Univ. of Minnesota President Eric Kaler yesterday announced the hiring of Syracuse AD Mark Coyle for the same position, and "while the challenges inherent at the state’s only Division I athletic department remain troubling and entrenched, the U’s decisionmakers wound up choosing a legitimate candidate from an accomplished group of applicants," according to Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Coyle is "uniquely qualified to run Gophers sports." In "most of these contiguous 48 states, his job at Syracuse might be seen as superior" to his new gig at UM. Luckily for Kaler, Coyle "identifies himself as being from Minnesota." But credit UM for "winding up with a solid group from which to choose anyway, and for making a better hire than should have been expected" from the people who brought you former AD Norwood Teague, former football coach Tim Brewster and men's basketball coach Richard Pitino (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/12). In Syracuse, Chris Carlson noted the 47-year-old Coyle worked previously at UM from '01-05 (SYRACUSE.com, 5/11). In St. Paul, Marcus Fuller in a front-page piece notes a copy of Coyle's five-year contract states that he will be "paid a base salary of $850,000, and his Syracuse buyout is $500,000." Teague made $500,000 per year. Kaler: "It’s remarkable what the average compensation for Big 10 athletic directors is, about $910,000. Mark obviously had a strong contract at Syracuse, and it was important to let him make a financial step to come here. He will be in the mid-range of the Big 10" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/12).
FIXER UPPER: In Minneapolis, Joe Christensen in a front-page piece writes under the header, "Mark Coyle Comes Home to Many Challenges." Kaler "hired Coyle to help restore the Gophers' integrity." Coyle during his short stint at Syracuse "bolstered his reputation as a fixer of troubled programs." Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson, whose conference includes Boise State, where Coyle was previously AD, "is a Minnesota graduate and praised his alma mater’s hire." Thompson: "It’s an absolute grand slam." UM interim AD Beth Goetz "was not made available to comment" yesterday. But Kaler and Coyle both said that they "hope she remains a Gopher." Kaler: "The department moved forward under her leadership. She’s been an incredible partner, and I know she has a bright, bright future." Kaler "drew criticism for hiring Turnkey Search for $150,000 plus expenses, and naming a 16-member search committee." But Coyle said that Turnkey "reached out to him, laying the groundwork for his eventual interview" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/12). Also in Minneapolis, Michael Rand wrote the T'Wolves, Wild and UM have all announced major hires within the past few weeks, and in "what has to qualify as a stunning development, all three of them thought big -- and all three seem to have gotten things right" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 5/11).
ORANGE PEELED: In Syracuse, Stephen Bailey notes Coyle "didn't go into detail about his departure from Central New York, thanking Chancellor Kent Syverud multiple times and expressing confidence in the athletic department he left behind." Coyle: "I regret the timing. That staff welcomed me, they bought into what we were trying to do." He added, "I'm hopeful they understand what Minnesota meant to me and what this opportunity means for me and my family" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 5/12). The AP's Dave Campbell noted Coyle was Syracuse AD "for about 10 1/2 months, leaving the school with an opening for a second straight year." He "left Syracuse stunned." Still, he "made a widely lauded football coach hire in December of Dino Babers from Bowling Green to replace Scott Shafer" (AP, 5/11).
SURPRISE PARTY: In New York, Chris Sciria writes this “is how big-time college sports works.” It is a “transient business, and Coyle isn't the first nor will he be the last person to leave a job they've only had for barely a year.” But “you wonder if there's another reason.” Sciria: “Was the administration meddling? Did Coyle not like the area or the school? Was it something else?” (Auburn CITIZEN, 5/12). YAHOO SPORTS' Sam Cooper noted Babers was "apparently unaware of Coyle's departure" yesterday at the ACC meetings in Florida (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/11). Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim said that he "had no inkling that Coyle planned to depart SU." Boeheim: "I would say it's a surprise. I really liked Mark Coyle. I thought he was really good. Thought he had a good grip on everything in a relatively short period of time. It's shocking" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 5/12). Syracuse Special Assistant to the AD Floyd Little, who has held his position since the summer of '11 and will vacate it next month, said that he "had no sense that Coyle would be resigning ... or that, in fact, Coyle was unhappy on the job." Little: "Nobody. None of us. Nobody had an inkling. It was a shock to all of us" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 5/12).
LIFE AFTER BETH: In Minneapolis, Chip Scoggins notes Goetz was “dealt an unenviable hand the day” Teague announced he was “quitting immediately to seek alcohol treatment after admitting he sexually harassed two high-ranking university employees.” Goetz had “very little experience as an athletic administrator at a major Division I university when she was asked to run the Gophers athletic department on an interim basis” after the Teague fiasco. Goetz “did her best to hold things together for nine months under tough circumstances,” but she “was not the right choice to lead the department beyond her interim label.” Goetz, for all her “strengths and hard work to stabilize the department, never made sense for the permanent position.” Kaler said that Goetz “handled the news in a professional manner.” Kaler: “Unflappable, calm, appreciated the opportunity to serve in the interim role. Very classy lady” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/12). Also in Minneapolis, Sid Hartman writes under the header, “Goetz Did Fabulous Job As Gophers’ Interim AD” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/12).
