Univ. of Minnesota President Eric Kaler's desire to use a search firm again to find a new AD "seems like a waste of money, because viable candidates should be easy to find," according to Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Interim AD Beth Goetz announced Friday that she "officially will pursue the job." She "has a fan in Kaler and internal support of staffers." She has "essentially been given one school year to prove herself." Goetz also has "impressed high-ranking university officials with her handling of a difficult situation, but this job search should not be a charade with Goetz being rubber-stamped." Other strong candidates "are out there and probably interested." Four people UM "should pursue in seeking a competitive field" of candidates include: Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson, Penn State Deputy AD & COO Phil Esten, Northern Illinois Associate VP & AD Sean Frazier and Ohio State Exec Associate AD/Administration Martin Jarmond (STARTRIBUNE.com, 2/14).
BIG ASPIRATIONS: In Cincinnati, Jason Williams noted Univ. of Cincinnati President Santa Ono "has led a quiet and diligent effort to position" the school to join the Big 12. Ono's job has "won high praise from a powerful official who is key to deciding whether the league will expand." Big 12 expansion "is not imminent, but UC is believed to be on a short list of schools" to join the 10-member conference. Cincinnati "released emails, travel records and other documents" last week that show Oklahoma President David Boren "appears to really like Ono and UC." The documents show that Fortune 500 execs "have helped promote UC to top Big 12 leaders." Furthermore, former Kansas State President Jon Wefald "has advised Ono, but says UC may have to take a financial 'haircut.'” The documents also show that Ono "has traveled to meet with Big 12 leaders," and UC "has produced data comparing it to Big 12 schools." If the Big 12 expands, it "most likely will add two schools to get back to 12 members." UC is believed to be "competing with about a half-dozen schools," including BYU and current AAC rivals UConn and UCF. According to SI, UC and BYU "appear to be the front-runners" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 2/14).
