Northern Iowa AD Troy Dannen is "going to take the same position" with Tulane, according to Andrew Lopez of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Dannen "will be introduced" tomorrow morning, and replaces Rick Dickson, who will step down June 30, 2016. Dannen had been NIU's AD since '08. It will be Dannen's "task to hire a new football coach for the Green Wave after Tulane fired Curtis Johnson following a second consecutive 3-9 season" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 12/3). Dannen yesterday said, "From a competitive, academic and fiscal standpoint, we're really at a high-water mark right now at Northern Iowa. As an alum, if you're going to leave you want to leave something behind that you're really proud of. I am really proud of where we're at right now, and I feel like it can still get better. ... I wouldn't want to leave that unless I felt confident it's in good shape" (WATERLOO-CEDAR FALLS COURIER, 12/3).
TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS: In Detroit, Angelique Chengelis reports a Michigan pedigree "could help the chances of those interested" in the school's vacant AD job, but that "will not be the deciding factor." UM President Mark Schlissel yesterday said, "I think having some connection with the university does have advantages, but I wouldn’t limit us to only looking at people who have had Michigan stories and connections. We want to find the most talented appropriate leader for this very important function within the university." Chengelis notes four current ADs with UM connections "could be candidates," including three UM alum -- Boston College's Brad Bates, UConn's Warde Manuel and Colorado State's Joe Parker. Bates and Manuel "played football and Parker was a swimmer at Michigan." Another "potential candidate" is Arkansas AD and CFP Committee Chair Jeff Long. Long was an Associate AD at UM and his wife is an Ann Arbor native. Michigan’s most recent ADs, including Jim Hackett, Dave Brandon, Bill Martin and Tom Goss, "all came from the business world." But Schlissel did "not say having a business background is an advantage." Schlissel said that a search firm, which Michigan "will pay $150,000 in addition to expenses, will ensure a diverse pool of candidates" (DETROIT NEWS, 12/3).
TOAST OF THE TOWN: Illinois interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson said that she is "aiming to hire" a permanent AD by the school's Jan. 21 BOT meeting in Chicago, although she is "willing to pass that deadline if the right candidate hasn't been identified." Wilson: "I look at this AD search as really crucial for the campus. ... We want to make sure we hire an exceptional AD." Wilson said that she "expects a search committee to be finalized this week," adding that UI "had not decided whether to hire a professional search firm." It has "used Parker Executive Search in the past" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/3). In Illinois, Scott Richey reported the AD search "still has little traction." Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley, who was the longtime tennis coach at UI, said, "I have not been contacted, but as you would appreciate we are always following the Illini closely" (NEWS-GAZETTE.com, 12/2).
