Schlissel: AD without U-M ties might help us even better

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Refreshing article from The Daily. 

http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/michigan-president-mark-schlissel-dave-brandon-athletic-director-search

I would imagine that we’ll begin the process of organizing a search in the coming weeks,” Schlissel said. “I can tell you with certainty I haven’t talked to anybody at all — no matter what you read in the media — about whether they’re interested in a permanent position here.

Also this:

I’m always open to the idea that someone from the outside might help us be even better. I just want to get the best person.

MGoBoard
Michigan Athletic Directors search

jmdblue

November 4th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^

problem at all with an AD or a new head coach hired without M ties.  Whoever it is will just have to demonstrte he (or she) understands and cares about our traditions.  This doesn't necessarily mean 3 yards adn a cloud of dust.  This theme goes back to RR's treatment and I understand he was not treated well.  That said he didn't help himself at all.  Didn't care enough about the tradtions to learn them let alone observe them.  Rolled on in and changed everything besides Coach Jackson.  New $1m weightroom? yep. old one sucks.  Michigan Replay? Nope. that sucked.  He just didn't do himself any favors.  Charlie Strong sounds like an awesome guy who has thoroughly embraced Texas.  I'd imagine he'd have us all wrapped around his finger within about 10 minutes.  Just like Hoke did most of us.

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M-Dog

November 4th, 2014 at 11:13 AM ^

We all love Schliss now.  But wait until he tells the new AD that there is no way the University is going to pay $5 million dollars to a football coach and then another couple of million on assistants.

Brace yourself.

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991GT3

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:24 PM ^

Why wait a few weeks or more? If this is their intent, then Sam and Ira may be on something. MIchigan has a vacant CEO of an important department (interim head is have little value since it would require considerable time to understand what is going on within the depart.) and there is no urgency to fill it?

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flashOverride

November 3rd, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^

That's what I'm assuming and hoping, but man, I can just never be sure given the past. I realize they can't just run out and hire Awesome Guy 1A yesterday, but I figure the back channels have been open for a while now. So my hope is that particular line of the statement is just keeping it close to the vest, and I agree that the scenario you envision is likely the case.

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BlueHills

November 3rd, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^

I agree. First of all, the AD position search can't be screwed up or appear to be rushed.

Second, it really would be nice to have a first-rate AD who can take the department into the future in a good way.

As much as I want a great coach here, nothing works unless the athletic department is well-run.

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Mr Miggle

November 3rd, 2014 at 7:59 PM ^

at least you could quote him correctly.

“I would imagine that we’ll begin the process of organizing a search in the coming weeks,”

That may sound overly deliberate, but it's not necessarily the same as waiting a few weeks to get started. I agree that he's likely just going out of his way to not say much. When he says he hasn't talked to people like NW's AD, that leaves open the possibility that someone else here has contacted them.

We're not going to hear anyone from Michigan say they've contacted a candidate until he's accepted the job. Everyone always wants to leave the impression they've hired their first choice.

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Njia

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:38 PM ^

It's the "process."

In all seriousness, I suspect that they are putting together the search committee, reviewing roles and responsibilities, structuring the interviews and hiring processes, etc. They have to open a requisition for the position, etc., etc.

Having done executive searches before, it's pretty rare that any organization just picks up the phone and makes an offer, particularly for a public university. Frankly, I'm glad that there's some rigor to this.

Joined: 09/15/2009

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Njia

November 3rd, 2014 at 8:15 PM ^

Hiring at any institution, let alone a public university, requires adherence to legal and policy requirements. One of those is a published job description that has been reviewed and approved by the requiring department as well as HR and probably Legal. If there are any changes to the scope of the AD job, and there could be if the Brandon tenure exposed loopholes or other issues that the University wants to close, it will take some time to do that. I agree that it is maddening. Even in my role working for an IT company, one can't simply go and hire a person even if he or she is obviously the right fit. The process can literally take months. It drives us all nuts but every time I have asked if it can be abbreviated in any way, someone will quote chapter and verse why it can't. From time to time, it has meant missing out on the obvious right answer. I don't doubt that there is some of that involved with the AD search as well.

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WolvinLA2

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:29 PM ^

People don't bring up guys like Bates, Manual or Long because their Michigan ties make them better ADs, just that their MIchigan ties make them more likely to leave their current job for Michigan.  Let's say Michigan is looking at the ADs from Cal and UCLA.  Both are very accomplished and from great schools with big athletic departments.  One of them grew up on CA and has spent his entire career on the West Coast and another grew up in Royal Oak, did his undergrad at Michigan and has family who still live back in Michigan.  They may be very similar candidates, but one guy would jump at the job and the other guy might not take it even if the pay was significantly higher.  

This does not mean you don't go after the West Coast guy if you really like him.  And Brian and other aren't profiling the guys with M ties because guys with M ties make better ADs.  But all things held relatively equal, when you're asking someone to leave a job where they're currently successful and have been for number of years, the guy with the ties is far more likely to take it.

It's similar to Harbaugh.  Normally, an NFL HC who is doing well wouldn't leave to come coach Michigan.  So the "ties" sometimes help you grab a candidate you normally wouldn't be able to grab.

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MWolverine7

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:35 PM ^

If Harbaugh is in play then I think they will purposely move things along slowly to buy some time...maybe?? What do I know?


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michgoblue

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:36 PM ^

Is there a single reason as to why this process would not start immediately? Or wasn't started on Thursday (right after Brandon informed Schlissel of his resignation)?

We are in an unfortunate time period with respect to a potential football HC hire. A few timing points (assuming a hoke firings):

1. There is a dead period as far as recruiting from mid-December through 1/14/15. Ideally, our new coach is in place at least a few days before then. He will have his work cut out to salvage this class. We have already seen the impact of a skipped recruiting class.

2. If we want our coach in place by 1/5 (give or take), then we need to have our AD in place at least 2 weeks before then so that he has time to get situated and do a proper coaching search. So, our new AD needs to be in place by mid-December.

I guess if we form a committee by mid-November, the whole AD process could be completed in 2-4 weeks and still work out, but can anyone here think of a reason not to start sooner rather than later?

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LSAClassOf2000

November 3rd, 2014 at 7:00 PM ^

One possible alternative storyline here is that you've now got an interim AD - with all the authority of a bona fide AD - to do that particular bit of dirty work for you and then you can bring in a new AD without all that stress which would normally come with a football HC search. I have a feeling that Hackett could very well be the one who handles this particular chore if indeed the athletic department moves in a different direction in football coaching, if you will. 

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93Grad

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:39 PM ^

than it is for a football coach.  An AD should understand the culture and tradition at the University as it is far more relevant to his job than a football coach's job which is just about wins and losses.  That said, I don't think it should be a prerquisite, just that I think it could boost someone's resume all things else being equal.

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gwkrlghl

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:57 PM ^

I can tell you with certainty I haven’t talked to anybody at all — no matter what you read in the media — about whether they’re interested in a permanent position here.
Schlissel hasn't talked to anyone, that doesn't mean other people haven't started reaching out

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