D1.ticker - News from Saturday, May 27, 2017

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Former Richmond AD & current Collegiate Sports Associates senior partner Miller provided quite a bit of commentary on his view of the Spiders department & college athletics overall as UR searches for a new boss. Notes the importance of having an excellent "fit" in the AD chair, plus eye-to-eye alignment with the overall institution & vice versa for athletics to succeed. "No matter how smart a person is, how skilled a person is, how much charisma a person has, if you’re not a good fit for what that school needs at that time ... Because it’s not a universal. When I first came to Richmond, they needed a certain skill set. When Keith came, they needed a certain skill set. When they hire the next athletic director, there will be a different skill set that’s perceived to be important." What does "basketball-centric" really mean for the next AD? "You have to be relentlessly committed to the success at the expense of other sports. That is just the way. If you’re going to win at the highest level with limited resources, whether it’s personnel or financial, you have to be relentless for that success. [...] You’ve got to be willing to be a bad guy. You’ve got to be willing to say, 'No, this is what we’re doing. This is what’s best for basketball, and this is what we’re doing.'" More. (link)

New Sacramento State AD Orr: "I could have stayed at Saint Mary’s forever, but this is home. The other part is personal, too. When I grew up, the Kings were just getting started, and I remember as kids how excited we were to say, 'Wow, we have an NBA team.' I always thought this city would support (Division I) sports if it had a real opportunity. I want to make college sports a pulse of the city." Building a new facility that could serve as an upgraded home for hoops is of key importance as Brailsford & Dunleavy have been employed to execute a feasibility study. Orr wonders if it could be creatively built for $70M if a number of strategic partners are involved. Saint Mary's MBB HC Bennett says a new arena would totally chance the perception of the Hornet's programs. Even with a strong external push, Orr says he won't be forgetting about Sac State's current student-athletes & their accommodation needs. (link)

In-depth read on Nebraska Omaha's financial situation through two years of full DI membership. Direct university support is up from $4.3M in 2010-11 to $8.6M last year & cost-cutting measures of all shapes & sizes have been recommended, per internal docs. Nebraska Prez Bounds still believes the move to DI is a "good bet." One area of significant revenue growth potential is increasing MBB attendance from 2K to a goal of 5K & the recent involvement of the Mavs to the MVC could help the situation, though an exit from the Summit could cost $1M. Suggestion for belt-tightening/balancing include eliminating country club memberships for HCs & other key admins, a potential wage freeze for 17-18, a potential increase to student fees, better controls on travel. Lots more here. (link); One thing that's definitely working for UNO is the Hamilton Academic Excellence Room, that opened back in 2013 thanks to $600K in private donations. A number of student-athletes comment on its utility & effectiveness, on display with a 3.34 department GPA last fall. (link)

Tennessee AD Currie says one of the first emails he received after opening up his "Hey John" feedback portal came with the first sentence of, "Fire Butch Jones." Currie: "That was classic. Not at all surprised. Some people will never be satisfied until we win every single one, and then they'll want to win every one by more." The UT boss has already received quite a bit of feedback on the Lady Vols branding debate, "When you have a lot of different people with a lot of different perspectives, you have to be deliberate about making sure you've heard folks and been thoughtful. We're going to continue with that process." Currie points to the ability to identify game operations issues with some of the emails, does sit down & respond as time allows. (link)

The in-flight laptop ban continues to be a topic and Bloomberg's Levin says such a policy would be unnecessary if the airport scanners of the future work as expected. According to The Skift's Schaal: "The technology is already available to thwart any perceived threats [...] hidden in laptops but bureaucracy could slow implementation for years." Adding the new CT scanner machines from IDSS and L3 Technologies Inc. could cost the United States upwards of $1B. (link)

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Even more from the Roanoke Times with Virginia Tech AD Babcock, this time on the rare deficit the Hokies operated with in 2016. "With everything we’ve got going on and the momentum, we know we can’t be in the red very often, but we’re at a point right now of investing and transition, and we felt like it was well worth it." Projected budget for FY18 is $85M, which would slot the Hokies ninth within the ACC. Upgrades needed for the new ACC Network are expected to fall in the $5M to $7M range. On marketplace shifts for ESPN, "I think reports of their demise are greatly exaggerated." Babcock also continues to say there's no ceiling for support via the 260K living Tech alums. (link)

