BILL MARTIN TO RETIRE IN 2010

Submitted by FabFiver5 on

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091021/SPORTS0201/910210401/Michigan-a…

From the article:
Coleman said she will 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," Coleman said. "With this advance notice, we have the opportunity to make a thoughtful and deliberate choice and to manage a smooth transition."

Alright everyone, start throwing out names.

mds315

October 21st, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^

http://www.muredhawks.com/school-bio/mioh-ad-bio-bates.html

Bates, who came to Miami after 17 years at Vanderbilt University, achieved a doctorate in education at Vanderbilt in 1997. This followed the bachelor's and master's degrees he earned in education at the University of Michigan in 1981 and 1982. At Vanderbilt, along with overseeing the administration of all 15 sports, Bates, a Senior Associate A.D. when he departed, was highly involved in the department's budgetary, marketing, development, licensing and Title IX compliance decision-making.

Athletically, Bates was a walk-on defensive back for Michigan from 1977-81. He played for then-Wolverine head football coach Bo Schembechler, a 1951 Miami alumnus and member of Miami's legendary Cradle of Coaches. In his four years as a player, the Wolverines won three Big Ten Championships, posted a record of 37-11-0 and played in three Rose Bowls and a Gator Bowl.

Bates and his wife, Michele, reside in Oxford.

The Bates File

Education
High School: Port Huron (MI), 1977
College: Michigan, 1981 (education)
Masters: Michigan, 1982 (education)
Doctorate: Vanderbilt, 1998 (education)

Experience 1981-82 Graduate Assistant Michigan
1982-85 Head Strength Coach Colorado
1985-89 Head Strength Coach Vanderbilt
1989-95 Asst. AD Student Life/Interim AD for Compliance (1994) Vanderbilt
1995-96 Associate AD for Internal Operations Vanderbilt
1996-98 Associate AD for Revenue Sports and Internal Operations Vanderbilt
1998-02 Senior Associate AD Vanderbilt
2002-present Director of Athletics Miami University

Notes of Interest

Played for the football team at the University of Michigan under Miami University legend Bo Schembechler.
Twice during his tenure at Vanderbilt, the football program earned the American Football Coaches Association award for the highest graduation rate in college football.
Helped negotiate Vanderbilt's rights contract with the Tennessee Titans for the 1998 season

Yostal

October 21st, 2009 at 11:27 AM ^

Seconded, and it would not surprise me if this guy is already on the short list. It doesn't hurt that he oversaw Miami building their new hockey arena and that he has Michigan ties and experience in this area. I think he'd be a great candidate.

Aequitas

October 21st, 2009 at 11:36 AM ^

I hope he gets a solid look from Mary Sue. There's a lot to like there.

I think the first question any of the candidates should be asked is, "What do you think about Rich Rodriguez?" If they haven't even bothered to talk with him, or learn about him, BEFORE interviewing for the job, I'd stop the interview right there.

We don't need any more internal drama or intrigue than the supporters of a former coach have already provided.

Section 1

October 21st, 2009 at 11:43 AM ^

Or something like that...
Yeah, Miami's AD would be a first-class candidate.

There is no chance -- zero, zilch, zip, nada -- that Lloyd Carr will get this job, that he'd be asked to consider this job, that he would take this job if somebody begged him. And the reason has nothing whatsoever to do with anything that has happened since Rich Rodriguez first talked to Bill Martin.

I do think that Lloyd might be asked to be on the search committee.

Back when Tom Goss was hired (an appontment that I thought was a disaster within about 24 hours of the announcement), the guy I liked was Fritz Seyferth. I'm not sure if he'd still be a candidate, but he's a great guy and it would really make me happy.

Brodie

October 21st, 2009 at 2:44 PM ^

Montgomery was the only choice for Miami, as they hadn't gone outside the program for a coach since Woody Hayes. Give Haywood a chance to build his own program, he's got 4 years of shitty recruiting and 60 years of tradition to overcome.

el segundo

October 21st, 2009 at 11:52 AM ^

Michigan needs a different kind of athletic director than Martin, and Bates' credentials sound like he fits the (new) bill.

I suspect Martin got the job because everyone knew that Michigan had a lot of facility-building to do and his real estate and financial background would help enormously in that task. And, whatever you think of him generally, you can't fault Martin for what he's done with all of his capital projects.

