David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U AD Announcement Coming This Week?

Posted on May 10, 2016May 10, 2016 by David Shama

Sources said yesterday the University of Minnesota is close to announcing the name of its new athletic director.

That announcement may come Thursday or Friday when the University Board of Regents gathers for previously scheduled meetings on the Minneapolis campus. If the new hire isn’t made known Thursday or Friday, then the announcement could be next week.

Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said final candidates for the AD position are being interviewed in town this week. Interviews are being conducted by a five-member group that is a subcommittee of the 16-person committee announced in late March by University president Eric Kaler.

Candidates being interviewed this week have previously been reviewed by the larger committee and Turnkey Search, the firm retained earlier this year by the University to identify and vet candidates. A source who believes the AD announcement could come this week said he expects between two and five names will be forwarded to Kaler. It will be Kaler’s call—not the Regents—as to who will be Minnesota’s next AD.

The final candidates are likely to represent diversity in multiple ways including via gender, ethnicity, education and career background. The group might include African-American Sean Frazier who is the AD at Northern Illinois, and interim Gophers athletic director Beth Goetz. A candidate with a business background like investment celebrity and multi-millionaire Pete Najarian would help present a diverse talent pool to Kaler. Another finalist might be former U Alumni Association head Dr. Phil Esten who is now a leader in the Penn State Athletic Department. He also has extensive sports administrative experience at California, Ohio State and Minnesota.

A source said the final field could include a surprise name or two—candidates who have received minimal or no media attention during the search period that began in late March. Another source said he received many inquiries from potential candidates about the AD job and there was a lot of interest in the position that opened up last summer with the departure of controversial AD Norwood Teague.

It’s not known who comprises the five-person subcommittee; although sources have said Vikings executive Kevin Warren is a participant. Presumably the co-chairs of the 16-member group, Katrice Albert and Perry Leo, are involved, too. Albert is the University’s vice president for equity and diversity. Leo is professor of aerospace engineering and the U faculty athletics representative.

Turnkey has been sorting out candidates for awhile and interviewing began last month. It’s believed many interviews—perhaps all initially—were conducted by telephone. Now with finalists said to be in town, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kaler joined the five-member group and got involved with in-person interviews to further boost confidence in his ultimate decision.

A stumbling block for Kaler and the U could be defining what assurances they will give finalists about the athletic director’s power and line of reporting. Only a weak and compliant candidate will accept the job without promises that he or she can have the resources and authority to be successful.

In big time college athletics there can be variances from school to school regarding who athletic directors report to, and what they can do specific to coaching hires, the recruiting and eligibility of athletes, facilities and fund-raising. Critics continually question the U administration’s commitment to winning in the high profile sports of football, and men’s basketball and hockey.

Kaler has said he wants the new AD to be leading the department by July 1. That timing seems to further support the possibility of someone being hired soon.

Worth Noting

The Twins were swept by the White Sox over the weekend, leaving Minnesota with an American League worst record of 8-23. It was the sixth time this season the Twins have lost every game in a series.

Before the White Sox series Twins president Dave St. Peter talked about the frustration regarding the team with a roster similar to last year’s 83-79 club. “Morale is not high,” he told Sports Headliners. “There’s an intense level of frustration and disappointment but I don’t think anybody inside of our organization views the season as complete. …Almost five months of baseball remaining and there’s an opportunity for us to try and dig our way out of the hole that we are currently in. I still have the belief that we have the talent on this team to do it, and the depth in our minor league system that I think will help us over time. “

Much has been written about the team missing retired outfielder Torri Hunter who was a dynamic leader last season. St. Peter said Hunter has a “unique personality” but expects other players to emerge as leaders. “I don’t think we are where we are because of a leadership void,” St. Peter said.

Adrian Peterson (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings.)

Adrian Peterson told Peter King in a story posted yesterday on MMQB that the Vikings may “win everything” this year. The 31-year-old Vikings running back, who believes his team may be the NFL’s best, predicted he could play until he is 40. But by the time Peterson is 38 he questions having the same love for the game.

Peterson spoke at length about his hometown of Palestine, Texas that has been hit hard by spring flooding. People have died and homes ruined. Peterson has donated $100,000 to those in need and will work this week with the Salvation Army in Palestine, according to King.

Happy 20th birthday today to Timberwolves guard and Minnesota native Tyus Jones.

Herb Carneal, the deceased Twins broadcaster, would have been 93 today.

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Wild Scores with Head Coach Hire

Posted on May 8, 2016May 8, 2016 by David Shama

Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher got his man with last night’s announcement Bruce Boudreau will be the team’s new head coach.

