Kirk Wessler on BU's AD search

[Beninator]

I'm not sure why the process is taking so long either. Obviously you would rather make sure to take your time to get the right person but at the same time if somebody can do both jobs for very long, do you really need both positions?..Glasser may have a goal for when she wants to have an AD in place but it doesn't seem like it. I would think this could bother all the coaches within the program. If she thinks Virnette can do the job lets get the process really started. I can't tell if Virnette has thrown her hat in yet or waiting to see who else's hat is in there...I don't care if there is a committee either...the last one was a debacle. Let the Prez hire someone.
Let's move on and get things in place....I wouldn't have a problem if it's Virnette but by waiting I doubt she is going to take many chances in going forward in the athletics program for fear if something doesn't workout will hurt her chances for the position....sorry for the long post. I'm taking a few days off and I have time on my hands

We are pretty much in agreement here... I don't mind BU taking their time to decide on an AD, but the enlisting of a search company should have been done 3 months ago. imo

[wizard1]

Wessler on AD search

A great and very informative article by KW. I now feel much better about the situation but I also continue to feel very strongly that whoever is selected should have a basketball coaching background and very good networking contacts in division I. Also, I wonder what the new ADs role in scheduling will be?

[tornado]

I have done a little google-searching and I have come to the conclusion that hiring an AD via a consulting search firm is actually a bit unusual...and appears to be done rarely only by a few D-I schools...mostly the upper echelon of D-I, schools in the bigger conferences, schools with football, and biggest schools like Minnesota (this same firm helped them land Tubby Smith as head basketball coach)
and this same firm helped University of Washington land their new AD.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/collegesports/2004351846_uwad16.html

SIU hired a search firm in 2000 to hire their AD.

The going fee for such a search accoring to several sites is $50,000-$75,000.

[QPS]

AD job description now on BU web site: http://www.bradley.edu/humanresource...strative.shtml

[wizard1]

BUs AD Search

The Job Description concerns and puzzles me. First of all there is no mention of previous coaching experience in the qualifications. Also, no mention of fund raising unless "Facilitate athletic resource development" means fund raising.
My biggest concern is how can an AD with no previous coaching experience provide or meet ----"full responsibility for training, mentoring, and evaluating coaches and athletic staff"? Coaches are generally tough, single minded, intelligent people and "training, mentoring, and evaluating" them can very very difficult at best unless one has strong leadership capability and a background of experience that coaches will respect.
One final comment---I have written hundreds of job descriptions in my business career and IMO this job description is wordy and nebulous --- it has no measures of accountability. Job descriptions should be written in plain, easy to understand English and leave no doubt about the specific content of the job and what is expected. There is no mention of scheduling responsibility, developing and maintaining strong Div'n. I networking contacts, establishing objectives, development of an annual athletic dept. plan to achieve objectives, development and management of Athletic Dept. budgets, etc.
Again, I'm concerned and a little worried.

[jeffsu]

The Job Description concerns and puzzles me. First of all there is no mention of previous coaching experience in the qualifications. Also, no mention of fund raising unless "Facilitate athletic resource development" means fund raising.

It does. If you look at all of Bradley's fundraisers, they are part of the Development office. No worries.

As for the rest of it, I'm not so sure that a position like this really needs to be clearly spelled out in the posting. The kind of people that will get a serious look will know what being a DI AD is all about.

Also, re: coaching -- I disagree. While coaching doesn't hurt your chances, there are a LOT of very knowledgeable, organized, great people working in athletic departments across the country who have never coached. Those traits are great traits to have, but familiarity with an athletic department is just as useful. Plus, who's to say that hiring an ex-basketball coach to be an AD wouldn't get blamed for being "biased towards the basketball program" ??

[Da Coach]

Some of the best fundraisers I have known have been people with no prior experience doing it. It depends more on one's personality, connections, and ability to sell their "product".

I think management skills are a more important factor for our next AD.

[SaintLouBrave22]

Some of the best fundraisers I have known have been people with no prior experience doing it. It depends more on one's personality, connections, and ability to sell their "product".

I think management skills are a more important factor for our next AD.

How about including selling bringing big name teams in to Carver to play our men's basketball team

[BradleyBrave]

How about including selling bringing big name teams in to Carver to play our men's basketball team

As a season ticket holder I would wholeheartedly agree! Wofford and Western Carolina just aren't doing it for me...

[wizard1]

BUs AD Search

Coach- I agree that management skills are probably more important than fund raising. However, fund raising remains an essential ingredient and should be spelled out in the job description. All else being equal, experience always trumps no experience.
Regarding connections, a new AD will have no local connections at first and will have to develop them. To do this well, experience helps.
Jeffsu- I didn't say the coaching background had to be in basketball. It could be in soccer, football, baseball, etc.---and why shouldn't the AD at Bradley be biased toward basketball? I'd be concerned if he/she were not!

[BradleyBrave]

Coach- I agree that management skills are probably more important than fund raising. However, fund raising remains an essential ingredient and should be spelled out in the job description. All else being equal, experience always trumps no experience.
Regarding connections, a new AD will have no local connections at first and will have to develop them. To do this well, experience helps.
Jeffsu- I didn't say the coaching background had to be in basketball. It could be in soccer, football, baseball, etc.---and why shouldn't the AD at Bradley be biased toward basketball? I'd be concerned if he/she were not!

I think Jim DeRose should be the AD.

[jeffsu]

Jeffsu- I didn't say the coaching background had to be in basketball. It could be in soccer, football, baseball, etc.---and why shouldn't the AD at Bradley be biased toward basketball? I'd be concerned if he/she were not!

Didn't say it had to be in basketball, that was just an example. I just don't think you need to have been a coach to be a good AD, that's all. Can it help? Sure. Are there better non-coaching AD's than previous-coach AD's? I'm sure there are.

Plus, I think KK did a great job (lets not start the pro/anti KK discussion though, please...) and I don't recall that he ever coached? Just saying. I liked KK, and I'll support whoever comes next!

[Da Coach]

Dave Reynolds confirms that Virnette House-Browning will apply for the AD job she holds now on an interim basis.-

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x880800255/House-Browning-will-apply-for-Bradley-AD-post