Can't imagine this sentiment is terribly unusual for major facility revamps that require reseating or account holder shifts. The Orange County Register caught up with a number of USC FB season ticket holders, many who express dismay at having their allotments minimized or made more expensive with renovations to the LA Coliseum. Some wonder why the Trojans aren't grandfathering in more longtime accounts, others ask why SC believes it to be savvy business to ask for more money for the same seats. Of note, the 24 'Founders Suites' new to the venue look to be running between $7.5M to $10M annually. Other ticket holders are fine with the changes as the venue should now be world-class. (link)

The Lincoln Journal Star's Sipple believes now is a "precarious period' for the Nebraska FB program. Thesis: "Having covered Nebraska football since the early 1990s, I can't remember a time when such a substantial number of fans entered a season willing to let a seven- or eight-win season slide. That's a prevalent vibe. That's certainly the vibe among local media who adore Riley. The Riley 'good-guy factor' is largely irrelevant to me, but I do stand squarely in the 'patient with Riley' corner even while recognizing this is indeed a precarious time in program history. Nebraska's conference-championship drought stretches to 1999, and many fans (and local media) seem surprisingly OK with it stretching yet another year or two, confident that Riley's recruiting soon will pay dividends and allow Big Red to topple the beasts of the Big Ten East." (link)

Sports TV scheduling guru Sarzyniak pens on the first two weeks of the upcoming FB season now that it's starting to take shape on the tube. ESPN2 is largely out of the mix due to US Open Tennis, it's possible CBS may not air a game at all on Labor Day as the match-ups aren't sexy enough, shrugs his shoulders on when we may get an official announcement from the Big Ten or ESPN on their new deal. More in the weeds type stuff as Sarzyniak is all over these angles. (link); Key note for the Big Ten & others who already play Friday night games (or will shift to Fridays in the future) comes from Fox Sports EVP Mulvihill in connection to Nielsen's new out-of-home rating capabilities. "As out-of-home becomes fully integrated into TV measurement we're going to have to stop thinking of Fri and Sat as 'low usage' nights. Prediction: Friday prime, long a graveyard for entertainment, will become as dominated by sports as Saturday as out-of-home gains acceptance." If you're not listening to Mulvihill, you're way behind. (link)

Executive leadership coach Garfinkle for Harvard Business Review: "How to Have Difficult Conversations When You Don't Like Conflict." 1) Begin from a place of curiosity & respect, & stop worrying about being liked; 2) Focus on what you're hearing, not what you're saying; 3) Be direct; 4) Don't put it off; and, 5) Expect a positive outcome. "Don't ignore the tough situations you are aware of today. When the opportunity presents itself to provide unsolicited negative feedback to a difficult colleague or give less-than-positive performance evaluation, summon the courage to address the conflict head-on." More. (link)

There's been no bigger voice in the coverage & analysis of the technology industry over the past couple of decades than Recode's Mossberg. Here's the last weekly column he ever plans to write: "The Disappearing Computer." "As I write this, the personal tech world is bursting with possibility, but few new blockbuster, game-changing products are hitting the mainstream. So a strange kind of lull has set in. […] But just because you’re not seeing amazing new consumer tech products on Amazon, in the app stores, or at the Apple Store or Best Buy, that doesn’t mean the tech revolution is stuck or stopped. […] All of the major tech players, companies from other industries and startups whose names we don’t know yet are working away on some or all of the new major building blocks of the future. They are: Artificial intelligence / machine learning, augmented reality, virtual reality, robotics and drones, smart homes, self-driving cars, and digital health / wearables." Goes on to coin "ambient computing" as the way of the future with mini-computers built into all sorts of devices to connect & analyze human behavior, which will heighten the need for greater control & security. More. (link)

The Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board believes it's time for New Mexico AD Krebs to exit. The Scotland golf trip saga & continued "stonewalling" with local media are two reasons for the position. Notes the positive steps forward for the Lobos under Krebs' watch, like academic progress, some strong coaching hires & a number of external wins. As you might imagine, there's also plenty of stones thrown by the Editorial Board given how the last couple of months have played out. (link)

Former Oregon AD & notable Ducks donor Kilkenny is "100 percent" behind bringing Baseball HC Horton back to lead the diamond Ducks. Kilkenny: "People like myself always get opportunities to chime in... They need to be diligent about how they spend money because they need to get it right. Otherwise, they’re going to lose their jobs. I have no doubt they’ll be fair and reasonable." (link); South Carolina Baseball HC Holbrook on his future with the Gamecocks after a strong SEC Tourney run, "That’s not for me to decide. That’s not for me to discuss. I’ve been lucky to be the head baseball coach at South Carolina. I stand by our success here. I certainly love the opportunity to coach the Gamecocks, but that’s not my decision. That’s for others to decide." (link)

D1Baseball's Etheridge pens on how the NCAA Baseball selection committee traditionally makes decisions & while the majority of the piece is behind a pay wall, there's still some value in front. On how important the RPI really is, "In [the] last five seasons, eight teams have been passed in the RPI for teams with worse rankings. That would be a ratio of three occurrences every two seasons. The fact that this happens occasionally is interesting but it really doesn’t provide any insight into what the conditions are that led to the occurrence." Etheridge continues by going into detail on some choices, but that's where we hit the moat. (link)

The New York Times with an in depth look at the life of former Boston College and NC State FB AC Horton who, at the age of 48, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. His symptoms went beyond Parkinson's, according to his wife, whose research into the matter led her to believe her husband was suffering from C.T.E. Horton, who estimated that during his playing days he suffered approximately 15 concussions, agreed to have his brain donated to science and after his passing last year, doctors at Boston University C.T.E. Center determined that Horton's brain did show the presence of C.T.E. and at a level 3 or 4, on a 0-4 scale. Lots more. (link)

TV/OTT: DirecTV Now subscriber growth has reportedly stalled. The OTT option grew to around 328K users back in January, but dipped by 3K in February & has yet to regain momentum according to Bloomberg. (link); After a couple of years of gains, the Premier League on NBC recorded its lowest viewership totals since its debut in 2013. Fewer than 380K viewers per game tuned in compared to 514K last season. (link); Outgoing ESPN research guru Bulgrin writes on changes around the industry in his 21 years with the Worldwide Leader. "It took us 20 years, but we are finally capturing the out-of-home audience through Nielsen. While it has always been there, it is now measured, meaningful and monetizable — increasing our total in-home audience by 9 percent in Q1." More. (link)

Also Noticed: If you're looking for some interesting financial reading over the holiday weekend, I stumbled across Washington's Annual Financial Review that was presented to its Board of Regents back in mid-April. Eight pages of historic & projected financial positions for the Huskies. (link); Former North Carolina A&T MBB HC Alexander talks about his new book, "Beyond the Backboard: My Unique HBCU Experience In the Shadows of Big Time Basketball." (link)

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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)

Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Compliance (Grand Canyon University / Phoenix, AZ): Grand Canyon University is seeking an Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Compliance. This role is responsible for assisting in the administration of the department’s (NCAA) compliance program. More details HERE.

Director of Premium Experiences (Notre Dame Athletics / Notre Dame, IN): Position will direct all premium hospitality and club spaces coordinated by ND Athletics including the new facilities at Notre Dame Stadium and current areas within the basketball and hockey venues. More details HERE.

Assistant/Associate Director of Development (University of San Diego-Athletics / San Diego, CA): Responsible for helping to meet fundraising objectives for USD Athletics. Responsible for identification, cultivation & solicitation of annual funds (TAA), major gifts, & sport specific donors. More details HERE.

Assistant Director for Athletics Fundraising (Dartmouth College / Hanover, NH): Dartmouth College seeks an Assistant Director to raise the maximum current-use dollars for Dartmouth College Athletics. For more information, visit http://advancement.dartmouth.org/careers. More details HERE.

