SCU's Athletics Director Decision - The "Final"

If the hiring of our new A.D. was a final exam and I was grading the process, communications, and our reaction to the SCU Athletics Director's decision, it would be a low "C" for all of us including the University. 

Barely Passing.  And our APR* would take a big hit.  

Fundamentally, we all choked a little bit...

For us, the season ticket holders, fans, alums, and donors reacted to a decision without additional facts.  We did not receive details from the University to reassure us that the process and vetting was broader and deeper than it seemed.

For the University, and I'm going to be a little harsh here, it was a failure to grasp the magnitude of the decision being made.  The vast majority of the SCU constituency were unaware of the unique qualities the selection committee, the broad spectrum of others who interviewed the candidates and Fr. Engh saw in Dr. Baumgartner that made her the consensus choice. 

It's s-o-o-o, Santa Clara...

I'm not trying to light a bonfire under our communications staff, I'm just sayin' we don't get it....Athletics....

After all the work of The Commission, Trustees, Athletics and University Staff, I believe this is our "Achilles Heel" - to national prominence in Athletics and, in particular major sports, and the centerpiece - Men's Basketball.

Someone once told me "You don't know, what you don't know." Maybe if we all would have recognized this flaw, we all could have "aced" the final.

For nearly 30 years, the "program across the street" has been given just enough gas in the tank to keep the engine going.  Now that we are committing to "revving" up the horsepower, we need a crew of mechanics to make it happen.  

To be fair, the University staff on board are great people, but they weren't hired for expertise in Athletics communications.  Our coaches are both talented and engaged, but need a "go to" person or two who get it.  

This just in - a top 20 Debate and Forensics Team is not going to energize a University like a Top 20 Men's Basketball program - and for SCU, BOTH are achievable.  

IMHO, one of Dr. Renee Baumgartner's biggest challenges is to educate the SCU staff of what is takes to build a competitive Athletics program. 

As to the decision itself,  it is FINAL.  We just need get over ourselves and "Melo" out, focus on the one thing we might all agree on - that Santa Clara INTENDS to be nationally relevant in Athletics.

  

You may not like the decision - and full disclosure - I felt other candidates on paper had more experience to bring.  

There were about 30 applicants that was whittled down to 9. The 9 was culled down to the final 3.  

Multiple interviews from more than 30 separate and diverse SCU University staff, athletics staff, coaches, former athletes, trustees, regents, donors, about 90 in total, (3 finalists) gave the edge to Dr. Baumgartner.  

Each interviewer was asked to privately answer questions and write in pros and cons.  The data was then tallied by an independent survey engine that quantified the feedback.

There were small social meetings where the above could observe candidates out of full blown interview mode.  The "vetting" went deeper than just her cheerleaders at Oregon and Syracuse.  I feel it should have gone further, but it wasn't a "stuff job." I can't give you the "inside" names because I said I wouldn't, but they're legit.

It also seemed the process was rushed.  I get the need to have a decision in the summer, but given the magnitude of the hire, a few more weeks to ensure some key SCU people would have been in town to interview would have been appropriate..

It also wasn't a money decision....like we have all suspected in the past with other hires where "frugal" is maybe being generous.

I can go on and on.  Summary, we didn't run the best process due to our naivete' regarding Athletics and the press release against the backdrop of the Syracuse issues was a non-starter.

  

It was written through an Academic vs Athletics "lens."  When you use the word administrative or administrator 9 times in your press release, it's not what your SCU community is wanting to see after 30 years.  Some of the right words are there, mentioning her responsibilities, but it was a bare list with not much behind it. We weren't looking for an "overseer."   We were hoping for someone who "directed" the operations and made dynamic changes.

Maybe use the word leadership 9 times?  How about describing what made Renee stand out?  How about more information what was accomplished in marketing, performance of the 8 teams she supervised, which standout coaches did she hire, how did fundraising $$ grow, and were there innovations in communications we should know about?   

The endorsement from the Syracuse Chancellor was tepid at best.  We were looking for something a lot stronger than "positive".  Then there was the gratuitous veiled reference to "values" that was slipped in for the right spin.

The PR retries, although more to the point, didn't do the trick as we were by then in defensive mode. There's also memories of past hires that still rankle alums. 

Dr. Baumgartner didn't deserve this reception.  So, we all are on probation...Everyone of us.

We booted the "Final" and we all need to raise our grade and game.

The tentative plan from the Commission, Trustees, and Athletics projects milestones out to 2020.  My guess is that's probably the term of the contract.     

Whether or not we liked the process or decision, I'm sure of one thing.  ALL of us want to see Santa Clara realize it's potential and "break out" of the funk of the past.  

I'm hopeful Dr. Baumgartner can be the catalyst for us to become National instead of Local in Athletics. She's here and deserves our support to reach our goals. 

I'll have my "grade book" with me to chart our progress.

*APR stands for Academic Progress Rate; a measurement of how well Athletes do in School.

Next Up:  What must SCU do to help build Men's Basketball into an NCAA Caliber Program.

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