Sports Headliners has learned that the search committee for a new Gophers athletic director will have its initial meeting with University president Eric Kaler on Monday. Both the search committee and a search advisory group will hear Kaler’s expectations about the position as the process begins to replace Joel Maturi as the school’s athletic director.
Speculation is the University will seek candidates who have business skills and experience, but there’s no confirmation on that. The opinion here is the next athletic director will face these priorities: develop winning teams in football, basketball and hockey; effectively fund-raise and address the budget issues of a 25-sport program; and improve the public image of Gophers athletics.
A talented business leader with a passion for Gophers athletics would be the ideal candidate in the opinion of many school supporters. They believe such an individual would have the expertise to hire excellent coaches plus the management skills to run an efficient program, and the personality to attract support both within and outside the University.
It will be the search committee’s job to send the names of finalists to Kaler. With a 25 person search advisory committee and four person search committee, there will be a lot of interests represented in formulating candidates but the 55-year-old Kaler will make the final choice. His hire is likely to be someone his age or younger, a person he can work with for many years.
The Kaler choice will have a lot to do with defining his legacy as the school’s president. The Gophers have long been searching for a great athletic director. An extraordinary leader in athletics can make the difference in how the University is perceived by the public, and Kaler knows that.
Many potential candidates will be considered by the search committee and advisory group. Input regarding the suggested A.D. profile will come not only from those 29 people but also the public, and the University is using the Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search firm to assist with identifying candidates.
Names that could draw at least public speculation include former Gophers quarterback Tony Dungy and football coach Glen Mason. Others with ties to the state include Iowa athletic director Gary Barta who is a Minneapolis native, former Gophers football stars Peter Najarian and Bob Stein, Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson (Redwood Falls native), Minnesota Alumni Association CEO Phil Esten (former Gophers associate athletic director), Akron athletic director Tom Wistrcill (former senior associate A.D. at Minnesota) and UMD athletic director and football coach Bob Nielson. Also, Regina Sullivan and Marc Ryan, senior associate athletic directors on Maturi’s staff, have years of experience in the athletic department.
And Stony Brook University athletic director Jim Fiore is in his ninth year at the New York school, the same institution where Kaler worked until coming to Minnesota last July. Fiore’s name was rumored with the North Carolina athletic director opening last fall.
Mark Dienhart from St. Thomas would be a great candidate.