Several days ago a knowledgeable NHL source warned that the Wild better sign him soon. “Others want him,” said the source who spoke anonymously. “He’s the best of the bunch (available coaches).”

The Wild had a vacancy after firing Mike Yeo this winter and replacing him with interim head coach John Torchetti. It’s been reported that Ottawa was interested in Boudreau so Fletcher had a sense of urgency with his new hire.

Boudreau, 61, was fired by the Ducks last month after winning four division titles in Anaheim. He did the same with the Capitals before taking over the Ducks. A former pro player and minor league coach, he is highly regarded. “He’s a very good coach,” the source said.

How good? The source said Boudreau can be ranked among the top “25 percent” of coaches in the NHL. He praised Boudreau for his communications skills with players and being “adept” at making changes.

Chemistry issues appeared to be a locker room problem last season for the Wild, but rather than working with a vastly different roster next season Boudreau probably will have to build cohesion with the players already here including Zach Parise and Ryan Suter who are locked in with expensive long-term contracts. Even with a new coach Fletcher is likely to retain final authority over personnel.

Extensive changes could be much more likely with the coaching staff. Boudreau could hire his own staff leaving the futures of longtime Wild employees Andrew Brunette, Darby Hendrickson and Bob Mason in doubt.

It’s believed Boudreau agreed to a four-year deal perhaps worth about $3 million per year. If so, that would make him among the better compensated coaches in the league and could represent a better deal than Fletcher initially offered. In addition to compensation, Fletcher likely pitched Boudreau on the potential of the Wild and the franchise’s loyal and supportive fan base.

Wild owner Craig Leipold has made his commitment to Fletcher clear despite the team’s inability to make a deep playoff run since the GM was hired in 2009. Sports Headliners’ source suggested, though, if the team starts poorly next season Fletcher will be on the spot.

Fletcher had previously hired three coaches during his era—Todd Richards, Mike Yeo and Torchetti. Yeo was dismissed in February when doubts prevailed about the team making the playoffs. Under Torchetti the club played well enough to just qualify for the postseason, but the inconsistency of play during 2015-2016 continued. The Wild lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Stars.

Fletcher has never hired a coach with the extensive resume of Boudreau who has a 409-192-80 (.659) record in nine seasons as an NHL head coach with the Capitals (2007-2011) and Ducks (2011-2016). He leads active NHL coaches in winning percentage.

Although Boudreau didn’t reach the conference finals with either the Capitals or Ducks, his coaching abilities weren’t unrecognized. He won the 2008 Jack Adams Award honoring the NHL Coach of the Year with the Capitals. He was a runner-up for the award coaching the Ducks in 2013.

Before joining the Capitals, he spent parts of nine seasons as a head coach in the American Hockey League. His Hershey team won the 2006 AHL title and advanced to the 2007 Calder Cup Final.

Boudreau played parts of eight NHL seasons (1976-86) with the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks, scoring 70 points in 141 career games. The native of Toronto, Ont., was originally selected by the Maple Leafs in the third round of the 1975 NHL Entry Draft. He was also selected in the first round of the 1974 World Hockey Association Draft by the Minnesota Fighting Saints and played in 30 games with the St. Paul-based team in 1975-76.

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Mpls. on Standby for Soccer Stadium

Posted on May 6, 2016May 6, 2016 by David Shama

Minneapolis Council president Barb Johnson and Vikings’ front office executive Lester Bagley spoke to Sports Headliners this week regarding the proposed St. Paul soccer stadium, and the possibility of Minnesota hosting a future NFL Draft.

Minnesota United and St. Paul officials want to see the construction of a soccer stadium in the city’s Midway district. The facility could be the home for a Major League Soccer franchise starting in 2018 if the Minnesota Legislature approves an ongoing exemption from property taxes and a one-year exemption on sales tax for stadium construction materials. The stadium is to be privately financed but United and St. Paul officials insist tax exemptions are necessary to make the facility a reality.

Bagley, the point man at the State Capitol for years on the Vikings’ stadium effort, is optimistic about United and St. Paul leaders winning approval for the exemptions before the Legislature adjourns in a couple of weeks. “We think it’s in pretty good shape,” he said. “(But) if there is no tax bill, then this one will probably not stand alone. Bottom line—it appears to be on track—and it’s a fairly modest proposal. It doesn’t seem to be gathering too much controversy.”

Passage of an omnibus tax bill, with a number of initiatives including the soccer stadium, seems a likely path for United and St. Paul officials. If legislation doesn’t happen this spring, Johnson is interested in pursuing a location in Minneapolis.

“Well, I never say never until the shovel turns on the groundbreaking,” said Johnson who has been City Council president since 2006. “I am always open to Minneapolis being the home for these facilities. I think there are great amenities in our city.

