Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO and Univ. of Maryland alum Kevin Plank acknowledged that he "contributes plenty of ideas and money" to his alma mater but added that he "does not issue mandates about such things as conference shifts or coaching changes," according to Jeff Barker of the Baltimore SUN. Plank: "I'm a supporter and endorser, just like anyone else." He added of the school's decision to join the Big Ten, "These decisions were beyond me, and I think there is this perception that maybe I have greater sway than I do." Plank, whose company designs the school's uniforms, "has often provided a plane for the Maryland athletic department's use." The school last week announced that Plank committed $25M toward a plan to "transform Cole Field House" into a $155M indoor football practice facility and academic research complex. Plank "is passionate about the creation within Cole of an 'innovations' center to expose students to entrepreneurship." He said that he "doesn't set athletic department policy." This comes despite the fact that, after Maryland announced it was leaving the ACC in November '12, Plank "was confronted directly with the perception that he was behind the Big Ten move." He said, "I heard it from a prominent former executive from Maryland -- that was their assumption. And I'm sitting here looking and going, 'I've got a $3 billion day job as a public company's CEO.' I'm incredibly supportive and respectful of our Board of Regents and our administration. But are you kidding me?" Barker notes Plank "resists the designation of uber-booster." Plank said that this is partly because other school alumni -- "and the school itself -- need to pitch in more money themselves" (Baltimore SUN, 11/22).
