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Top 10 Most Read is released every Friday afternoon, allowing you to compare the most read stories over the past seven days to your own interest list. Feedback, as always, is welcome to Matt@D1ticker.com.
#10: From the latest SBJ: College-focused staff writer Smith digs in on AD-hiring trends, specifically progress made by female leaders. "Progress" in the sense of eight of the last 52 AD hires being women (15.38%), overall in DI we're at 35 of 351 (9.97%). New William & Mary boss Huge: "Women have started to emerge as strong leaders in areas that haven’t traditionally fed into the AD chair. I’m not surprised. This is a confirmation of what we thought was happening all along. It gives women a shot in the arm and lets us know that it can happen." DHR lead Sugiyama: "Research shows that most of the young women entering the job market learn through modeling. If they see women in leadership roles, there is a higher probability that they will follow that path, knowing a career in athletics is attainable. It is important for athletic departments to provide training and support for females as well as exposing student-athletes to diverse leadership." Lots more. (link); Smith continues with, "Have times passed the SWA title by?" Women Leaders in College Sports CEO Phillips: "That title served the athletic department well when it was initiated, but now it’s always misconstrued. It’s supposed to be the highest-ranking woman, but a lot of times people think it’s the person who’s over women’s sports, which can create a stigma for someone trying to become an athletic director." (link); Also, an excellent Champions profile on former hoops HC & current Nike connector Raveling. Worth your time. (link)
#9: Cutting straight to the chase from the Tulsa World's Haisten: "Sources indicate that several influential university figures are advocates of change in the athletic director’s office. Advocates of Holder’s retirement. It is believed that Oklahoma State is exploring the possibility of hiring an athletic director-in-waiting — someone who would agree to become Holder’s designated successor. It is not known what the transition timeline might look like, but informed OSU people are in agreement that something soon could happen." Response from Pokes AD Holder: "I'm not going to talk about that." Holder is currently working off year-to-year contracts & a listed pay rate of $644K, though it's possible he's giving some back to the university. As is commonplace in Stillwater, Haisten also wonders how a Holder exit would impact mega-donor Pickens. (link)
#8: A bit of tension in the post-game handshake line between Auburn & Florida Softball, which included Gators HC Walton, as there's a family story at the center of it all. (link)
#7: Four days after his team's Sweet 16 exit to Xavier, Arizona MBB HC Miller shut down his Twitter account. (link)
#6: Athletic Director announcements are off to a quick start this week as Sacramento State's decision is followed by one at La Salle where interim AD Bradshaw has signed a multiyear agreement to continue leading the Explorers in a more permanent capacity. It's Bradshaw's second stint of leadership at the university, the first was from 1978 to 1986, & adds to additional AD stints at DePaul (1986-2002) & Temple (2002-2013). Bradshaw: "The past year has been rewarding, and it's exciting—both as a former student-athlete and athletic director at La Salle—to return during this promising time of the University's renaissance and growth under Dr. Hanycz's leadership. The future is very bright for La Salle and Explorer athletics." (link)
#5: This piece is not technically new (published in late January) & I'm sure some of you have already seen it. But, I stumbled upon it earlier in the week & also had a recent conversation with an AD about this Drake Group entry from Sports Management Resources President & former Texas Women's AD Lopiano titled "If I was an FBS athletic director, my top worries in 2017 would be..." 1) Financial sustainability; 2) Continued escalation of the FB & MBB arms races; 3) Cost of concussion lawsuits; 4) Significant changes to the current media rights model; 5) FB & Hoops HCs "knowing" they have to cheat to win; 6) Developmental pro FB leagues; 7) College FB Playoff access via more games between 'Power 5' foes & less with other FBS/FCS institutions; 8) Athletic fundraising vs. institutional fundraising overlap; 9) Political power dynamics involving Boards, Presidents/Chancellors & HCs (read: not ADs); and, 10) "Athlete and coach behavior will continue to undermine respected brands." More. (link)
#4:In case you missed the Breaking News email Sunday night, reports indicate Sacramento State will announce its AD selection this morning with Saint Mary's boss Orr as the choice. The appointment of Orr will end a process that included on-campus interviews some weeks ago, then went dark for a number of days before The Sacramento Bee's Voisin published Sunday. Orr has led the Gaels in Moraga for a day short of 11 years & will return to his hometown to take charge of the Hornets. (link)
#3: TMGCollegeSports.com's Blaudschun reports the AD search at Boston College is narrowing to four. "The most likely list of candidates" includes VCU's McLaughlin, Villanova's Jackson & Army West Point's Corrigan, though Blaudschun covers his tracks with "It is uncertain whether those candidates are interested in BC." Timeframe looks to be a decision by the middle of next month. Outgoing Loyola (Maryland) AD Paquette is not on the finalist list, per the article. Also, there's a possibility of a non-traditional hire, as well as some talk of former FB HC O'Brien being in the mix. (link)
#2: USA Today's Berkowitz comes with some numbers we've all been waiting for - though I suppose some of you may have already seen them from the inside. Publishes a full breakdown of what every DI institution will receive from the NCAA as it divides $200M in a one-time distribution. Amounts range from $1.3M for Ohio State to $165K at Davidson & are all based on the number of total scholarships offered. Berkowitz notes an opportunity to see behind the curtain a bit for private DIs & MAAC AD Ensor wonders, "why is football getting such weight in the formula," as a good portion of the legal issues around the industry are "being driven by football." (link - article, link - full chart)
#1: Loyola (Maryland) announces Athletic Director Jim Paquette will step down in June to "pursue new opportunities in collegiate athletics and higher education." Paquette: "It has been a privilege and an honor to work alongside so many talented and dedicated student-athletes, coaches and staff at Loyola University Maryland, and I’m extremely proud of our achievements. After careful thought and reflection, I have decided the timing is right to conclude my service at Loyola so I can more aggressively pursue new opportunities that are the best fit for my family and me and to allow for new leadership to be in place as the University implements its recently endorsed strategic plan." University EVP Donovan: "During Jim’s time at Loyola, Greyhounds student-athletes have excelled both academically and in competition unlike ever before in Loyola’s history. Jim has left his mark on Loyola University Maryland, and we are grateful to him for his leadership." (link)
