Jim Hackett Press Conference, YouTube
For those who missed it (sorry can someone embed?):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUJa5wNf6uM
Some general thoughts I posted on Facebook:
even if you don't care one iota about michigan football, i think there is a lot to take away from athletic director jim hackett's handling of the firing of coach hoke from a leadership, management, and PR perspective. this is relevant for all you business grinders.
jim hackett was a player under bo schembechler and the former CEO of steelcase (high end office furniture company in michigan). during his tenure, to continue to complete globally with low cost manufacturing around the world, he had to lay off half the workforce of steelcase and modernize. this is not a decision he made lightly, and there are accounts of jim spending months afterwards talking and eating meals with the fired workers, treating them with dignity and trying to help them understand and to network for new jobs elsewhere.
hackett demonstrates that same spirit in this press conference and his handling of coach hoke. hard decisions have to be made, and justifiably so, but that doesn't mean that people can't be treated with dignity and respect. i can't help but think of how much this contrasts with our former AD, corporate mega douche-tool fuck dave brandon, and his handling of the firing of coach rodriguez along with his general arrogant attitude toward the fans and the institution
i am cautiously optimistic that michigan has found a legit administrator at last
December 2nd, 2014 at 7:23 PM ^
The only thing I don't understand is why Hackett has decided to use a search firm. What's the point of paying people 6 figures to find a list of candidates that are obvious to every football-watching middle-schooler?
"Dear Mr. Hackett, we think Jim Harbaugh and Les Miles would be excellent candidates. That will be 300,000 dollars."
December 2nd, 2014 at 7:27 PM ^
Um idk maybe the fact that an AD might have other things on his plate and doesn't have the time to do all the legwork involved alone?
Legwork being getting into contact, gauging interest etc.
December 2nd, 2014 at 7:31 PM ^
December 2nd, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^
Could not be happier they are using a firm. Get's someone outside of Schembechler Hall involved... and makes sure we get this thing right.
December 2nd, 2014 at 7:33 PM ^
Management and Logistics.
December 2nd, 2014 at 7:36 PM ^
December 2nd, 2014 at 8:35 PM ^
Maybe if Bill Martin had used a search firm in 2007, we wouldn't be in the current situation. To quote from John U. Bacon:
Martin’s search for a new football coach, however, was undoubtedly the low point of his tenure. Lloyd Carr had already told Martin he would not be coaching much longer, but Martin seemed to be genuinely caught off-guard by Carr’s retirement after the 2007 Ohio State game.
Les Miles, a former Michigan player and assistant coach who was in the process of leading Louisiana State University to a national title, wanted the Michigan job – but Michigan did not even return his calls. Instead, Michigan offered the job to Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano – who publicly turned Michigan down. Martin then reassured people that he had a list of 20 candidates, which is the kind of list you put together a year before you actually need to pick one.
Martin and UM President Mary Sue Coleman had to scramble. They got lucky when Rich Rodriguez became interested only after his West Virginia team got knocked out of the national title chase by lowly Pitt. But the damage had been done to the Michigan football family, which remains fractured.
December 2nd, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^
control
December 2nd, 2014 at 8:39 PM ^
delete
December 2nd, 2014 at 8:49 PM ^
December 2nd, 2014 at 8:51 PM ^
just my speculation but: let's say he wanted Harbaugh, and someone internally leaked it. What's his recourse? not much except finding the poor sap and cannonizing him/her.
but what if he instead tells a search firm he wanted Harbaugh and it was leaked? it would instantly lose a lot of credibility for these types of searches, and for a lot of search firms their reputation for discretion is what gets them businesses.
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:05 PM ^
the answer is pretty simple: it makes the whole process much more professional. Hackett has never run a search like this; by reaching out to a firm, he leverages others' knowledge of how to run a discreet search. Yes, it costs $$, but the amount will be trivial compared to one year of coach pay, so...
December 2nd, 2014 at 7:28 PM ^
My guess is maybe the search firm could help unearth some potentially viable and interested candidates through established relationships with agents and advisors in the event that obvious options A, B, and C somehow fall through.
December 2nd, 2014 at 7:43 PM ^
With his performance today, reinstilled confidence that he was exactly the man for the job.
We are in good hands.
Go Blue!
December 2nd, 2014 at 7:46 PM ^
I was pleasantly surprised by his reference to gender equality in reference to a "Michigan Man."
Overall his intelligence and thoughtfulness were refreshing.
Thanks for posting this link.
December 2nd, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^
December 2nd, 2014 at 8:26 PM ^
December 2nd, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:05 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:06 PM ^
this is a must watch for those who missed it. Hackett was a boss.
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^
I feel a lot more comfortable with him making the hire after watching that video
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:17 PM ^
Thanks for posting. I was not able to watch live.
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^
Me either, glad we were both able to.
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
For any key position, like an AD, you of course want to consider all options/candidates, but I must say I agree with others in this thread that Hackett seemed fantastic in every manner of this conference - words and mannerisms.
Short video caveat acknowleged, my first impression is that we'd be hard pressed to find someone better for the job long term than him.
I'd be on board with him long term if that's what's in store for us.
December 2nd, 2014 at 11:26 PM ^
That is how an executive manages a difficult situation. I feel significantly better about where we stand as an athletic department after watching the entire press conference. Additionally, Hackett is the type of executive that will help educate Schlissel in the process.
The process he outlined and the approach he's taking is exceptional. While I hoped for Brady to have an "Earl Bruce" moment (delusional, I know), I deeply appreciate Hackett's approach and the thoughtful way he exectued Brady's exit, including talking to the players. The difference between today and what happened at Nebraska speaks volumes. And I think we all would agree that this wouldn't have been the case under the last AD.
There is no such thing as an infallable hiring process, but you can define a thorough process to minimize the risk. For all the Harbaugh and Miles dreams, neither of them is a sure thing either. Do I hope we end up with one of them? Yes, but my faith in Hackett grew considerably today and I will no longer fret about where we land.
December 3rd, 2014 at 12:03 AM ^
December 3rd, 2014 at 12:12 AM ^
sounds like Louie C. K.