Jafus (Thinker)
Well-Known Member
GSU's AD search to be exhaustive
Experience will be Judson's main focus
Nick Deriso
[email protected]
The News-Star
July 20, 2004
http://www.thenewsstar.com/sports/html/33F430E0-928B-41AE-867F-6692D3385D3A.shtml
GRAMBLING - Grambling State president Horace Judson has an exacting standard for any prospective new athletics director.
"I expect a person who is going to develop the athletics programs so that there is excellence across the board," said Judson, who took over on July 1. "People talk about major sports and minor sports. I don't like those terms. We need to have quality teams in every area."
The AD position came open on his first official day of office, when Judson asked Al Dennis III to step down after four years on the job. Judson said paperwork is nearing completion to officially post the position, at which time he will begin compiling a list of candidates.
Experience will be a cornerstone in the evaluation process: "I'm not looking for someone who will come in and learn on the job," he said. "I'm looking for a person who might have been an associate or has some experience."
The reason? It's going to take a seasoned veteran to navigate through entrenched factions and form some organizing principles in GSU athletics.
"I don't see where we have a total plan for the athletics program - including, very importantly, what we are doing about upkeep," he said. "It's one thing to know where the weaknesses are. It's another thing to develop a plan to get from where we are to having quality fields for everybody. I need an athletics director who can come up with a plan, then I will help bring it to fruition."
Grambling State relies heavily on sports for critical funding. The football program's national profile is also an important calling card for the institution.
"Athletics is a big part of fund raising and enhancing enrollment," said James "Shack" Harris, a Grambling product who is now vice president of player personnel for the Jacksonville Jaguars. "We need a good working relationship with the athletics director and the president. That's important. He needs to be able to go directly to the president to work through things."
Judson agrees: "I expect that this person have the ability to raise funds, to promote the programs, and to help market the programs. Basically, somebody who understands what the potential, the role and scope of an athletics director can be. You need to be on campus, but also out in the community."
Despite the quick change at athletics director, Judson said that he doesn't have a replacement in mind. "There is no one," he said, "waiting in the wings."
Most of the outside input he's gotten involves possible candidates with ties to Grambling State.
But his first two hires - vice presidents of student affairs and academic affairs - were not members of the extended GSU family. One is from Shaw University, while the other is from Morehouse.
"I've got a few people who have expressed interest - and a couple of them are Gramblinites who have gone away and had success," said Judson, who added that countless fans have made suggestions. "The kind of person I am looking for is somebody who already has a track record. It would be nice if it were somebody from Grambling, but that's not where I start."
Among the most notable GSU products being mentioned are former women's coach Patricia Bibbs, Alabama State AD Patrick Carter, former school president Steve Favors and Laronica Conway, assistant commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.
"I think that Dr. Favors should be considered for the job," said Earling M. Hunter, a Monroe native who graduated from GSU in 1998. "He has a strong background in sports, prior to becoming president - and while at GSU, he proved that he was an innovative thinker."
Prior to his tenure at Grambling State, Favors was Howard University's acting director of athletics from 1994-96.
Judson has not set a deadline for hiring a new AD, but said he'd like to get the process underway immediately. There is a possibility that Judson will name an interim athletics director as a stopgap measure, he added.
Other evaluations ahead
Grambling State president Horace Judson wouldn't confirm that any coaches were under evaluation for replacement. That's something he'd like to discuss with a new athletics director.
"I have some concerns, but the new AD and I will discuss those concerns," Judson said, adding that tenure will not shield employees from evaluation. "I'm very cognizant of tradition and relationships, especially at a place like Grambling. But at the end of the day, that can't be the decisive factor."
While the football program regained its championship form under Doug Williams over the past few years, other sports have lagged behind.
...
Experience will be Judson's main focus
Nick Deriso
[email protected]
The News-Star
July 20, 2004
http://www.thenewsstar.com/sports/html/33F430E0-928B-41AE-867F-6692D3385D3A.shtml
GRAMBLING - Grambling State president Horace Judson has an exacting standard for any prospective new athletics director.
"I expect a person who is going to develop the athletics programs so that there is excellence across the board," said Judson, who took over on July 1. "People talk about major sports and minor sports. I don't like those terms. We need to have quality teams in every area."
The AD position came open on his first official day of office, when Judson asked Al Dennis III to step down after four years on the job. Judson said paperwork is nearing completion to officially post the position, at which time he will begin compiling a list of candidates.
Experience will be a cornerstone in the evaluation process: "I'm not looking for someone who will come in and learn on the job," he said. "I'm looking for a person who might have been an associate or has some experience."
The reason? It's going to take a seasoned veteran to navigate through entrenched factions and form some organizing principles in GSU athletics.
"I don't see where we have a total plan for the athletics program - including, very importantly, what we are doing about upkeep," he said. "It's one thing to know where the weaknesses are. It's another thing to develop a plan to get from where we are to having quality fields for everybody. I need an athletics director who can come up with a plan, then I will help bring it to fruition."
Grambling State relies heavily on sports for critical funding. The football program's national profile is also an important calling card for the institution.
"Athletics is a big part of fund raising and enhancing enrollment," said James "Shack" Harris, a Grambling product who is now vice president of player personnel for the Jacksonville Jaguars. "We need a good working relationship with the athletics director and the president. That's important. He needs to be able to go directly to the president to work through things."
Judson agrees: "I expect that this person have the ability to raise funds, to promote the programs, and to help market the programs. Basically, somebody who understands what the potential, the role and scope of an athletics director can be. You need to be on campus, but also out in the community."
Despite the quick change at athletics director, Judson said that he doesn't have a replacement in mind. "There is no one," he said, "waiting in the wings."
Most of the outside input he's gotten involves possible candidates with ties to Grambling State.
But his first two hires - vice presidents of student affairs and academic affairs - were not members of the extended GSU family. One is from Shaw University, while the other is from Morehouse.
"I've got a few people who have expressed interest - and a couple of them are Gramblinites who have gone away and had success," said Judson, who added that countless fans have made suggestions. "The kind of person I am looking for is somebody who already has a track record. It would be nice if it were somebody from Grambling, but that's not where I start."
Among the most notable GSU products being mentioned are former women's coach Patricia Bibbs, Alabama State AD Patrick Carter, former school president Steve Favors and Laronica Conway, assistant commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.
"I think that Dr. Favors should be considered for the job," said Earling M. Hunter, a Monroe native who graduated from GSU in 1998. "He has a strong background in sports, prior to becoming president - and while at GSU, he proved that he was an innovative thinker."
Prior to his tenure at Grambling State, Favors was Howard University's acting director of athletics from 1994-96.
Judson has not set a deadline for hiring a new AD, but said he'd like to get the process underway immediately. There is a possibility that Judson will name an interim athletics director as a stopgap measure, he added.
Other evaluations ahead
Grambling State president Horace Judson wouldn't confirm that any coaches were under evaluation for replacement. That's something he'd like to discuss with a new athletics director.
"I have some concerns, but the new AD and I will discuss those concerns," Judson said, adding that tenure will not shield employees from evaluation. "I'm very cognizant of tradition and relationships, especially at a place like Grambling. But at the end of the day, that can't be the decisive factor."
While the football program regained its championship form under Doug Williams over the past few years, other sports have lagged behind.
...
