The Univ. of Washington yesterday announced school President Ana Mari Cauce had appointed a 14-member search committee to "find the Huskies' next athletic director," according to Adam Jude of the SEATTLE TIMES. UW has also hired Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search to "assist with the hiring process." The committee has "been asked to provide 'a small number' of finalists for Cauce, who will make the final selection." There is "no deadline for the committee to make its recommendation." Interim AD Jennifer Cohen "is considered a front-runner" for the position, which became open when Scott Woodward left UW for the same role at Texas A&M in January (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/3). In Tacoma, Christian Caple reported Parker Executive Search is the "same firm UW used" during its AD search in '08, "when the school ultimately ended up hiring Woodward." The NCAA used Parker "to assist in its search for a new president" in '10, "when it hired UW president Mark Emmert, and Emmert and the NCAA subsequently used Parker to fill several positions on Emmert’s staff." UW also has used Parker in "several other searches in the past," including in '04 when it hired former AD Todd Turner. The firm has come under "some scrutiny in recent years regarding its vetting process, most notably following questionable hires" at Iowa, Minnesota and Rutgers (THENEWSTRIBUNE.com, 3/2).
