James Hackett to be Interim AD
James Hackett is a former player and CEO of Steelcase. While this sound exactly like the DB situation, remember it's only interim and Michigan will be searching for a proper AD.
angelique chengelis reports James Hackett, who played for Bo and was CEO at Steelcase, will be interim AD.
— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) October 31, 2014
October 31st, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
Also Steelcase is cooler than Domino's
October 31st, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^
enterprise. Naming a former player who was coached by Bo is a smart move, it touches a lot of local bases in reshaping Athletic Department leadership. I think Schlissel has done a great job in the handling of the initial stages of this repair job. Michigan aoopears to be in good hands as it moves foward from today. And I think this will result in an immediate shot in the arm for the university.
The wheels of change are in full gear how.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 31st, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^
Tom Goss and Dave Brandon? Don Canham who hired Bo, not a Michigan Man, wasn't a football player, he in fact was a teammate with Bob Ufer on the track and field team.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^
He is respected, available immediately and associated to "the family". Really can't bitch too much at this point.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^
I mean, they are from Grand Rapids, and though not cool by most definitions, they definitely really care about their relationship with their customers. I can settle for an AD who isn't trying to be hip with the kids if that means that they also don't treat us with naked contempt.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
October 31st, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
Brandon played for Bo. Not relevant for being an AD.
October 31st, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^
Interim for now... could it be a Bill Martin type situation where he gets the permanent gig down the road?
October 31st, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^
Palpatine was temporarily given control of the Galactic Senate too...
October 31st, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
As long as it's temporary, I'm good with it.
October 31st, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
I'd take a cheeseburger over DB as AD.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
I see your cheeseburger and raise you 2 cokes.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
I expected more from the sausage king of Chicago than the equivalent of a Michigan-Minnesota ticket.
October 31st, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^
But can he Hackett?
October 31st, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
Just ... bravo.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
Rimshot.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
Is he currently in the AD? My guess is that he is not.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:01 PM ^
Let's just move quickly and get a new guy in there.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^
Started a new job today. Had to finish training and orientation stuff. Just got out for a quick break. WOW! I missed A LOT! This is awesome. Get DB the F outta here. Hopefully Hoke isnt too far behind.
October 31st, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
Is your name Hackett?
October 31st, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^
Just long enough to swap out all the athletic department furniture to Steelcase product and rename the basketball floor to Steelcase.
Bye Bye Chobani.....
October 31st, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
Hey, another ex-player CEO - what could go wrong?
October 31st, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^
Our last two choices of AD with no AD experience and only business experience haven't gone so well (DB and Goss).
October 31st, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
Our last two choices of AD with no AD experience and only business experience haven't gone so well (DB and Goss).
October 31st, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
go on too long. It would be better to have the permanent AD make the coaching hire. Also, I seem to recall this guy being mentioned in Bo's book, but I can't remember and am too lazy to go upstairs and look.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
is that he was brought on to help with the permanent AD search. i would think the asst AD would handle most of the day-to-day duties.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
offers a series of comments about Hackett, starting with a review of his family background, because Hackett's dad, Bill, played for Ohio under Woody, but he didn't recruit Jim, who was a linebacker in high school, and Bo decided to give him a scholarship at Michigan.
But Hackett, who never missed a practice during his football days, faced stiff competition at both linebacker and then center, and he wound up being primarily a demo player.
In Bacon's book, Bo mentions Hackett in particular because of an unscheduled meeting they had during his junior year that interrupted a coaches film session. Hackett wanted to see Bo to ask him about his status and starting potential on the team. Bo said the meeting stood out for both men, and describes it in detail to explain how you deal directly with players when they come see you.
"He knew what he was giving us, and perhaps just as important, that day, was that he knew that we knew it, too, Hackett shook my hand and headed up the hill to class. Years later, Jimmy told me he learned a lot from that meeting, that you can have a tremendous impact as a leader just by taking a little time."
Hackett told Bo that he incorporated that lesson when he started his company, a 14,000-employee business.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
offers a series of comments about Hackett, starting with a review of his family background, because Hackett's dad, Bill, played for Ohio under Woody, but he didn't recruit Jim, who was a linebacker in high school, and Bo decided to give him a scholarship at Michigan.
But Hackett, who never missed a practice during his football days, faced stiff competition at both linebacker and then center, and he wound up being primarily a demo player.
In Bacon's book, Bo mentions Hackett in particular because of an unscheduled meeting they had during his junior year that interrupted a coaches film session. Hackett wanted to see Bo to ask him about his status and starting potential on the team. Bo said the meeting stood out for both men, and describes it in detail to explain how you deal directly with players when they come see you.
"He knew what he was giving us, and perhaps just as important, that day, was that he knew that we knew it, too, Hackett shook my hand and headed up the hill to class. Years later, Jimmy told me he learned a lot from that meeting, that you can have a tremendous impact as a leader just by taking a little time."
Hackett told Bo that he incorporated that lesson when he started his company, a 14,000-employee business.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
Would still be a change for the better. Even though he's, unfortunately, deceased.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
yep. We've learned nothing if this is any indication.
At least Bill Martin had a background in the USOC.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^
Is it me or does James Hackett look an awfully lot like a bald Tom Hammond?
October 31st, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
that's frightening.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^
Hopefully he can hack it
October 31st, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
FIRE HACKETT!
October 31st, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
Here's an article on his tenure at Steelcase:
http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2014/01/steelcase…
October 31st, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^
A former player for Bo... who thereafter became a long-time CEO... who has never been an AD...
October 31st, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
They need a downsizer and budget slasher to level some of those inflated salaries in the AD and free up some cash for the next coach.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^
He's just a seatwarmer while we wrap up our real search, I doubt he'll do anything other than keep an eye on the department and make sure nothing gets out of hand.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
Mark Schlissel was forced to act sooner than he would have liked due to emailgate. I hope he takes his time and makes a great hire. Somebody that would be able to bring in a top flight coach, yes you Jim Harbaugh!
Check out Jim's success at San Francisco where they were wallowed in mediocrity, no winning record for the previous 8 years.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
I haven't heard much about Jim since he was Michigan's QB in the 80's. Are you saying he went into coaching? /s
October 31st, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^
Being a public institution, doesn't the AD job have to be posted before it can be filled? Except for a retirement, it seems unlikely that you wouldn't end up with an interim. Can't really interview and offer someone else the job until the current person "resigns".
October 31st, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^
I know it is interim, but FFS does any other organization in the world hire like this?
October 31st, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
Bo talked about him in Michigan Memories:
"Jimmy Hackett didn't get to play much, but he made a big contribution to our success."
Bo also spoke in pretty glowing terms in his book with Bacon.
At the very least it seems Bo thought more of him than Brandon.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
I care that Michigan stops thinking incestuously and hires the best candidate for the job.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^
Well, he's the interim, so I wouldn't worry too much.
I am past the "Michigan man" bullshit as well as far as hiring an alumni for coach or AD, but I do think there are some good candidates that were alumni for AD where that could be an asset to them. Aside from Harbaugh and Miles there aren't any coaching candidates that it should be a factor in and it should be a tiny factor no matter what.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
October 31st, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
Oh NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I worked at Steelcase, he came in had the company go public and then ran it out of Michigan. We had to have 10 to 15 large building going full blast, now 1. He would nickel and dime his mother. Hard work took a back seat to butt kissing. Wants nothing but yes men around him. Bring back Brandon fergodsakes. 3rd string center I think for Bo.
October 31st, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
plz be joking