Post by elp525 on Mar 10, 2010 5:44:00 GMT -5
March 9, 2010
By Mitch Vingle
Sports Editor
AH, I LOVE the smell of an athletic search in the morning.
In this position, you simply can't beat it. There are the truths, the rumors, the back-door politics, the behind-the-scenes interviews... The smell of napalm has nothing on that of a good ol'-fashioned search.
Of course, in this case, I refer to the soon-to-be athletic director opening at West Virginia University. Fine, easy-goin' AD Ed Pastilong will be out on June 30 - and a new person will be named by then.
On Tuesday, I reached WVU president Jim Clements, albeit through university spokesperson Becky Lofstead, and received the following response regarding a question of the job's requirements:
"I'm looking for a visionary with experienced leadership, someone skilled in fundraising and relationship building, someone who understands the importance of compliance in athletic administration.''
According to Lofstead, Clements said a small search committee would be formed in "the coming weeks'' and a Web site will be created to give updates. (Remember the old days, when people used their voices?)
Should be interesting. Below is a list of probable candidates, most with ties to the Mountain State. Keep in mind, however, Clements showed a little chutzpah by telling Pastilong his tenure ends in June. (I doubt that endeared him to generous philanthropist and close Pastilong friend Mike Puskar. Yet...) Meaning, this search could be wide open.
Perhaps the new AD may not need close ties to West Virginia. Perhaps Clements is looking more for someone with whom he's comfortable. We'll see. But here are some of the early likely candidates, presented in alphabetical order:
Whit Babcock - Babcock made many friends in the Mountain State as an assistant AD before taking the title of executive associate AD at Missouri. In fact, many were upset the WVU administration didn't pony up the money to keep Babcock in Morgantown. His profile at Missouri claims "private giving [at WVU] increased by more than 200 percent to a total of $14 million annually.'' Some of that, though, also had to do with Rich Rodriguez's football teams.
Chris Fuller - Fuller, who was graduated from Shepherd and earned a master's degree at WVU, is the associate AD for sales and marketing at Tennessee. He's worked with corporations and was the lead negotiator on the Volunteers' $83.4 million, 10-year multi-media agreement with IMG College. Before hitting UT, Fuller was a cog for ACC Properties and assistant sports marketing director at North Carolina.
Oliver Luck - When it became clear Pastilong would be leaving in June, it seemed a chorus rang out through the mountains of "Ollie, Ollie.'' Calls, texts, e-mails, story comments, you name it, brought up Luck, the former WVU and NFL quarterback and, since, uber-successful sports businessman. He was president and CEO of NFL Europe. He was the Houston Sports Authority CEO. He is currently the president and general manager of the Houston Dynamo Major League soccer team. Oh yes, and he's a member of the WVU Board of Governors.
"I'm very happy living in Houston,'' Luck said on Tuesday. "I have three kids in public schools.''
That's the extent of the statement. Read into it what you will.
Tim McNeely - McNeely may be a long shot, but expect the former WVU basketball player to at least throw his hat in the proverbial ring. He's earned much respect around the state for his work on the Pete Dye Classic of the Nationwide golf tour. He owns a firm, McNeely Sports, which was the exclusive agent for operating and marketing of the golf event. He's now the Greenbrier Classic director.
Rob Mullens - Mullens was raised in Morgantown, graduated cum laude from WVU in 1991 and earned a master's degree there in '93. Since, he's put together an impressive administrative career. Mullens is the deputy director of athletics at Kentucky after holding the title of executive senior associate AD at Maryland for six years. He's been at UK since 2002.
Mike Parsons - There's no doubt Parsons must make a hard run at the job. He's an accomplished deputy director of athletics at WVU, second in command to Pastilong. Word is, throughout the years, he's done a lot of the department's heavy lifting. He has as many detractors, though, as he has admirers. He has to make a hard run, because if he doesn't land the gig, a new AD may want his or her own peeps.
Joe Safety - Safety is a West Virginia native who has ascended to the status of vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise. He has extensive professional experience, including stints with the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jim Schaus - Schaus is the son of former WVU legend Fred Schaus, who starred as a player, coach and AD in Morgantown. The younger Schaus is the athletic director at Ohio University, and before that he held the same position at Wichita State. Word from up north is the Bobcat AD has support. Whether that's because of his work or that of his father is unclear.
nn
It will be interesting to see how much more money WVU will authorize to pay the new AD. Pastilong was making around $225,000. He'll receive an extra $100,000 to stay on through June 30 and collect $125,000 in deferred compensation.
But, among BCS conferences, Pastilong and Mississippi State's Greg Byrne were the lowest-paid ADs in a 2009 study. One source within the field said Pastilong's salary would have to be doubled in total compensation in order to land a top-flight candidate.
Florida AD Jeremy Foley made $965,000 last year. Kansas AD Lew Perkins made $900,000. Within the Big East, Louisville's Tom Jurich made $484,993.
nn
And finally . . . something to watch.
Word received here is there's a strong possibility ESPN may televise this year's WVU-Marshall football game in Huntington.
Perhaps the game would have to be moved back from its current Saturday, Sept. 11 date, to a Friday, Sept. 10, date to accommodate the network.
