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Emmert Expected To Assume His New
Duties As NCAA President November 1 |
The NCAA yesterday named Univ. of Washington President Mark Emmert as the fifth President in organization history, filling the void left when the late NCAA President Myles Brand passed away in September, according to Steve Wieberg of USA TODAY. Sources said that Emmert was selected over "at least three other finalists ... after a final round of interviews" yesterday. The sources indicated that the other finalists included U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Franklin Hagenbeck and Ernst & Young Global Vice Chair Beth Brooke. Emmert, who has been UW President since '04 and previously served as Chancellor at LSU and Connecticut, is "expected to assume his new duties Nov. 1." Terms of his five-year contract were not disclosed. Emmert's selection "might disappoint activists who expressed hope at the start that a female or minority administrator could lead the NCAA for the first time" (USA TODAY, 4/28). NCAA VP Wally Renfro said that Emmert "first interviewed for the position of president about three weeks ago and flew out for a final interview Tuesday before being offered the job" (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/28). In Indianapolis, Jeff Rabjohns reports the initial pool of "nearly 100 candidates was trimmed to 32, then four." Oregon State Univ. President Ed Ray, Chair of the NCAA Exec Committee that handled the search, said, "Our options were considerable, and the decision was difficult, but we are confident in our decision that Mark is uniquely qualified to lead the organization" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/28).
SUCCESSFUL FORMULA: In N.Y., Katie Thomas writes Emmert's selection was "seen as somewhat of a surprise, because he is not well known in college athletics circles, despite having held leadership positions at athletic powerhouses." NCAA Dir of Public & Media Relations Erik Christianson said that Emmert is "not on any NCAA committees." Univ. of Hartford President Walt Harrison: "I don't know him except by reputation. I do know the search committee. I know them well, and I have every confidence that they picked a great leader." Thomas notes the choice "continues a philosophical shift that began in 2002 with the selection of Brand," a former philosophy professor who became Indiana Univ. President. Brand was the "first university president to lead the association," and he was "hailed as a crusader who spoke forcefully on topics ranging from academics to gender equity." Emmert said that he "intended to continue Brand's legacy and that although he had no specific plans, he intended to take the reforms a step further." Emmert added that "another priority ... is helping university presidents handle the increasingly high costs of college athletics" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/28). USA TODAY's Wieberg writes Brand's tenure was "so widely acclaimed ... that sentiment was strong to replace him with another" university president, and "in that respect, Emmert's selection was no surprise." Emmert's "sensitivity to individual schools' autonomy echoed Brand's." Emmert: "The NCAA's not going to engage in constraint of trade or activities because, obviously, of legal limitations on its authority and power. I think the most fundamental question is: Can we help presidents of colleges and universities manage these very difficult issues?" (USA TODAY, 4/28).
LIKELY MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO: In Indianapolis, Bob Kravitz writes it is "unlikely Emmert will effect any significant changes because that's not what the member schools want him to do." The "school presidents are the bosses, not Emmert," and if they "wanted serious change, they'd hire a revolutionary figure." But they "want more of the same," or "more money, mostly." Emmert "seems like a smart man with a sterling background, but in the end, nothing much is going to change" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/28).
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Emmert Will Have Even More Money Flowing
To NCAA Next Year With Recent TV Deal |
MONEY MANAGER: In Seattle, Bud Withers writes Emmert's job description is to be "visionary, to lead, to shape reform and try to steer college sports away from the cliff where it often appears to be headed." Withers added, "More than raising money, now his job will be to manage it -- or more accurately, to help set a course for college athletics that keeps schools from a vast sinkhole created by fiscal irresponsibility rampant nationwide. ... Once you get past the obligatory lip service toward improving the student-athlete experience, it's almost inevitable that his big issues will surround money and the viability of today's structure of college athletics" (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/28). Also in Seattle, Art Thiel wrote the NCAA is a "cartel answerable only to its members, not a government agency or fiat," and "since all of its members are, more or less, under the same financial stress as UW, there is only one mandate for the job -- find more money" (SEATTLEPI.com, 4/27). The AP's Donna Gordon Blankinship noted the NCAA last week reached a new 14-year, $10.8B TV agreement with CBS Sports and Turner Sports for the men's basketball tournament, which means "even more money will be flowing to the member conferences and schools of the NCAA -- and the NCAA itself." Emmert said, "The real question for me is one of intention: what are you raising those dollars for, what are you doing with them?" (AP, 4/27).
MOVING ON: In Seattle, Sanjay Bhatt reports the UW Board of Regents "will soon appoint a search committee to find the university's 31st president." Board Chair Herb Simon yesterday said that the regents "would name an interim president before Emmert leaves" (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/28).