“I’ve watched deals over the years with both the Twins ballpark and then the Vikings stadium be proposed for other sites but they landed in Minneapolis. I am willing to keep my ears open…and look at a potential deal in Minneapolis.”

Those comments could feed paranoia in St. Paul. Years ago the new Twins ballpark appeared headed to St. Paul but ultimately landed in Minneapolis. Five years back Arden Hills, St. Paul’s Ramsey County neighbor, appeared on track to have the new Vikings stadium, but in the end Minneapolis won out.

United owners were initially interested in buying private land for a soccer stadium in the Minneapolis Farmers market area. Unable to close the deal and convinced nothing else was available in Minneapolis, the United leaders found an ally in St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman and other officials from the city.

Johnson, though, suggested there are potential locations for a privately financed soccer stadium in her city including the Upper Harbor site along the Mississippi River in north Minneapolis. The 50-acre parcel of land is owned by the city and is near Interstate 94. “There’s lots of places that soccer could happen in Minneapolis,” Johnson said.

If the Legislature says no to the exemptions and building a new stadium doesn’t happen, the expectation is the MLS will withdraw the franchise offer to the United which currently plays in the less highly regarded North American Soccer League. The best case scenario for the United is to break ground as soon as possible on a stadium and initially play one year at TCF Bank Stadium or Target Field before moving into its new facility in St. Paul. ..

The three-day NFL Draft and ancillary activities have become big business for the league and host cities. The event was held in New York for decades but now the NFL office is amenable to other league cities hosting the spring event where the nation watches as teams select college players during seven rounds of drafting.

The last two years the draft has been in Chicago. Reports of direct economic impact use a figure of about $44 million for the 2015 draft. Although no formal announcement has been made, it’s believed Philadelphia could host the 2017 draft.

Lester Bagley (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings).

Bagley said the Vikings have expressed interest in bringing the draft to Minnesota, perhaps in 2018, 2019 or 2020. “Kind of down the road a little bit. Just digging into that right now.”

No formal proposal has been submitted by the Vikings but Bagley is confident the Minneapolis-St. Paul market has the attributes to successfully host the draft. He said those attributes are the same ones that impressed league officials so much they awarded the 2018 Super Bowl to Minnesota, and include “great hospitality,” facilities, corporate leadership, transportation, hotels, bars and restaurants.

Early speculation is draft headquarters could be the proposed new Vikings complex in Eagan. The project includes a new practice facility, team offices and a 6,000 seat outdoor stadium expandable to 10,000 that Bagley said could be used by spectators at the draft. There has also been talk of building a hotel and large conference center as part of the project.

The Vikings hope to receive approval for their complex by the Eagan City Council by the end of May. Bagley believes his organization could “potentially break ground” in Eagan in June.

“We are working with Eagan to try to bring forward a major plan and development,” Bagley said. “It’s going to be very unique in the NFL. It’s going to be the best practice facility-team headquarters in the NFL. Lots of upside there to do a lot of great things—NFL Draft notwithstanding.”

That Eagan project, along with a “75-day” countdown to the opening of U.S. Bank Stadium has Bagley and other Vikings executives busy. Too busy to spend a lot of time on a future draft for Minnesota. “We’ve got our hands full,” he said.

If the Vikings and other Minnesota officials do make a formal bid to host an NFL Draft, Johnson makes it clear she wants Minneapolis, not Eagan to be the host city. “We’re where the action is. Eagan is not, and I don’t mean to diminish Eagan, but we’ve got a lot more going on here in Minneapolis,” she said.

Johnson said the Minneapolis Convention Center or U.S. Bank Stadium are locations that can host the draft. Minneapolis invested $150 million along with the Vikings and the state in the shared cost of the stadium. Asked if that doesn’t give the city leverage in discussions about a draft site, Johnson said, “Well, sure. That’s what we’re depending on is events coming into our city because we have that investment in the stadium.”

Johnson said it will be a major disappointment if the draft isn’t hosted by Minneapolis, giving the city maximum economic impact and national publicity.

“I will have a conversation with Lester,” Johnson said. “I will also talk to Mark Wilf (Vikings president/owner). He and I talk on a regular basis.”

Johnson is respected by the Vikings. She is considered a voice of reason in City Hall—a place that sometimes leaves business leaders scratching their collective heads.

“We have the highest regard for her,” Bagley said. “Some of the other interactions down at the city (hall) are not as always clean and positive as it is with Barbara. We have not had a conversation with her about the NFL Draft. Again, early stages of telling the league we’re interested in our market (hosting the draft). Then in terms of where and which facilities, we haven’t even seriously looked into that.”

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