The Univ. of Illinois will pay Korn Ferry Int'l $140,000 "to help with its athletic director search," according to Johnathan Hettinger of the Champaign NEWS-GAZETTE. Korn Ferry is the world’s "largest executive search firm, and has helped [hire] athletic administrators and head coaches at Michigan, Oregon, Texas and Virginia." As recently as Dec. 4, UI interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson said that she "hadn’t decided on whether to use a search firm." UI Associate Chancellor of Public Affairs Robin Kaler said that the process of selecting a search firm "began in mid-November." The firm "will help the eight-member search committee, made up of alumni, faculty and athletic officials" that was named on Dec. 4. In the past, UI has used Parker Executive Search "in hiring decisions, including the hiring" of former AD Mike Thomas (Champaign NEWS-GAZETTE, 12/17). In Chicago, Shannon Ryan notes the application process "closes Jan. 4." Wilson has said that she "hopes to have a hire in place for approval" by the BOT at its Jan. 21 meeting. A source said that is an "'unusually short' time frame for a firm to vet and narrow a pool of candidates." Sources earlier this week said that the school's search committee "was handling elements of the search inappropriately" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/17).
ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? In Detroit, Angelique Chengelis writes it is "important to find the right person" to lead Michigan's athletic department. That is why UM President Mark Schlissel has hired Turnkey Search and "organized a search committee to hire an athletic director who can manage the budget, raise funds, lead a staff of 350 and work with coaches and student-athletes to develop top national programs -- all under the umbrella of promoting academics first." Former UM AD Bill Martin "believes it's time Michigan hires an individual who has moved up the athletic director food chain in the more traditional sense." He said, "We should be looking for a sitting athletic director with a lot of experience at the senior levels. The president is taking this challenge very seriously. He wants to have input from every stakeholder group in the university, and that's wise of him. At this stage where Michigan is, I would favor going with someone with extensive athletic experience" (DETROITNEWS.com, 12/17).
