Bill Martin Headed For Pasture
Press release:
Statement from Mary Sue Coleman on Bill Martin’s Retirement
This morning, Bill Martin sent me a letter announcing his intention to retire on September 4, 2010. For nearly a decade, Bill has shown truly outstanding leadership as Athletic Director at the University of Michigan. He has not only done a superb job of attracting top coaches for the full range of Michigan sports, but he has also assembled an excellent management team to oversee all aspects of athletics operations. At the same time, he has firmly established Athletics as a financially strong and self-supporting department while guiding the renovation and expansion of most of our major sports facilities.
Bill is a great partner, and it has been a joy to work with him. Although he has been interested in retiring for some time now, I am pleased that I was able to convince him to stay with us long enough to ensure that the renovation of our football stadium would be successful and on time. That end is now in clear sight. He has agreed to remain as Athletic Director until his successor is on board, at which point he will serve as a special advisor to me until retiring from the University in September.
I will personally oversee the search for the next Athletic Director with the help of a small advisory group. We expect this process will take a number of months. With this advance notice, we have the opportunity to make a thoughtful and deliberate choice and to manage a smooth transition.
There will probably be some fete at the UConn game to celebrate the construction of the luxury boxes. Coleman's choice for the next AD will be interesting, and undoubtedly shrouded in mystery for months. News on that when I get it; tips always appreciated.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:37 PM ^
Bill Martin has been talking about retiring for at least the last two years. Mary Sue talked him into staying on until the stadium renovation was complete.
Source? His own words in his letter of resignation to her:
http://www.mgoblue.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/mich/genrel/auto_pdf/m…
October 21st, 2009 at 1:40 PM ^
there's never a good time to retire from that high profile job, but it is good he is giving the admin almost a year to find a replacement
October 21st, 2009 at 1:50 PM ^
if it was going really poorly, he wouldn't be announcing his retirement 11 months ahead of time. the investigation will be done long before he's gone.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:53 PM ^
That he's not leaving until next September would suggest that the NCAA investigation had nothing to do with this. Retirements in shame are normally immediate and intended to allow the university to move on post-haste.
This seems designed to (a) ensure that the stadium project is completed on time and under budget, (b) ensure solid fiscal planning for the next large-scale projects (baskeball practice facility, Crisler?), and (c) allow for a high-profile celebration of his tenure during the UConn home opener (his last day on the job).
October 21st, 2009 at 1:38 PM ^
I wish he BM would have stayed on a few more years. He has done a great job here the past ten years and he really runs a financially sounds ship. He is a formidable businessman, which is what we need. UofM is one of only a few Universities in the country who is running a profit this year... which is remarkable considering how many varsity sports we have.
Bruce Madej, unfortunately, is not the guy for the job. I agree with previous posters that he is in the position he needs to be in currently. I don't think he has the skills necessary to be the AD. That being said, I think LC is even more under qualified. It takes a whole lot more than knowledge of football to lead a multi-million dollar entity. In order to be successful, you need to adapt and change. LC painfully showed his lack of these essential skills on the football field.
If you think about it, BM will go down in Michigan history as a great man. He has put our great school in great shape financially, has done an incredible job with handling the Big House renovations, and has shown a willingness to change, adapt, and lead. He has negotiated great contracts and has been able to finance on of the most beautiful athletic campuses in the nation.
Unfortunately I am at work so I cannot continue to write as much as I would like. In the end, BM has done a great job in leading this great University. He has put all of our varsity sports in a position to consistently be the leaders and best. He has also laid the foundation for future improvements that will assist in drawing in top talent from around the world. I can only hope he stays on as an 'adviser' for many years to come.
Thank you Bill Martin, and Go Blue.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:39 PM ^
#1) Bill Martin has been EXCELLENT here. Rodriguez, Beilein, Maloney, etc. It's sad to see him go. Seemed like he had some steam left.
#2) His replacement won't be Lloyd Carr, relax. In this day and age, the position of athletic director is twice as likely to go to the CEO of a fortune 500 company with a mild interest in sports than it is to an ex head coach with no business expertise.
#3) I really, really hope this have nothing to do with that shady bank story...
October 21st, 2009 at 2:09 PM ^
Bill Martin is in his late 60's. It should be no surprise he's retiring. All the conspiracy theories are enougt to make me wretch. Martin has served 10 years in a job he took on an interim basis out of loyalty to help out in tough time. Let's not forget the rotten situation Martin stepped into. Tom Goss had mismanaged the financial affairs of the department and the whole Ed Martin fiasco was unfolding. He righted the financial ship, got through the basketball swamp and then tackled problems relating to aging and/or inadequate plant and infrastructure.
It's the right time for a man who has accomplished what he has to step aside.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^
Yeah, I was hoping maybe he'd forgo retirement and head to the U.S. Olympic Committee and fix that unholy mess. They really need a Bill Martin there. But he really is at an age where he's probably looking forward to truly retiring and just doing his own thing.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:47 PM ^
A competition with 10 guys and call it AD Tool Academy. The winner gets the job. Mary Sue can be the judge & Woodley can be be the muscle that throws them out a 10 story window when contestants get eliminated. "Sorry Michael Rosenburg but your just a Tool."
October 21st, 2009 at 1:50 PM ^
my spartan friends at work have already taunted me about counting the days until rr packs his bags since this retirement is obviously the next phase of the battle between pro-rr forces and anti-rr forces
October 21st, 2009 at 1:57 PM ^
Your Spartan friends are stupid.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:30 PM ^
I guess that's one of the perks about working outside of Michigan: nobody hires Spartans!
