7 candidates possibly, maybe 8 with George, but hearing one has dropped or was dropped??? Was 3 or 4 the other day, right?
Each of these guys will bring a vision and an idea for fundraising and the athletic department. They have to sell that vision as well as themselves. I don;t feel like Rick George is coming or even that interested.
Homerun - Craig Tiley - Everyone knows him and obviously this would be a huge name hire.
Illinois ties - Josh Whitman, Tom Michael, Kelly Mehrtens - Mehrtens has a very good resume outside of one black eye that may not be tied to her except in perception. Michael lacks experience but is a much better candidate than people think. Whitman is very intelligent and has been really good at WASH U. Lacks experience at this level.
Experience - Dave Heeke, Patirck Chun, Sean Frazier - Hearing Frazier is either not ready or wants to end up at Wisconsin when Alavrez leaves. Differing sources on that. Heeke is a very safe hire, he will be a power 5 AD at some point. He has been at Oregon as Asst AD and is very well respected nationally. Chun? Ohio State for 15 years before he went to Florida Atlantic so he understands athletic success.
Really, this is a very good group for the situation Illinois is in. I think Heeke and Chun would have to sell to the boosters. I like Tom Michael from his time at Illinois, and I think Whitman is going to be a star AD at some point. Mehrtens would fulfill the AA hire and she has a very good resume.
Tiley is the one guy that could be a homerun, but I think that the others are very good candidates. I think, although knowing Michael he is going to be a very good AD, that many people wouldn't be behind him yet.
Which guy has a vision and which guy feels like a guy that could hire great coaches? That's really the key. Fund raise and hire stud coaches and become a legend.
Each of these guys will bring a vision and an idea for fundraising and the athletic department. They have to sell that vision as well as themselves. I don;t feel like Rick George is coming or even that interested.
Homerun - Craig Tiley - Everyone knows him and obviously this would be a huge name hire.
Illinois ties - Josh Whitman, Tom Michael, Kelly Mehrtens - Mehrtens has a very good resume outside of one black eye that may not be tied to her except in perception. Michael lacks experience but is a much better candidate than people think. Whitman is very intelligent and has been really good at WASH U. Lacks experience at this level.
Experience - Dave Heeke, Patirck Chun, Sean Frazier - Hearing Frazier is either not ready or wants to end up at Wisconsin when Alavrez leaves. Differing sources on that. Heeke is a very safe hire, he will be a power 5 AD at some point. He has been at Oregon as Asst AD and is very well respected nationally. Chun? Ohio State for 15 years before he went to Florida Atlantic so he understands athletic success.
Really, this is a very good group for the situation Illinois is in. I think Heeke and Chun would have to sell to the boosters. I like Tom Michael from his time at Illinois, and I think Whitman is going to be a star AD at some point. Mehrtens would fulfill the AA hire and she has a very good resume.
Tiley is the one guy that could be a homerun, but I think that the others are very good candidates. I think, although knowing Michael he is going to be a very good AD, that many people wouldn't be behind him yet.
Which guy has a vision and which guy feels like a guy that could hire great coaches? That's really the key. Fund raise and hire stud coaches and become a legend.