Director of Marketing & Fan Experience (Fairfield University / Fairfield, CT): The Fairfield University Department of Athletics seeks a Director of Marketing and Fan Experience to oversee the marketing, promotions and community partnerships for 20 varsity sports. More details HERE.

Athletics Communications Specialist (George Washington University / Washington, DC): The Athletics Communications Specialist serves as a spokesperson for GW Athletics and is a public relations strategist, developing and executing plans to elevate the profile of GW Athletics. More details HERE.

Associate AD for External Operations (University of Arkansas at Little Rock / Little Rock, AR): Responsible for planning and administering all external functions of the department: ticket operation, fundraising, marketing and promotions, student and campus engagement and volunteer boards. More details HERE.

Director of Business Operations or Assistant AD, Business Operations (University of California, Riverside / Riverside, CA): Under general direction of the Senior Associate Athletics Director/CFAO, oversee day-to-day operations of the budget and financial operations and provide complex analytical support/policy analysis. More details HERE.

Athletics Facilities Manager (Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO): Facilities Manager is responsible for the management, operations and scheduling of athletics facilities, providing support for events, and administering game management services for assigned sports. More details HERE.

Compliance Internship (Full-time, 11-month appointment) (Middle Tennessee State University / Murfreesboro, TN): Report to the Assistant Director of Athletics Compliance & Compliance Coordinators; designed to expose the individual to all aspects of compliance. More details HERE.

Director of Donor Relations & Special Events - Bear Foundation (Baylor University / Waco, TX): Strategic opportunity stewarding individual relationships with donors of Baylor Athletics. More details HERE.

Associate Director, Social Media and Feature Production (CSUN Athletics / Northridge, CA): This position oversees CSUN Athletics social media accounts and strategy and creates, produces and publishes video features for use on social media and online, focusing on outside-the-lines content. More details HERE.

Assistant Director for Athletics Communications (#10112) (University of Akron / Akron, OH): The University of Akron is now accepting applications in the Department of Athletics for the position of Assistant Director for Athletics Communications. EEO/AA Employer/Veterans/Disabled. More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletic Director, Communications (University of Oregon / Eugene, OR): Manage the Athletic Communications Office’s public and media relations activities for all intercollegiate athletics sports. More details HERE.

Senior Administrative Program Coordinator (Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation) (University of Texas at Austin / Austin, TX): This position is responsible for the implementation, management, supervision and evaluation of the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation (CSLi) programming at the University of Texas. Applications lose May 30th. More details HERE.

Asst AD for Development / Director of Major Gifts (Liberty University / Lynchburg, VA): Key development leadership position at program transitioning to the FBS level as an Independent. Will work with the Assoc AD to develop and execute all annual fund and major gift growth strategies. More details HERE.

Associate Director of Information/Public Relations/Publication/Product Services (Louisiana State University / Baton Rouge, LA): Directs and coordinates the flow of info to news media - serving as the point contact for Women’s Basketball and golf. LSU is committed to diversity and is an equal opportunity/equal access employer. More details HERE.

Associate Director of Athletics for Governance and Compliance (University of Massachusetts Amherst / Amherst, MA): The UMass Amherst Department of Athletics accepting applications for an Associate Director of Athletics for Governance and Compliance. More details HERE.

Administrative Fellowship (American Athletic Conference / Providence, RI): Includes involvement in most aspects of Conference administration, including management of sports/championships, marketing/branding, television, digital/social, governance/compliance, communications. More details HERE.

Senior Associate/Associate Athletic Director of Business Operations (Grand Canyon University / Phoenix, AZ): Overall management of the athletic business operations and implementing policies, procedures, practices and standards that ensure optimal efficiencies of the athletic business office. More details HERE.

Director of Sports Performance (Grand Canyon University / Phoenix, AZ): The primary job duty of the Director is to provide leadership to all of the programming, services and operations of the Sports Performance department that support 21 NCAA intercollegiate sports. More details HERE.

Director of Strategic Media (America East Conference / Boston, MA): Develop, lead and execute the America East Conference's robust strategic media plan across social, digital & traditional platforms to expand the conference's brand, presence and exposure. More details HERE.

