ADC: who are the Primary Candidates?

Submitted by bj dickey on

In light of what appears imminent, it seems appropriate to consider who may be considered (perhaps already chosen?) as the next athletic director.  It's my belief, that only someone very familiar with Michigan will be chosen.  Furthermore, it will most certainly be someone with athletic director experience -- I think the Prez and the Regents have seen their fill of marketing gurus and businessmen.  With that in mind:

Your Inside the Tracks Candidates:

Brad Bates:  Bo nominated him as the next Michigan AD.  Has the requisite experience at Michigan, and as an AD at BC.  Likely that Bates is choice 1 or 1A. 

Ward Manuel:  As with Bates, has a great deal of experience with Michigan, and as AD at Buffalo and UConn. 

Jeff Long:  A good history within the Michigan athletic department, and understands it well.  Currently the AD at Arkansas.  Has hired Petrino and Bielema.  To me, he would appear the favorite.

Bob DeCarolis:  Spent a long time in the Michigan athletic department and is presently at Oregon State as AD.  He hired Mike Riley, who has done well.  

Your Outside the Tracks Candidates:

I don't think there are any likely candidates than those identified in the first section.  It seems extraordinarily unlikely that an assistant would be tapped, as it Brandon's successor will need to carry enough experience, expertise, and weight to have those in the department follow his lead.   No sense in hiring someone who has what may be a superior already at the department.

Regardless:

Joe Parker:  Assistant AD TTU. 

Mike DeBord:  You know his background.  Presently serving as assistant athletic director at Michigan. 

Wolverine In Exile

October 15th, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^

BC is big enough program to be a training ground for Michigan. He (so far) has made what seems to be a successful football hire, and he was responsible for keeping Enrico Blasi at  Miami (NTM) during his first couple years along with the magnificent refurb of the Miami hockey arena which shows me all the hockey chops I need (that being the next most likely important hire coming up after football)

Brodie

October 15th, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^

I think Bates' track record of football hires are spotty at best, actually. His hires at Miami basically destroyed what had been the MAC's premier program for over 50 years and his hire at BC amounted to little more than the sort of MACtion hire that we'd all sneer at Illinois for making.

Everything else about him is a net positive, but that might be the most important decision a new AD will have to make

Brodie

October 15th, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^

a very shitty reason to hire anyone... if we don't have any legit shot at either Harbaugh, as is probably likely, I want the AD who can go out there and pull the shock hire or identify the the up and comer... not the dude who went through three head coaches at Miami and then hired a generic dudebro with one good MAC season at BC.

Brodie

October 15th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^

why would Bill Martin come out of retirement to do that instead of just promoting someone within the AD like DeBord, who has basically been directing the Olympic sports by himself for the past two years? It's a position that will be held for like two months tops

club2230

October 15th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^

Bill Martin will be best known for botching the Miles hire, but he was a pretty fantastic AD.  He brought the program into the black and hired John Beilein.

We are all clammoring for an "ignore Michigan Man and get the best guy" approach for a new football coach and he did just that when he hired RR.  Granted RR didn't last, but he was a big name coach at the time of his hire.  

Mr. Yost

October 15th, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^

None of them would turn it down if offered. Only Long could if Arkansas decided to double his pay or something like that. The other 2 would for sure come to Michigan.

Athletics administration isn't like coaching. You can't wait and assume you'll get your shot at a later time. You take it as soon as you get the opportunity.

I'd be shocked if any of the top 3 turned it down. Like I said, Arkansas may be in a position to give Long 1 million/year and that's all I could see stopping him from leaving. That may not even be enough if he truly wants to leave.