The Univ. of Pittsburgh this week began its search "to find a replacement" for former AD Steve Pederson, who was fired Dec. 17 after two stints in the athletic department's top spot, according to Sam Werner of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. The previous time Pitt "had a true search" for an AD in '03, the school hired now-Arkansas AD Jeff Long and "took five months to fill the position." This search "likely won't take quite that long." But Pitt Exec Vice Chancellor Jerome Cochran said that the number of parties involved "makes the process slightly more complicated than just hiring a football coach." He added that the search committee "will include input from the university's Staff Association Council, as well as faculty, trustees, alumni and other senior administrators." New Jersey-based GAME Inc. Founder & President Jason Belzer, who reps college coaches, said that the most important part of an AD's job "has become raising enough money from donors to keep his programs -- notably football and men's basketball -- operating smoothly." Werner writes while candidates' qualifications "are important, it comes down to being a good fit for the institution" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/9).
SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS: In Colorado Springs, Brent Briggeman reports incoming Air Force AD Jim Knowlton called outgoing AD Hans Mueh "before interviewing and spent 'a long time' talking issues and taking notes." Mueh: "He asked the right questions. He had done his homework in advance to know what kind of questions to ask, so I'm excited for the department." Briggeman notes much of the "excitement around Knowlton's hiring ... is his fundraising past." He "helped oversee" a $102M athletic village at D-III Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. For an Air Force program "fighting an uphill battle with its budget -- which nearly led to the axing of several programs early in 2014 -- a fundraising expert seems critical" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 1/9).
SANDY'S CASTLE: In Indiana, Ben Breiner notes Ball State on Thursday named Mark Sandy AD "after reports had leaked out the night before." Sandy, who will start at BSU on Feb. 1, "emerged from a pool of 60 candidates after a decade-long run" in the same position at Eastern Kentucky. The news "brought an end to a four-month search process that started after Bill Scholl accepted an AD position at Marquette" (Muncie STAR PRESS, 1/9). Breiner notes Sandy in his opening press conference on Thursday "talked about many of the natural elements of running an athletic department, including building facilities, student-athlete experience, building and developing facilities." He "laid out a few notable tenets, namely the desire to bring in big-time non-conference opponents to give fans more reason to come out to games" (Muncie STAR PRESS, 1/9).
AGGIE'S ARRIVAL: In New Mexico, Jason Groves notes New Mexico State AD Mario Moccia began his position this week, and he “returns to Las Cruces after building his resume raising funds" at New Mexico, Missouri and Southern Illinois. Moccia's ties to NMSU as an alumnus and his “approach to raising money were among the qualities President Garrey Carruthers cited last fall when Moccia was introduced on Nov. 24.” If he can “grow the budget and help increase attendance at men's basketball and football games in the next year, Moccia would be well on his way.” Moccia's contract “will run through Dec. 31, 2019, and is worth $240,000 annually” (LAS CRUCES SUN-NEWS, 1/9).
