So this thread (and others) got me to thinking about the relative strengths and weaknesses of all of the ADs this program has had over the last 50 years or so.
Eddie Crowder - former head football coach. Notable football hires: Chuck Fairbanks & Bill McCartney. Biggest success: hiring McCartney (although looking back, it would appear that was pure luck, but give credit where due). Biggest failure: slashing AD and eliminating several varsity sports (baseball, wrestling and swimming among them). The CU AD has never managed to recover from this. Overall grade “D”.
Bill Marolt - former head ski coach & director of US Ski team. Notable football hires: Rick Neuhisel. Biggest success: extension for McCartney, construction of Dal Ward. Biggest failure: basketball was completely ignored and might as well not have even been a varsity sport while Marolt was AD. Also wasn’t able to leverage the success under McCartney into any kind of long term sustainable program. Overall grade “B+”
Dick Tharp - former University counsel, long time supporter. Notable football hire: Gary Barnett. Biggest success: no clue. Renovation of Potts Field (maybe?). Biggest failure: turtled during “scandal” and allowed the department to be castrated. Probably not his fault, but he did nothing to help the situation, either. Totally ghosted at a time when leadership was required. Overall grade “F”
Mike Bohn: former KU quarterback. Boulder native, but no direct connections to CU. Notable football hires: Dan Hawkins, Jon Embree. Major successes: hiring Tad Boyle, resurgence of hoops program, increased student involvement, move to PAC 12. Major failures: see football hires above, inability to raise funds necessary for IPF/Champions Center. Overall grade “C+”
Rick George - former recruiting director under Bill McCartney, president of Texas Rangers baseball club. Notable football hires: Mel Tucker, Karl Dorrell. Major successes: construction of IPF/Champions Center, solid fundraising, booster/alumni relations. Major failure: contract negotiations, panic hiring of Dorrell, regression of student involvement. Overall grade “C+”
So each has had some good and some bad. If we could get the perfect AD, he’d hire like Crowder, retain and support like Marolt, engage and stabilize like Bohn, and fundraise like George.
So, who fits that description?