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Georgia Tech Introduces Todd Stansbury, Who Looks To Provide Stability In AD Role

Todd Stansbury was introduced Thursday morning as Georgia Tech’s ninth AD, and while a 30-year tenure would be "highly unlikely for Stansbury, his standing as a Tech grad may comfort some Yellow Jackets followers who have seen the past two AD’s, Dan Radakovich and Mike Bobinski, leave after holding the job for six and three years," according to Ken Sugiura of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Stansbury becomes the "first Tech graduate to fill the chair since" William Alexander, the schools's second AD. Stansbury had been Oregon State AD since August '15 "after holding the same position for three years" at UCF. Stansbury "described the job as his dream." Sugiura notes the search process moved "fairly quickly, completing itself about six weeks after the search committee was formed Aug. 11 following Bobinski’s departure for Purdue" (AJC.com, 9/22). Stansbury "plans to start work in late November or early December" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 9/23). A "nine-member search committee" for GT's AD was "assisted by Turnkey Search" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 9/23). 

HOMECOMING KING: In Atlanta, Jeff Schultz notes GT's search was conducted with "far more efficiency than many things at Georgia Tech have been in recent years." GT "badly" wanted to bring Stansbury "back home." He was "only one year into a five-year contract" at OSU that paid him $500,000 per year plus incentives. Logic says this "had to have cost Tech something." Schultz: "Maybe seven figures. ... So credit to Tech President Bud Peterson and members of the search committee for going to the wall to make this hire." Stansbury yesterday when responding to a question about keeping pace with facilities at institutions like Clemson and Georgia, said it is important to identify what an athletic program needs, but added, “You don’t need a waterfall in your locker room.” Schultz writes Bobinski "probably didn’t fully understand what he was getting into ... and he certainly wasn’t prepared to either handle the budgetary issues in athletics or run a major athletic department with a football program" (AJC.com, 9/22).

NEXT MOVES: Stansbury said OSU President Edward Ray was "incredibly gracious" about his decision to go to GT. Stansbury: "He basically said ‘I get it, it’s your alma mater. Life’s too short to pass by on something that means that much to you.'" Stansbury said of Bobinski leaving GT for Purdue after such a short stint, "When Mike resigned, I’m just like, 'You’ve got to be kidding me. He couldn’t hang on another couple of years?'" Asked if he would bring any staff from OSU with him to GT, Stansbury said he "would like to." Stansbury: "I have to get a feel for the department and the people we have. Unfortunately, Corvallis is a magical place. Some of those people may never leave" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 9/23). 

FROM THE OTHER SIDE: OSU officials on Thursday said that they would "launch an immediate search" for a new AD. Ray said that he plans to name an interim AD "as soon as possible." In Oregon, Andy Cripe notes OSU also "plans to use an advisory group" in its search, as well as a "national search team" (Corvallis GAZETTE-TIMES, 9/23). In Portland, John Canzano notes OSU football coach Gary Andersen "must again be wondering what he signed on for when he left Wisconsin for Corvallis." His 15th game on Saturday against Boise State "may come under" an interim AD, which would be Andersen's "third boss" in less than two years. The next hire, and the way it "goes down, is going to speak to Andersen and the future of the football program" (Portland OREGONIAN, 9/23). Andersen said, "The key thing is whoever the AD is going to come and be here, it needs to be a destination." In Oregon, Kevin Hampton notes Andersen "sees the job as a big-time opening that should attract candidates interested in a long stay." He said, "This is a special place, it's a special fit and it needs to be somebody committed to being the athletic director at Oregon State and not have outside distractions." Andersen said that he will be "more than happy to help with the process of bringing in a new AD" (Corvallis GAZETTE-TIMES, 9/23).

THE CANDIDATES: In Portland, Gina Mizell notes Pitt AD Scott Barnes has "immediately surfaced as a possible candidate," as he was Andersen's AD at Utah State, "hails from Spokane and has held high-level administrative jobs" at Eastern Washington and Washington. Portland State's Mark Rountree, Arizona's Greg Byrne, Maryland's Kevin Anderson, Miami of Ohio's David Sayler, Evansville's Mark Spencer and Stony Brook's Shawn Heilbron also are among the current ADs with "OSU ties" (Portland OREGONIAN, 9/23). 

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