New UMass AD Ryan Bamford “takes over at a time when the challenges are plentiful and the stakes high,” as the football team seeks a new conference and “everything that accompanies that quest is defining UMass’ athletic department right now," according to a front-page piece by Matt Vautour of the DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE. Bamford “made a good first impression” at yesterday’s introductory press conference. His energy “was in clear contrast to John McCutcheon, his far more stoic predecessor.” The football team is set to depart the MAC following the ‘15 season, and Bamford’s role "will be to help make UMass attractive to any conference," or more specifically the AAC, the school’s "ideal destination." Until a decision is made, Bamford will have to “manage a department-wide budget no longer getting bowl revenue from conference rivals or TV money from a league contract.” Bamford said, “You don’t have a piece of the pie. That’s going to be one of our biggest challenges. That’s where we have to be creative, not only with the resources we have, and find ways to get new revenue streams” (DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE, 3/25).
FOOTBALL FIRST: In Massachusetts, Daniel Malone writes Bamford was brought aboard “thanks largely to his experience overseeing an established FBS program for the past four years" as Georgia Tech Senior Associate AD. He “felt his experience probably gave him a leg up on a number of applicants.” Bamford said that he “played that up.” Malone notes Bamford will “have to use his FBS ties and relationships to forge a partnership with a new league.” There is “no other option” for UMass. Being an independent “works for schools like Notre Dame, but for the fledgling Minutemen, it's not a viable long-term strategy” (Springfield REPUBLICAN, 3/25). UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said, “Having direct experience in a good football practice and at a good football school was a big plus. I would say it was almost a necessity, although, not overwhelmingly, because we have 21 different sports.” He added, “The first box was really a record in terms of integrity of programs. Being associated with programs with high levels of integrity. The next box was being able to project well and be enthusiastic and bring a lot of new energy. Being savvy in terms of the new social media and in how that plays a role in the university in general and in athletics in particular” (Springfield REPUBLICAN, 3/25).
BUILDING A RÉSUMÉ: In Massachusetts, George Miller notes Bamford “directly oversaw operations and scheduling for the Yellow Jackets’ football, men’s basketball and baseball teams.” He “expects to assume his new position sometime in mid-April.” Bamford also “spent over eight years” as Yale Senior Associate AD, in which he was the “primary administrator for football, men’s basketball and fencing” (Greenfield RECORDER, 3/25).
