this season but there will be some repercussions.

This would be like a sports team not hiring a GM. Hey the Orioles tried that and failed miserably and are still paying for it.

I would agree if we didn't have a fully competent interim.

Most schools' AD searches take the duration of the academic year. Some instances they might abbreviate that to a couple months or a semester.

Another thing to keep in mind is right now, any candidates you bring through won't even be able to see the place where they will work. You will put on a better presentation by waiting until the spring when candidates will be able to see the new facilities.

[InquiringMind]

AD Searches take, on average, about 45 days max at major division 1 schools. See recent searches at Marshall, Houston, etc... I do not get your point about not seeing the facilities as the ground is not covered in snow in July. However, when you are trying to raise money to pay for the new things going on at BU you would think that most donors would like to know who the person is who is setting the vision for Athletics, aka the AD. But I guess we all know who is really running the show, aka JoJo on the GoGo and not anyone actually in athletics or who knows anything about athletics. Just another example of how we take a step backwards in losing a great AD like KK when schools like Southern Illinois and Missouri State move forward with their departments with progressive hires from big time programs. If Jim left tomorrow would you be excited about having an interim coach for 1-2 years?

South Alabama named an AD on Sunday... they started their search in June

http://blog.al.com/press-register-sports/2009/07/usa_will_name_joel_erdmann_ath.html

Marshall will named their new AD later this afternoon, they started their search in June

http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/MUSports/200907190377

So this means that UNLV and SE Louisiana join a list of eight other schools looking for new ADs...

Old Dominion
Akron
Georgetown
UNC Greensboro
Coastal Carolina
Texas A&M Kingsville
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
St. Anslem College

So here we sit, with a great school, a proud athletics tradition, an outstanding league and a great city - the total package, and we have heard nothing about even a search for a new AD since KK announced his departure on May 7. Not a word from Joann's Ivory Tower in more than 70 days.

I guess we are poised to have status quo, to not push for greatness, to only sustain what KK built, and to never look forward and to become something greater. I appreciate Virnette House-Browning's 14 years, but if she we that great she would already be an AD somewhere.

Bash me for wanting something more for BU - I want to see ALL of our teams push for the success that BU basketball used to have, not siimply making some third rate postseason event, getting to the NCAA Tournament and making some noise. No just making the NCAA Soccer Tournament, but pushing to make the College Cup. Not just pulling a surprise run off in Softball, but being the best across the board and expecting to win every year, not just be a fluke. Not being the embarassment of the Valley in Baseball with a new coach that is named after the 70's drug addict music star.

We have the facilities and the support to be great, yet we muddle around and accept silence and no action?

[squirrelgotdead]

I think both you and SFP have reasonable arguments and points for the risk involved in leaving the position open.

I simply don't think BU's approach to the matter is unreasonable, though, either.

And I didn't word my thought on the facilities well. . .anybody you bring through now, will have no idea what the office they will work in will be like.

Sure you can see the outer structures of construction, but you have a better "wow" demo when they can actually sit in their chair and take in the new facilities. . .It's about presentation.

[Da Coach]

Those other schools listed above do not have ADs, and Bradley is not in that category. We do have an AD, albeit an interim AD.

If you look at Dr. Glasser's history at EKU, she had interim ADs that served a long time. The last interim AD served for 8 months before the current AD, Mark Sandy took over.

[Beninator]

Didn't it take FGCU about six months for them to complete the process to hire KK?

[Chico]

I would agree if we didn't have a fully competent interim.

Most schools' AD searches take the duration of the academic year. Some instances they might abbreviate that to a couple months or a semester.

Another thing to keep in mind is right now, any candidates you bring through won't even be able to see the place where they will work. You will put on a better presentation by waiting until the spring when candidates will be able to see the new facilities.

Just know the interim to see her, but just wondering what makes her so competent?

[tornado]

Because she worked directly under Ken Kavanagh for a decade and a half and learned everything she knows through Ken, and has exactly the same style and abilities.

[InquiringMind]

Great point, but if she was really that loyal to KK and was his right hand, doing and believing all that he did, then why would Glasser want more of what she basically just ran out of town?

I loved Ken, but it's not like BU has been dominating the Valley in all sports. Our main driver has not been to the dance since 2006 and we are really not in the hunt, expectedly, this year either. Something tells me that staying the course with status quo is not going to bring us better results. This is a chance to push the envelope and go for the brass ring. But I suppose continuing the same old same old is good enough. I cannot wait for another third-rate postseason basketball tournament... not.

[tornado]

Right Now JG has no choice...but that might change

[squirrelgotdead]

Great point, but if she was really that loyal to KK and was his right hand, doing and believing all that he did, then why would Glasser want more of what she basically just ran out of town?

I loved Ken, but it's not like BU has been dominating the Valley in all sports. Our main driver has not been to the dance since 2006 and we are really not in the hunt, expectedly, this year either. Something tells me that staying the course with status quo is not going to bring us better results. This is a chance to push the envelope and go for the brass ring. But I suppose continuing the same old same old is good enough. I cannot wait for another third-rate postseason basketball tournament... not.

I have every reason to believe this may be exactly what they are preparing to do. I don't think anyone is denying Bradley AD is an attractive job. Some would rather move now, and raise a valid argument of risk. However, I think if you wait just a few months and put together a can't miss offer for your top-choice, not only do you impress the big fish, you land them. All the signs are pointing to them doing just that.

As for Virnette's qualifications, while KK oversaw the NCAA Certification process the last time around, she was one of the most tireless workers during that whole process and therefore knows the ins and outs of most every aspect of the job as well as all the mundane NCAA procedures. And I'm sure KK did a tremendous job of grooming her accordingly.

The reasons for the wait, IMO, are making sure the right amount of money is involved, the presentation is 100% appropriate, and preparations for Phase II of the campus expansion.

[InquiringMind]

With that mindset BU may as well wait until Spring 2010 to even begin a process to find a new full time AD as doing a search during the 2009-10 school year would not attract a great pool of candidates. No one is going to uproot their family and move between the months of August and May if they have young kids.

[Da Coach]

I don't agree that this would be a problem. I expect a serious search to be announced soon.

[SFP]

I don't agree that this would be a problem. I expect a serious search to be announced soon.

I concur with Da Coach! Is there anything you know that we do not know regarding the vetting process. Inquiring minds do want to know???

[InquiringMind]

Lots of important athletics jobs open right now:


Administrative & Professional Positions

* Advancement - Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
* Advancement - Director of Development Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts
* Advancement - Director of Development Foster College of Business Administration
* Athletics - Administrative Asst
* Athletics - Director of Corporate Sales for Intercollegiate Athletics
* Athletics - Assistant Director of Marketing
* IMEC - VP for Services Development and Delivery
* IMEC - Manufacturing/Business Development Specialist
* IRT - Programmer Analyst
* Office of the President - Administrative Assistant
* Vice President for Enrollment Management

http://www.bradley.edu/humanresources/opportunities/administrative.shtml