Press Conference 11-22-14: Jim Hackett Comment Count

Adam Schnepp

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[Upchurch/MGoBlog]

[Ed. note (Adam): A huge thank you to Greg Garno of The Michigan Daily for the audio. The following transcript is from the portion of the press conference in which video cameras weren’t allowed. The first part of the presser can be found here: http://www.mgoblue.com/collegesportslive/?media=476826]

Just a little finer-point follow up on the questions about recruiting. Other ADs have spoken to recruits to assure them one way or another. Will you have any direct contact with people that are being recruited in football?

"I haven't thought about that. I would tell you this, that the role that I'm playing as Athletic Director, as interim Athletic Director is supporting these coaches. The coaches own the point of view of their programs. This is how I led the businesses I have in my history, and so I'm there to help them. Of course I'm evaluating them. I'm trying to build resources and structures to help them be more effective, to help train them, to help develop them, to help motivate them so if there's anything I can help them do in the broadest sense I'm going to be there for them."

You mentioned your criteria for evaluating the football program. What are your criteria for evaluating a potential new Athletic Director?

“Well, because that sits with President Schlissel I’m going to let him hold the answer to that, and what I probably owe him is I can say as someone who used the seat of Athletic Director [that] I can give him some input, but it’s probably premature to do that right now. I’ve been 25 days or something on the job.”

In that input though, in your 25 days what do you think is the most important thing that you would say to President Schlissel is a key attribute of this new leader?

“What I’d be answering is how I feel about what I think we need in leadership. I walked in here with this notion and nothing’s changed my mind, and it begins with we stand in service of others. The job of a leader is to help people who want to achieve more, to be there for them, to support them. I’m a big believer in very thoughtful approaches to problems plus a mix of doing them, so it’s not only about getting things done but it’s about being really thoughtful. You heard more than an inference that I believe you’ve got to align yourself around the most competitive set in the world. We compete in our product with other kinds of institutions around the world- around the country, sorry, and to have the highest sense of acuity of what does it takes to compete, to make our fans so delighted, to make our alums so proud, to make the student-athletes believe that this is the best place in the world and on and on is really important. To have that acuity and help rationalize that is the part of leadership.”

[More after THE JUMP]

When were you contacted about being interim [AD]? Who called you? How quickly did you respond to that request?

“Yeah, President Schlissel was the only one I talked to. He called me a few days before the news of Dave’s resignation and he’s a very thoughtful guy. He was thinking about what if something happens in Athletics, do you have any ideas who might be a potential interim Athletic Director? We talked about a couple people that I thought might be really good and then he said, ‘Would you be interested?’ And I said, ‘I’ve got to talk to Kathy about that.’ And the next day he said that Dave had resigned, so that’s how it happened.”

You understand that you’re stepping into a situation where potential there could be a change in the football program after you evaluate it. How comfortable are you in that role, making a change if that’s what’s needed?

“I think the position I’m in today, and I’m really comfortable with this, the process of evaluating the coach at the end of the season is a really certain mark on the stage that I know how to do, and I’m really comfortable with the fact that this guy has done an extraordinary job in very difficult times. The calling-into-question part, in a leadership sense you wait for the moment when you’re really going to do it. It’s almost like a solemn ceremony, because it’s a deep respect for him and a deep respect for the process that you go through to make a decision like that.”

You mentioned football is one of your main goals, evaluating the football program. What kind of time have you been able to spend with the other sports programs and getting to know them?

“That’s been the challenge. I attended my first basketball game. I’ve been able to talk to Coach Beilein, Coach Berenson and many of the other coaches. We’ve had a number of fall coaches meetings where we’ve sat in the room like this and had a discussion about the changes and they’re all, of course, in various stages of flight with their programs. Their biggest question is, ‘Is there anything we should worry about, Jim, in the way that we’re going to change?’ and I really wanted to assure them that the previous administrations that have run this place have really sound underpinnings to it. Areas that I hope to impact are going to take some time. For example, I’ve hinted that the fan experience is a big deal to me. I know how to do that from my previous job, so there’s some method and technique and I’m going to use things like that and come back to you with some ideas about what that might look like.”

Just wanted to clarify, when you talk about wanting to take care of those three tasks before you worry about finding a new Athletic Director, will you definitely be the one in the seat evaluating the program and making a change if need be?

“The President has delegated to me the question of the performance of the football program at the end of the season.”

When you took over there was a lot of unrest, a lot of people unhappy with the athletic department, obviously. How much of a repair job does the athletic department need at this point?

