Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi is believed to be on a list of candidates for the athletic director’s job at Notre Dame. A local source speaking confidentially said on Monday he thinks Notre Dame will test Maturi’s interest in replacing Kevin White who recently left Notre Dame to become athletic director at Duke. On Sunday an article on the South Bend Tribune’s Web site included Maturi’s name among eight people that could be top candidates for the Notre Dame job. Maturi, however, told Sports Headliners this morning that he hasn’t been contacted by anyone officially representing Notre Dame.
Maturi has two years remaining on his contract at Minnesota and “expects to finish his career” as the Gophers’ athletic director. Maturi said he’s “real happy at Minnesota” but when pressed about whether he would at least listen to a Notre Dame contact, he responded that “I am not going to say never. …”
Maturi is believed to earn over $310,000 as Minnesota athletic director, a salary that is average at best among his Big Ten Conference colleagues. He said a bigger salary elsewhere won’t tempt him. “I’ve never done anything (just) for money,” Maturi said.
Maturi is a Notre Dame alum, graduating from the school in 1967. He admitted ties to Notre Dame are appealing but so, too, is Minnesota because he grew up in the state.
The source, who is close to Gopher athletics, said it will be a serious loss to Minnesota athletics if Maturi leaves the University. A native of Chisholm, Minnesota, he was athletic director at Denver University and Miami of Ohio before coming to the University of Minnesota.
Maturi has been the athletic director here since July of 2002. During that time he has successfully merged the men’s and women’s athletic departments at the University. The two departments operated separately for many years and it was a divisive relationship.
Maturi also hired new basketball and football coaches in 2007. His hiring of national champion basketball coach Tubby Smith within a few days last year is regarded as a coup by many admirers in intercollegiate athletics. Football coach Tim Brewster has made headlines with his recruiting success and is committed to winning the school’s first Big Ten championship since 1967.
Under Maturi’s leadership the University gained legislative and other support for the TCF Bank Stadium project. The Gophers will open their new $288.5 million football stadium on campus next year.
Maturi has been a tireless worker on behalf of the Gophers. Popular within the athletic department, Maturi regularly attends the events of all 25 men’s and women’s sports at the University. “He’s the hardest working man I’ve ever seen,” the source said.
Maturi’s accomplishments also include fiscal success. While earlier forecasts had the athletic department operating at a deficit, the Gophers currently have a balanced budget, according to published reports.