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President Schlissel Announces Dave Brandon's Resignation; Jim Hackett Named Interim AD Comment Count

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Interim AD Jim Hackett speaks as President Mark Schlissel looks on. [Anbender/MGoBlog]

"This morning I accepted the resignation of athletic director David Brandon."

Adam will have the full—and lengthy—transcript of today's press conference up later, but U-M President Mark Schlissel's opening statement obviously contained the most important part. Brandon met with Schlissel on Wednesday to discuss his resignation, saying he thought it would be best for the student-athletes and the university if he stepped down; Schlissel agreed, saying it was best for the department to continue "without daily distractions."

Jim Hackett, incidentally a former M teammate of Brandon's, will take over as the interim athletic director effective immediately. Hackett served as the CEO of Steelcase from 1994 until February of this year; he currently sits on the Board of Advisors for both the School of Public Policy and the Life Sciences Institute.

The search for a permanent replacement will begin immediately; in the meantime, Schlissel made it clear that Hackett has the power to run the athletic department as he sees fit, including evaluating the football coaches, especially if a replacement isn't in place at the end of the season. Hackett mentioned Bo Schembechler and Gerald Ford as personal heroes of his, saying "both would be quite certain the future of Michigan is not in doubt."

When asked if he would be looking for a candidate with Michigan connections to permanently replace Brandon, Schlissel said that he simply wants "the best man for the job," adding that he'll take as long as necessary to find the right person. "I have excellence in mind," he said.

Terms of Brandon's resignation will be released later today, according to Schlissel. 

UPDATE: The terms of Brandon's resignation have been released. Full PDF file is here; the short version:

  • Brandon will receive $3 million over the next four years.
  • Michigan has the right to reduce his compensation should he take another job.
  • The University will pay the cost of COBRA for Brandon and his dependents' health benefits through June 30, 2015.
  • Brandon will retain two "Regents Emeritus" seats for football, men's basketball, and hockey.
  • Brandon retains the use of two company cars through the end of the year.

The rest is mostly legalese; here's the fun part of said legalese:

Fin.

Comments

Denard's Pro Career

October 31st, 2014 at 5:49 PM ^

Just for information's sake: saying "man" instead of "person," leads to a conflation of the two terms. Now I'll agree that "man" and "person" were originally synonymous (a tradition handed down to us from Latin), but this is only because people didn't think of women as human. So when the word "man" is used to mean "person" today, it's used with the underlying assumption that women don't really count as humans. FWIW

 

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 1132

TruBluMich

October 31st, 2014 at 6:35 PM ^

Wish I could find a job where I can treat people like shit, ruin everything good about it and then quit.  PLUS receive full benefits and 3 million after I quit.  Good news is Dave Brandon no longer has that job.  Now go take some of your own advice and find a new team to route for, we'll be ok without you.

Joined: 08/03/2011

MGoPoints: 22551

wildbackdunesman

October 31st, 2014 at 7:59 PM ^

Good riddance to DB.

I remember after UofM made it into the Elite 8 last year.  Beilein was talking about staying focused on fundamentals and so on...only to have DB ask for the final word so that he could remind the team that there is an 'unlimited budget for championships rings'.

Essentially DB just trashed Beilein's message of staying focused on fundamentals and told them to be excited about potential bling.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 30394

cavebeaner

October 31st, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^

I sent Schlissel an email on the 28th telling him that it was getting damned cold outside, and I only owned Michigan sweatshirts, and since I couldn't wear them out of the house anymore because of sheer embarassment, if he didn't fire Dave Brandon, I would freeze to death, and it would be on his conscience.

Not only is he a gentleman and a scholar, apparently he's a humanitarian as well.

 

Joined: 11/22/2009

MGoPoints: 311

ragtimepiano

October 31st, 2014 at 8:54 PM ^

Our alumni community feels relieved and hopeful.  Prez S was impressively articulate in his press conference.  Bravo to him and bravo to our Board of Regents, who listened to the world-wide body of Michigan alumni, and students, and fans. 

  Once Hoke is gone, and we get a coach who can assess talent, and that very promising QB recruit arrives in Ann Arbor--- we are on our way. Defense is highly ranked, o-line is adequate, and after Devin plays his last down, we are ON OUR WAY!   GO BLUE!

Joined: 10/01/2014

MGoPoints: 4

bighouse22

October 31st, 2014 at 11:17 PM ^

I have spoken to people on both sides of the Dave Brandon issue and honestly I think the situation stinks.  I do not revel in someone losing their job.  

I believe that Dave Brandon did some good things that we need to recognize.  Specifically, we need to recognize what he did to upgrade the facilities for revenue and non revenue sports.  The challenge with paying for those updates is that it is on the back of the season ticket holders and donors. 

In my mind the appearance rightly or wrongly was that the program did not respect the fans, students or alumni.  We continue to hear from former players and current players regarding their disdain for the fans. 

The fans are the engine that pays for all of the athletic programs at Michigan and until the program recognizes the nature of the relationship this may continue to be ugly.  If you choose to treat fan sentiment as if it doesn't matter, than you should not expect their support.

You are figuratively biting the hand that feeds you.  Until players, former players and the program at large realize this point it will continue to be a problem.  

Let's hope this is the start of a new day!

Joined: 10/29/2013

MGoPoints: 3064

armybucknut

November 1st, 2014 at 12:57 AM ^

.... Not here to cause trouble or troll, I hope that all of this works out for you guys. I am actually of the mindset that respects The Game, and ready for it to be for the championship. Sort of like in 06. Anyways, good luck!

Joined: 11/01/2014

MGoPoints: 19

thatsmyjam

November 1st, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^

Honestly, I knew things had gotten way out of control when OSU people started being on our side. Takes a lot for someone to have Wolverines and Buckeyes united in their anger! Anyways I would fucking LOVE to go back to 06, even though that was like the hardest loss for me maybe ever, it was also the most epic build up and everything, and my senior year, maybe we can do it again some day with a different outcome!!! 

Joined: 12/14/2013

MGoPoints: 367

armybucknut

November 2nd, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^

Understood, some of my Compadre's might call me a traitor but I felt pain when Bo died, just as much as when Woody died. I believe what is lost in all of this is the no shit rivalry itself. I'm a bit older so I remember the Woody/Bo days and on. Plus I have the unfortunate displeasure of being stationed in SEC land. I hope this thing gets worked out and OSU/Michigan gets back to its roots. Once again good luck and stay away from Tressel please hahaha. Take care fellas.

Joined: 11/01/2014

MGoPoints: 19

fluidlike

November 2nd, 2014 at 12:32 AM ^

Hackett steered the company through a reorganization that cut half of the Grand Rapids workforce. Over the years, he eliminated 12,000 jobs and cut the company's 57 facilities by more than half.... Does this mean he shipped a Shit ton of manufacturing jobs overseas?

Joined: 04/24/2012

MGoPoints: 262