“It really starts with the people that work here, because the group that’s working in athletics- first of all, I’ve got to point out the obvious, how extraordinary they are. My main message to them was, ‘You’re really good people [and] you’ve been doing great work’ to stabilize the feeling that things were in any kind of dire shape. They’re not. Secondly, when we pronounce these four or five things I did this in a letter to them last week, and they felt really about these are the right things for us to work on.”

You had just said a couple question previously, I believe your words were ‘extraordinary job’-

“Under adversity.”

Under adversity. What is extraordinary about the Michigan football program needing to win this game perhaps to become bowl eligible?

“You just said it. It’s the idea that you get to the point where there’s a flashpoint and you have to prove yourself, and things haven’t gone your way and yet he’s practiced this week to try and make this bowl game with incredible focus. I said also that he knows, there’s zero question in his mind that we’re not where we need to be.”

So what defines an acceptable season for Michigan football in your mind?

“I’m going to leave it that I’m really proud of where he’s in right now, and the evaluation of his go-forward status is going to come and I’ll be making that decision.”

It’s almost a follow up to what he was saying, but we hear from Michigan fans all the time- the stadium, because of the weather maybe it’ll be full today, maybe it won’t. The criteria, that delicate balance because you’ve said Brady’s done a lot of great things here but your assessment of the football product on the field; where do think this program is at right now and do you see improvement or has it kind of leveled off?

“I’m going to give you a really clear answer on that when we get to the end of the season, because it’s a body of work and we have two more games. One of them is a red letter game with a really important rival, and when that’s all done it won’t be vague or unclear about where we stand. I also want to emphasize we’re not where we need to be. He knows that, so the bigger issue is now only do I know it but does our coaching staff know it and they know it. Sometimes in business I found myself in reviews of situations and you thought, ‘People don’t understand where we are.’ They understand where we are. That’s a good start in terms of doing the evaluation that I have to do.”

You said before you’ve only been on the job 25 days, yet in this 25 days period would you like to have ‘interim’ off? Would you like this job? Have you expressed any interest to President Schlissel that perhaps you would like to do this?

“I’ve told him that I need to focus [on] right now, and the rest of that will come later.”

“Thank you very much. I’ve enjoyed meeting with you, and I want to say in parting that I really respect the role the media plays in this business versus the last one I was in, which was running a global corporation for a long time, and I got to know the people that cover the industry. By design I want to spend less time in my own right in these kind of settings until I have things to tell you about that you can count on, and so we’re not going to leave you in the lurch where you don’t know what’s going on or are guessing how I think about things, but I really have a belief that the authentic position is to come with real news and real decisions and real perspective, so I’d ask you to be patient with that as I’m new and trust that you’ll be happy when I do.”

Comments

ghostofhoke

November 23rd, 2014 at 11:31 PM ^

I learned absolutely nothing from that other than I hope he is able to hire the right coach and then we find a better long term solution for AD than him. I'm thankful that he took up the call when the university reached out to him in need and I'm sure it's not an easy position to be in but I don't see much here that tells me we should be hoping they drop the "interim" tag to lead us into the future.

Ray

November 23rd, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^

He said what I'd expect someone who has two big decisions ahead of him and only 25 days in the job to say. I'd be much more concerned if he came across as a loose cannon.

I'm satisfied that he will make the right decision on Hoke, given the program's lack of progress and the impending financial disaster that awaits with the status quo. In other words, if his affection for the program doesn't inspire him to make the right decision on the next coach, the program's economic prospects will.

This seems to me backed up by the latest chatter. I expect JUB and Sam are right on Hoke being gone, and JUB probably knows more than he's letting on when he laid out his prediction (a known name, no outsiders) on TKA on Thursday. I think Hackett has already made his decision and is working out the details now.

Cromulent

November 23rd, 2014 at 11:50 PM ^

"I would tell you this, that the role that I'm playing as Athletic Director, as interim Athletic Director"

Ok, that is about an obvious Freudian slip as they come.

Its also a big whiff of Alexander Haig: "I am in control here, at Shembechler Hall".

blusage

November 24th, 2014 at 1:41 AM ^

So even though the basketball team has had such success the last few years and even reaching the finals last year, our new interim AD has JUST gone to his first basketball game? That's not a promising sign.

Aspyr

November 24th, 2014 at 6:12 AM ^

I fear that they have hired a guy that is more interested in being the AD than helping find the “best qualified” AD for the job. The more time he spends making AD decisions the more he becomes entrenched. There needs to be a search committee dedicated towards the AD search and let Hackett play the interim AD only. FFS we need the best qualified and talented AD we can get.