Assistant Director Ticket Operations (Florida Atlantic University / Boca Raton, FL): The Assistant Director Ticket Operations has the primary responsibility of planning, organizing and directing all operations involving the Tickets Office. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications (University of San Diego / San Diego, CA): Position will manage & set the direction for our strategic communication & digital efforts. Use skill & drive to increase our fan engagement & revenue generating initiatives. More details HERE.

Assistant AD for Media Relations (University at Albany / Albany, NY): Overall supervision of all sports information/media related contests and events while generating publicity and promotion of the University's 18 intercollegiate sports. More details HERE.

Associate Director of Development, Athletics (George Washington University / Washington, DC): GW seeks a passionate and talented fundraiser capable of managing annual fund solicitations and major gift cultivation. Join a committed team ready to change the lives of 500+ student-athletes. More details HERE.

Temporary Creative Services Graphic Design Assistant (University of Kentucky / Lexington, KY): Assist full-time members of UKAD Creative Services staff in the creation of various print, display, web-based & social media graphics for use in promoting the department and varsity sport programs. More details HERE.

Head Coach, Women's Golf (California State University Los Angeles / Los Angeles, CA): Head Coach, Women's Golf for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Duties include: recruitment, coordinate practices, games, enforce institutional, conference, and NCAA regulations. More details HERE.

Director of Marketing (Clemson University / Clemson, SC): Clemson Athletics seeks a candidate with 3-5 years experience. This position directs all marketing & promotion efforts, prepares marketing plans, establishes budgets & leads digital marketing efforts. More details HERE.

Associate or Senior Associate Athletics Director for Marketing, Broadcast and Community Relations (University of Texas at San Antonio / San Antonio, TX): Position reports to Deputy Athletic Director. Responsible for marketing & promotion strategies, manage licensing/brand standards, and direct advertising/promo of radio, broadcast & video productions. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletics Director - Event Management & Game Day Experience (University of Texas at San Antonio / San Antonio, TX): Assistant Athletic Director, Event Management & Game Day Experience will develop and implement marketing, game operations and promotional plans to enhance the brand and revenue of UTSA Athletics. More details HERE.

Director of Fan Experience and Community Outreach (University of Wyoming / Laramie, WY): UW Athletics is hiring a Director of Fan Experience and Community Outreach to join the Marketing and Branding team, responsible for promoting 17 Men’s and Women’s sports at the University of Wyoming. More details HERE.

Sr. Associate Athletic Director, Development (University of Alabama / Tuscaloosa, AL): Responsible for all Intercollegiate Athletics’ fund raising activities including coordination of annual, major and planned gifts, capital campaigns corporate and foundation giving, and stewardship. More details HERE.

Director of the Husky Athletic Fund/Assistant Athletic Director (The UConn Foundation, Inc. / Stoors, CT): Will manage all areas of acquiring, upgrading, cultivating, stewarding donors, letterwinner clubs, generate revenue, build the donor base and create a pipeline for future major gifts. More details HERE.

Assistant/Associate Director of Capital Support (University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. / Knoxville, TN): The position is a full time fundraising position located in Knoxville Athletics. Please use keyword 17000000LB to search and learn more about the responsibilities and qualifications of this position. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Development - Donor Relations & Special Events (Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation / USAFA, CO): The Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC) is accepting applications for an Assistant Director of Development for Donor Relations & Special Events. More details HERE.

Video Services Intern (Big Ten Conference / Rosemont, IL): VS Intern supports football basketball & hockey officiating programs. Including, capturing, editing, and managing game video for officiating clinics coach’s questions, and evaluation of officials. More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business Operations (West Virginia University / Morgantown, WV): The position will serve as the Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and oversee all financial operations, inclusive of a $90 million annual budget. More details HERE.

Assistant Director Career Enhancement & Employer Relations (Northwestern University / Evanston, IL): This Asst Director of Career Enhancement & Employer Relations works extensively with student-athletes to assist with their career development and job search process through counseling and coaching. More details HERE.

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