It is, however, being given a serious look.
We shall see.
Have a great day.
By Mitch Vingle
Sports Editor
AH, I LOVE the smell of an athletic search in the morning.
In this position, you simply can't beat it. There are the truths, the rumors, the back-door politics, the behind-the-scenes interviews... The smell of napalm has nothing on that of a good ol'-fashioned search.
Of course, in this case, I refer to the soon-to-be athletic director opening at West Virginia University. Fine, easy-goin' AD Ed Pastilong will be out on June 30 - and a new person will be named by then.
On Tuesday, I reached WVU president Jim Clements, albeit through university spokesperson Becky Lofstead, and received the following response regarding a question of the job's requirements:
"I'm looking for a visionary with experienced leadership, someone skilled in fundraising and relationship building, someone who understands the importance of compliance in athletic administration.''
According to Lofstead, Clements said a small search committee would be formed in "the coming weeks'' and a Web site will be created to give updates. (Remember the old days, when people used their voices?)
Should be interesting. Below is a list of probable candidates, most with ties to the Mountain State. Keep in mind, however, Clements showed a little chutzpah by telling Pastilong his tenure ends in June. (I doubt that endeared him to generous philanthropist and close Pastilong friend Mike Puskar. Yet...) Meaning, this search could be wide open.
Perhaps the new AD may not need close ties to West Virginia. Perhaps Clements is looking more for someone with whom he's comfortable. We'll see. But here are some of the early likely candidates, presented in alphabetical order:
Whit Babcock - Babcock made many friends in the Mountain State as an assistant AD before taking the title of executive associate AD at Missouri. In fact, many were upset the WVU administration didn't pony up the money to keep Babcock in Morgantown. His profile at Missouri claims "private giving [at WVU] increased by more than 200 percent to a total of $14 million annually.'' Some of that, though, also had to do with Rich Rodriguez's football teams.
Chris Fuller - Fuller, who was graduated from Shepherd and earned a master's degree at WVU, is the associate AD for sales and marketing at Tennessee. He's worked with corporations and was the lead negotiator on the Volunteers' $83.4 million, 10-year multi-media agreement with IMG College. Before hitting UT, Fuller was a cog for ACC Properties and assistant sports marketing director at North Carolina.
Oliver Luck - When it became clear Pastilong would be leaving in June, it seemed a chorus rang out through the mountains of "Ollie, Ollie.'' Calls, texts, e-mails, story comments, you name it, brought up Luck, the former WVU and NFL quarterback and, since, uber-successful sports businessman. He was president and CEO of NFL Europe. He was the Houston Sports Authority CEO. He is currently the president and general manager of the Houston Dynamo Major League soccer team. Oh yes, and he's a member of the WVU Board of Governors.
"I'm very happy living in Houston,'' Luck said on Tuesday. "I have three kids in public schools.''
That's the extent of the statement. Read into it what you will.
Tim McNeely - McNeely may be a long shot, but expect the former WVU basketball player to at least throw his hat in the proverbial ring. He's earned much respect around the state for his work on the Pete Dye Classic of the Nationwide golf tour. He owns a firm, McNeely Sports, which was the exclusive agent for operating and marketing of the golf event. He's now the Greenbrier Classic director.
Rob Mullens - Mullens was raised in Morgantown, graduated cum laude from WVU in 1991 and earned a master's degree there in '93. Since, he's put together an impressive administrative career. Mullens is the deputy director of athletics at Kentucky after holding the title of executive senior associate AD at Maryland for six years. He's been at UK since 2002.
Mike Parsons - There's no doubt Parsons must make a hard run at the job. He's an accomplished deputy director of athletics at WVU, second in command to Pastilong. Word is, throughout the years, he's done a lot of the department's heavy lifting. He has as many detractors, though, as he has admirers. He has to make a hard run, because if he doesn't land the gig, a new AD may want his or her own peeps.
Joe Safety - Safety is a West Virginia native who has ascended to the status of vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise. He has extensive professional experience, including stints with the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jim Schaus - Schaus is the son of former WVU legend Fred Schaus, who starred as a player, coach and AD in Morgantown. The younger Schaus is the athletic director at Ohio University, and before that he held the same position at Wichita State. Word from up north is the Bobcat AD has support. Whether that's because of his work or that of his father is unclear.
nn
It will be interesting to see how much more money WVU will authorize to pay the new AD. Pastilong was making around $225,000. He'll receive an extra $100,000 to stay on through June 30 and collect $125,000 in deferred compensation.
But, among BCS conferences, Pastilong and Mississippi State's Greg Byrne were the lowest-paid ADs in a 2009 study. One source within the field said Pastilong's salary would have to be doubled in total compensation in order to land a top-flight candidate.
Florida AD Jeremy Foley made $965,000 last year. Kansas AD Lew Perkins made $900,000. Within the Big East, Louisville's Tom Jurich made $484,993.
nn
And finally . . . something to watch.
Word received here is there's a strong possibility ESPN may televise this year's WVU-Marshall football game in Huntington.
Perhaps the game would have to be moved back from its current Saturday, Sept. 11 date, to a Friday, Sept. 10, date to accommodate the network.
It is, however, being given a serious look.
We shall see.
Have a great day.