Der Alte

November 24th, 2014 at 8:54 AM ^

Here's a guy with some experience talking to stockholders, to prying reporters, to hostile investors, the whole lot. Holding a presser to show the flag while disclosing ziltch is something he's probably done dozens of times, and he's obviously good at it.

My take from all this is pretty much the same as everyone else's. Search agents are already combing the colleges and universities around the country for a suitable AD. Brady will get the axe after the Ohio game, but feelers are already out for that job, as well.

My further take is that Jim and President Schliss will take a long look back into history to avoid the mistakes of the past. First, they won't get embroiled in a messy contract dispute by hiring a coach who nominates himself for the job just to get out of the one he's in. The disaster that was RR's escape from WVa and the ensuing lawsuits, NCAA sanctions, and collapse on the field gave M a very black eye, which it must avoid under all circumstances this time.

Second, don't hire a coach whose "body of work" is mediocre at best, justifying the decision by the fact that he once held an M assistant coaching position. Don Canham said he hired Bo because on every list of potential candidates Bo's name was at or near the top. This despite the fact that not only did Bo have no Michigan connections, he was once a member of Woody Hayes's staff. Canham just wanted the best available candidate, and he got him.

 

LDNfan

November 24th, 2014 at 9:10 AM ^

Man this place is real edgy...people need to calm down...he's been in the job less than a month and he's been tasked with an extraordinary responsibility. He should not be expected to know the AD (non-business) lingo..and he's knows he's got to be careful up there on that high wire....so understandably he speaks in vague generalities with a lot of corporate lingo mixed in.

He sure wasn't giving Hoke an unqualified vote of confidence (basically says that Hoke knows that he's failed) and that was before yet another ugly home loss. So it looks to me like Hoke is gone and he's trying not to tip his hand out of respect for Hoke, his staff and the players as they finish out the season. 

LDNfan

November 24th, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^

I don't think being fully versed in AD lingo should be high on the list for an interim AD. He's def. versed on large organizational change....

I don't know what people were expecting from the guy...20+ days in..what were people hoping he'd say? Seems pretty clear to me that Hoke is done...expecting him to come right out and say that now is being a bit dramatic IMO. 

68 Wolverine

November 24th, 2014 at 9:20 AM ^

Hopefully Mr. Hackett doesnt prolong the decision (either way) after the game next Saturday. I'm hoping he thanks Brady for trying, and tells him to hand over the keys. Either way, the coaching story is hurting M.

UMfanKT

November 24th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^

Please, please, please tell me that all this BS about "an extradordinary job" and him "being impressed because the coaches know the team isn't where we want it to be" is just that...BS. I'm gettint this sick to my stomach feeling that he really believes what he is spewing out and there is a chance this joker returns for a 5th season.  Please tell me I am wrong.

mastodon

November 24th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^

Regarding the first question to him about current recruits - he seems a bit clueless there.

He hasn't thought about contacting recruits(!!!), but apparently thinks the best approach is to support the coaches because they own their point of view...you know, the coaches that will NOT be coaching these recruits in the future.  Does he understand the dynamics of that situation?

I would think at least a "Hi Johnny, I know things seem a little chaotic right now, but rest assured, we are going to get a top-flight head coach..." is better than nothing.

I realize you gotta release the coaches first, or the recruits will light up the twittersphere, that they are "officially" being fired, but...he hasn't thought about it?  Maybe I'm being a bit harsh in that that's a tough answer to give at this point, but it just sounded clueless - and meanwhile our commits are vanishing.

Blue Since B.C.

November 24th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^

I can't watch/read press conferences anymore.  They always make me mad so I just read the comments.  Sounds like this one rated about a 1.5 on the Ferdosakes O-Meter judging by the feedback.

Soulfire21

November 24th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^

That was a lot of words to say basically nothing.  Each paragraph could have basically been "I will evaluate coach Hoke at the end of the football season, as I plan to do for every coach" or something similar.

I didn't come away with dire feelings though, as other people did.  He's being respectful and tight-lipped, which is fine, Hoke -- although obviously not capable of running a major football program like Michigan -- is, by all accounts, a respectful man.

Let him finish the game Saturday and then the evaluation can take place on Sunday and he can be fired by Monday.  The Maryland game removed whatever sliver of doubt was there, and now we don't have to worry about a bowl game mucking the firing/hiring process up.

Jonesy

November 24th, 2014 at 8:29 PM ^

This whole press conference was a waste of time.  The only question the media really cares about and is asking in a roundabout way is 'when is Hoke getting fired,' and Hackett is obviously not going to answer that question.  Its just a silly dance.