Under Harlan, USF generated close to $53M and increased donations by 300% in '17UNIV. OF UTAH
Mark Harlan yesterday was introduced as the successor to longtime Utah AD Chris Hill, saying that the "chance to get back to the Pac-12, back West, was something he couldn’t let slip by without at least a shot," according to Christopher Kamrani of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Utah President Ruth Watkins said that a search firm led the school to USF, and Harlan’s four-year tenure there "was too impressive to ignore." Harlan "spearheaded record-setting agreements in multimedia rights, which generated" close to $53M in revenue and in '17, USF athletics "increased its donations" by 300% from the previous calendar year. Harlan "knows how to network. and most importantly, knows how to fundraise, which in this era of college athletics, is second-to-none." Harlan "expects to be briefed on the Rice-Eccles Stadium expansion project in the coming weeks." Yesterday, his "first hour in front of various microphones showed glimpses as to why he was Utah’s first choice." He said Hill is on "the Mount Rushmore" of college ADs. Additionally, he "joked that he was surprised" former Utah football coach Ron McBride "knew how to text (they worked together at Arizona), lauded the passionate Utes fan base, promised transparency, and spoke glowingly of how anytime a team faced off against Utah, the opposition always knew what they were up against." Harlan confirmed that Utah Deputy AD and former Hill pupil Kyle Brennan, who was in the running for the Utah AD job, "will remain on staff" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 6/5). In Utah, Dirk Facer notes Harlan "signed a five-year contract that pays $700,000 for each of the first three years and $750,000 annually for the last two." Watkins said that the university "owes it" to Hill to "keep the department’s energy moving in a forward direction" (DESERET NEWS, 6/5).
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: In Salt Lake City, Kurt Kragthorpe writes Harlan "looked and sounded like someone sent over from Central Casting for an AD." Kragthorpe: "Barely glancing at his notes, he said everything anyone could have wanted to hear from him." Harlan "came across as an outsider who will blend in nicely, with a Pac-12 background and the experience of administering a South Florida program that’s just below the Power Five level." By all appearances, Utah "got this one right." Boosters "will like this guy." Utah "needs to develop the next generation of donors, and Harlan sounds like someone who can make that happen" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 6/5). In Utah, Mike Sorensen writes the first impressions of Harlan "were positive among several of the Ute coaches who were on hand" for his introduction (DESERET NEWS, 6/5).
THE REPLACEMENTS: In Tampa, Joey Knight notes USF named Deputy AD/External Operations Scott Kull interim AD while the school "continues its search" for a permanent successor. The school also said that it "will hire a national search firm," and USF's Vinik Sports & Entertainment Management Program Dir Dr. Bill Sutton will lead the search. Texas-based search firm Eastman & Beaudine "charged USF $100,000 during its eight-week search that led to Harlan's hiring" in '14 (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/5). Also in Tampa, Tom Jones writes USF President Judy Genshaft has "done a lot of great things in her 18 years" holding the position. However, hiring ADs is "not among them." Now she "has to hire another." Jones: "So how does she get this one right? By staying the heck out of the way." Harlan "never seemed like the right hire for USF," and he "never really felt a part of Tampa Bay." It is up to Genshaft to "find the right person to replace Harlan and there's already an encouraging sign." There is "hope that this time will go better" than the last, "especially if Genshaft sticks with the university stuff while others deal with the sports stuff" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/5).
