Athletic Director Search Committee

[ragin2112cajun]

Mike has put together an impressive body of work outside & away from Lafayette. Hope he would get a fair chance at the position.

[CajunAlum10]

My only concern with Alford, is that he has seemed to move around to different jobs QUITE A LOT. I mean, I don't expext our next AD to stay here forever. But I want someone that's fully vested in what we are doing here and not looking to jump at the next cool opportunity (not saying Alford is definitely this way, it's just something I noticed from reading his bio.)

My pick would be Nunez. He's young, probably very motivated to make a name for himself on his own accord, and has TONS OF EXPERIENCE in literally almost every category we are looking for. He could be a slam dunk.

[Crawfish]

It looks like Alford has a fantastic resume, but maybe more for a full time sports marketing type guy. By that, I mean the marketing end of it is very important, but it does not look like he has been at the university level enough to have been involved in hiring coaches. I have a feeling we will need to make a big coaching hire in the next year or so.

[cb089]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0bH3UCVa0g

Here's some kind of Tiger TV interview with Eddie Nunez. Apparently he's pretty heavily involved in facilities fundraising/projects at LSU. Given where we currently are in our athletics master plan, that background could certainly be an asset.

[CajunT]

It looks like Alford has a fantastic resume, but maybe more for a full time sports marketing type guy. By that, I mean the marketing end of it is very important, but it does not look like he has been at the university level enough to have been involved in hiring coaches. I have a feeling we will need to make a big coaching hire in the next year or so.

I don't want to get too deep into vetting resumes right now considering the new AD maybe announced in the next week or two. But the most important job of an AD is fundraising and the second is hiring coaches. That criteria has been defined by a number of successful administrators from Alden, Phillips, Neinas and others. Our #1 need as an athletic program is funding and raising revenue. Alford's experience with the Dallas Cowboys was not just about marketing, but corporate sponsorship. Corporate connections and funds are vital to our athletic program going forward.

I also agree that hiring coaches is important, but understand that most of these candidates dealt primarily with minor sports and coaches, not football and basketball which are your revenue sports.

I don't necessarily care about anyone that is looking to stay for a decade, or for life. But the new AD must be able to relate to our current staff, alumni and RCAF members with respect and have the willingness to build relationships and lead with a vision.

[DaddyCajun]

What kind of money y'all think UL will put out there for the new AD?

[cajun4life]

What kind of money y'all think UL will put out there for the new AD?

I've heard $450k

[duggie85]

I don't want to get too deep into vetting resumes right now considering the new AD maybe announced in the next week or two. But the most important job of an AD is fundraising and the second is hiring coaches. That criteria has been defined by a number of successful administrators from Alden, Phillips, Neinas and others. Our #1 need as an athletic program is funding and raising revenue. Alford's experience with the Dallas Cowboys was not just about marketing, but corporate sponsorship. Corporate connections and funds are vital to our athletic program going forward.

I also agree that hiring coaches is important, but understand that most of these candidates dealt primarily with minor sports and coaches, not football and basketball which are your revenue sports.

I don't necessarily care about anyone that is looking to stay for a decade, or for life. But the new AD must be able to relate to our current staff, alumni and RCAF members with respect and have the willingness to build relationships and lead with a vision.

T, out of curiosity, why would relationships for conference realignment & better scheduling, media rights/dealings, coaches (as stated), not be more important since we have a head of RCAF now dedicated to fundraising?

[basinbear]

T, out of curiosity, why would relationships for conference realignment & better scheduling, media rights/dealings, coaches (as stated), not be more important since we have a head of RCAF now dedicated to fundraising?

All are good points and important. Technically, everything that an AD does is or greatly affects fundraising.....

[CajunT]

T, out of curiosity, why would relationships for conference realignment & better scheduling, media rights/dealings, coaches (as stated), not be more important since we have a head of RCAF now dedicated to fundraising?

Everything you mentioned is vital to the athletic program and the role of an athletic director. But Jim Harris is just one man and he answers to RCAF, or was supposed to have been when hired. His job is to work in coordination with the athletic director, raising the funds and also potential revenue streams including media rights and branding. Jim Harris is focused on building RCAF, your athletic director's role is broader in bringing in corporate sponsorship and additions revenue streams for the entire athletic program. They must work together at times, but he will also need to address specific areas of raising revenue opportunities beyond RCAF members and local business. Given the present health of our local economy, it is vital that we must find alternative revenues moving forward, or conferences won't even consider our program in discussion.

Again, ask any successful AD or read their comments in articles and by far their #1 responsibility is to raise funds and find alternative revenue streams. We need someone that has those skills going forward, or we are going to be left further behind.

[duggie85]

Everything you mentioned is vital to the athletic program and the role of an athletic director. But Jim Harris is just one man and he answers to RCAF, or was supposed to have been when hired. His job is to work in coordination with the athletic director, raising the funds and also potential revenue streams including media rights and branding. Jim Harris is focused on building RCAF, your athletic director's role is broader in bringing in corporate sponsorship and additions revenue streams for the entire athletic program. They must work together at times, but he will also need to address specific areas of raising revenue opportunities beyond RCAF members and local business. Given the present health of our local economy, it is vital that we must find alternative revenues moving forward, or conferences won't even consider our program in discussion.

Again, ask any successful AD or read their comments in articles and by far their #1 responsibility is to raise funds and find alternative revenue streams. We need someone that has those skills going forward, or we are going to be left further behind.

Understood, appreciate the explanation!

[ManAboutTown]

The final cut are all qualified candidates. This ain't your daddy's USL incestuous hire.. I was floored when I found out how many people actually applied here.

But, like I said yesterday, they have their man. The committee especially likes a particular guy, as do the coaches.

Some moron gave me a red dot for this comment. LOL. The Farmer boys are hanging on for dear life. FIRED THE WRONG GUY!!! LMAO