But the buildings are largely built now (or they'are about to be). Michigan needs something else. Bates seems to have some experience in managing student-athlete life, and I think that has to be one of the most important parts of the AD's job in the near future. Michigan has more highly competitve athletic programs than ever, and, threfore, more athletes under substantial pressure to balance athletics and academics. The physical infrastructure for achieving that balance has been put it place. But is seems like more could be done with the programs for academic counseling that are available to athletes.

That said, whoever gets the job has to have the inclination and the power to take care of the apparent internal division within the department in the wake of Rodriguez's firing. If Bates isn't the kind of guy who can stop the infighting, someone else should get the job.

jlcoleman71

October 21st, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^

Being an AD is more than being a football coach.....if hiring is all about nostalgia, then I guess he's the only choice, but I hope more thought would go into it than that.....I want someone that can make sound financial decisions, not some crotchety old fart that doesn't like RRich.

blueheron

October 21st, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^

Rich Rod's life is going to get at least slightly more complicated around that time. Bill Martin is an important supporter of his. Replace him with a Lover of Lloyd and all he11 will break loose. Would the flagship revenue sport (i.e., football) be better off in that case? Hard to say...

Shalom Lansky

October 21st, 2009 at 11:26 AM ^

Why would the University hire someone that had it in for the school's highest paid employee who has multiple years left on his contract? (I'm guessing that he is the highest paid, but you get the point). That would be a bad business move.

On that note, if Lloyd got the job, I'd take it as a sign that Lloyd supports Rich Rod.

Brother Mouzone

October 21st, 2009 at 11:38 AM ^

The AD should be in Coach Rods corner, and in the corner EVERY Michigan coach without a doubt.

If Lloyd gets the job, it could indeed mean that he supports Rich Rod. (I haven't seen huge signs of support from his Associate Athletic Director position)

It might also mean that those folks who don't like Rich have played their trump card and their will be tremendous and outstanding drama.

I really think someone outside is the best call right now.

Aequitas

October 21st, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^

but props for your first point.

The new AD must be aligned with the current program. Bringing in anyone who doesn't respect Coach Rod is setting us up for more change, uncertainty and churn. Rodriguez will have the team piling up wins in mass quantities by then, and an AD that doesn't fully support him at that time will just drive Coach Rod away to any number of programs.

My ideal candidate would have high academic standards, business acumen, active vocal support for Rodriguez AND a tie to Michigan as a former player.

blueheron

October 21st, 2009 at 11:49 AM ^

In a logically ordered universe (one befitting a top-notch university like UM) that would never happen. But, there's been no end to the Auburn-like nonsense that has occurred since Rodriguez "took office." There are a lot of insecure, infantile people out there and one of them could wind up in the AD's office. You never know...

MGoJoe

October 21st, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^

1. Is Martin being forced out?

2. Will Martin leave the cupboard bare?

3. Will Herbstreit break the story when we "hire" a new director?

4. Will the new director be a Michigan Man?

5. Will the new director lack "family values" ?

03 Blue 07

October 21st, 2009 at 11:34 AM ^

Same kind of mold that Bill Martin came from- successful businessman, U of M ties, etc. This wouldn't be a bad call. However, something tells me that Stephen Ross has so much going on that he wouldn't be interested, and if he were interested, he'd likely be distracted by his myriad investments/businesses/massive quantities of money. I know Bill Martin is also from the "successful businessman" mold, etc, but I think Stephen Ross operates on another level. You don't accumulate that kind of scratch without REALLY liking money and knowing how to get it and make it grow, and it'd probably be very hard to keep an eye on all of said money/investments AND be A.D. at the same time, IME.

blueblueblue

October 21st, 2009 at 11:39 AM ^

Ross would be an interesting choice. I would guess, in the mold of being a good manager, he would be able to take himself away from his other businesses (i.e., hire a doppelganger to keep his investments sound) to focus on the AD at Michigan. It's not a bad way to end a successful career.

bluebyyou

October 21st, 2009 at 11:31 AM ^

I think Lloyd is too old. You want someone in the position whom, if successful, will be able to run the show for a number of years.
The timing may simply be Martin wanting to retire, but I wonder if there might be something lurking in the background regarding the NCAA investigation.

mjv

October 21st, 2009 at 1:26 PM ^

There is something lurking. He's retiring when the Stadium is done.
Date of retirement: 9/4/2010.
Date of UConn game: 9/4/2010.

he's stated before he wanted to see the Stadium done before he leaves. And if he's being pushed out, he doesn't give an 11 month notice, he get's kicked out of the door on a random Friday evening after the beat writers have gone home.