The Univ. of Cincinnati has hired Univ. of Minnesota Deputy AD/Administration John Cunningham as AD, "filling the vacancy" left from Mike Bohn's departure for USC, according to Fletcher Page of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Cunningham will "lead an athletics program that includes 19 varsity sports and over 500 student-athletes," supervise a "staff of approximately 166 and manage an annual budget" of $64M. Consulting firm Collegiate Sports Associates assisted the school with its search. The school agreed to pay the search firm $70,000 "plus expenses for all approved travel, materials, background checks, etc., in assisting with the hire." CSA's proposal in early November "pledged a hiring target date of Dec. 18," which ended up being the date Cunningham was announced (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/19). UC President Neville Pinto said that the school "went through an exhaustive search before deciding" on Cunningham. Pinto: "We really put the candidates through the wringer before we selected them." Cunningham has spent 14 years working in college athletics, and Pinto said that he "took part in raising" $168M for Minnesota's Gopher Athletic Village and helped the school land a $11.2M naming rights deal for Mariucci Arena. Pinto said of Cunningham, "Whether its fundraising, fan engagement or personnel selection, John has created a track record that proves he's ready for what's next" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/18).