October 21st, 2009 at 5:32 PM ^
I have doubts they can count that high. It's going to be over 4 digits.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
You cannot be a leader without change. Bill Martin had the foresight to make some amazing changes here. When time provides us with the necessary perspective, Bill Martin will be seen as a strong force in M history.
I thank him for what he's done here and wish him all the best in retirement.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:00 PM ^
my hope is that this means BM already knows the free press accusation fest is going to end with a finding of no wrongdoing so he'll be able to hand over the reins to a newcomer with no problems. otherwise, it'd be hard to fill a job when candidates know they might be walking into a shitstorm.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:05 PM ^
Martin - along with nearly everyone else in the AD - knew the accusations were baseless within days of them being made.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:03 PM ^
Spoke to three different insiders in the department today about this. One is a coach. One is an administrator. Another is what you would probably call support staff. Also spoke to a former staff member who was there in the 90s and is still involved peripherally. The general sentiment seems to be that Martin did much of what needed to be done after the mess that was Tom Goss, ie. balance the budget and build the infrastructure. What they all mentioned that is hard to see from the outside is a department that is somewhat dysfunctional in its inside culture. They were all hoping for someone who gets the business side, but also gets how to be a good manager. It's an incredibly complex job, and it's a really important hire for the university. I completely agree with some of the people here who express the desire for quality over loyalty. Personally, I'd also like to see someone who is innovative. Michigan athletics should be leading the way, not following. For all the good work Martin did, much of it should have been done 20 years ago.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:08 PM ^
is also a pro-RR person and she is heading the search. Coleman is no dummy - she will know who is aligned against whom.
I expect that ties to Coleman - ie someone she can trust - may be the most important thing. The last thing she wants is a civil war, especially with our team on the upswing.
This search could prove a fascinating as the HC search, given the dynamics swirling around the program at this time.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:14 PM ^
Mary Sue has not been the best President Michigan has ever had.
Since she announced that she is 'personally overseeing' hiring the next AD, we are in deep deep trouble.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:24 PM ^
I'm not going to argue whether or not MSC has been "the best President Michigan has ever had," but what makes you think that we're in trouble with her overseeing the search? I would hope that our president would be highly involved in this decision, actually. What is it about Mary Sue that makes you feel this way?
October 21st, 2009 at 2:38 PM ^
Are you the guy who proposed to her and got shot down? That explains it
October 21st, 2009 at 2:24 PM ^
Current Oregon State Athletic Dir. Worked at Michigan. His daughter was a big soccer player here in Oregon, but she went back to Michigan. He presided over an expansion of the OSU (Not that OSU!) stadium and hired both the current football and basketball (Obama's brother-in-law) coaches. He has openly said that the only job he would leave Oregon for would be the Michigan job.
Don't know what shot he has, but he seems to be have the right business sense and balance regarding letting coaches coach.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:33 PM ^
Bill Martin has left Michigan at a great place. Coaches, facilities, finances, all better than what he started with.
I'm not concerned about anti-Rich Rod forces steering the AD search. They already fought that war and lost when he was hired. Everyone can see the improvement on the field this year. We'll close out strong and there won't be any reason for anyone to be worried about him getting run off.
October 21st, 2009 at 3:08 PM ^
Bill Martin has set an irreversible course for the AD's office by hiring innovators and proving how important finances are to the office.
That focus on innovation, which I predict will result in great success for both the football and basketball programs, should continue with the next AD, along with improving the financial position of the department. I cannot emphasize enough how important proper finances are to an office. Every new innovation (infrastructure, coaches etc...) costs money and you need someone who has a proven track record of managing finances.
I would like to see someone who can rally the base more. We already have a national fanbase but I would like to see our own version of "subway" alums. More involvement means more exposure on tv, merchandise sales and better players from the exposure. While sound finances and innovation are great, improvement can be made at the publicity level.
We are living in a new age where we need a CEO type who can also rally and expand the base. I would like to see a trailblazer who comes in and sets a new standard while letting the old guard pass.
October 21st, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
the same way he would like a sharp stick in the eye. He's enjoying his retirement, raises funds for Mott, travels around the country and the world, so aside from the occasional Rick Leach phone call he's sitting in a pretty nice place. Why on earth would anyone his age trade all that for the stomach-churning job of keeping the beast fed and happy?
DeCarolis sounds like a winner to me.
October 21st, 2009 at 3:48 PM ^
Even going out on the right note with the basketball program. Spent the money wisely. Seems the dept is well positioned for future success.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:01 PM ^
everything BM did (esp to long-time and loyal customers), but on the whole, he has been a good AD.
If the next AD can re-connect and re-energize the fan base and PSD-paying customers, give them value (no 1-AA FB games please), and make them feel appreciated, that would go a long way to making Michigan Athletics (esp FB) a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
Being a Michigan fan: It's a labor of love, but it shouldn't feel like a job.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:23 PM ^
...did some great things for Michigan, considering where the Athletic department was at under the reign of Tom Goss. His legacy is of course going to be entirely based on the success or failure of the luxury boxes, but Rich Rodriguez can push him into Michigan lore with the eventual national title I think he's going to win. How Mary Sue Coleman is ever going to find someone to continue the financial success and rapid promotion of Martin is going to be, I think, tougher than the coaching search that she rescued from the toilet.
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