We are constantly mentioning and criticizing potential AD's here. Fundraising, management experience and public relations have been mentioned. An AD must be strong enough to fire a coach and have sufficient judgment on hires to at least avoid the obvious. See, e.g., Donnie Tyndall.
A fundamental understanding of finance is critical. The AD has to figure out how to pay for things, how to finance them, how the bond market works, and how salaries should be prioritized.
When I was chair of the Student Seating Committee, Bob Woodruff was the AD. He considered students to be, at best, a nuisance. Student demand for football and basketball seats was intense. Ray Mears and Doug Dickey were our coaches.
I met with Dr. Andy Holt and will never forget his advice to me. "When you meet with Coach Woodruff," he said, "you will probably think he is just some inarticulate glob. Beneath all that, though, there is a fox!"
Fundraising will always be important, but with the bonanza we have from the SEC now, less so. We need a man who is canny, relentless, demanding and focussed. The "face" of the programs will always be the coaches. Does he have the backbone to fire them and the judgment not to be impulsive with the decision? Can he identify and attract the best? (Why is Jay Wright coaching Villanova today rather than the Vols?)
This hire is important. It is not as urgent as many seem to believe. It should be done with all available information. That is the function of a search team. But when it comes down to the hire itself, which man will the Chancellor believe she can hand the keys and focus on other things?
A fundamental understanding of finance is critical. The AD has to figure out how to pay for things, how to finance them, how the bond market works, and how salaries should be prioritized.
When I was chair of the Student Seating Committee, Bob Woodruff was the AD. He considered students to be, at best, a nuisance. Student demand for football and basketball seats was intense. Ray Mears and Doug Dickey were our coaches.
I met with Dr. Andy Holt and will never forget his advice to me. "When you meet with Coach Woodruff," he said, "you will probably think he is just some inarticulate glob. Beneath all that, though, there is a fox!"
Fundraising will always be important, but with the bonanza we have from the SEC now, less so. We need a man who is canny, relentless, demanding and focussed. The "face" of the programs will always be the coaches. Does he have the backbone to fire them and the judgment not to be impulsive with the decision? Can he identify and attract the best? (Why is Jay Wright coaching Villanova today rather than the Vols?)
This hire is important. It is not as urgent as many seem to believe. It should be done with all available information. That is the function of a search team. But when it comes down to the hire itself, which man will the Chancellor believe she can hand the keys and focus on other things?
