Where Indiana University is with its search for a new athletic director is anyone’s guess. IU officials are better—much
better—at misdirection plays than its beleaguered football team.
Yesterday, IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre told the Indianapolis Star that university President Michael McRobbie has not seen a list of candidates to replace outgoing AD Rick Greenspan. But Monday, MacIntyre told the Indiana Daily Student the short list had been narrowed to at most five people. So does that mean there’s a short list? There isn’t a short list? There’s a short list that McRobbie hasn’t seen and maybe isn’t aware of, but MacIntyre is aware of?
MacIntyre is the same spin doctor that said earlier this month that the very large IU search committee had hired a search firm to help find a new AD. But a day later, he recanted that. Apparently they had talked to, but not hired a search committee. Huh?
IU has taken a vow of silence when it comes to Oregon State AD Bob De Carolis being a candidate. Meanwhile, The Oregonian is reporting today that OSU basketball coach Craig Robinson said that De Carolis told him last week that he would be interviewed for the IU job.
There’s one thing for sure, kind of. McRobbie, according to MacIntyre’s latest proclamation, is in no hurry to replace Greenspan. Apparently, IU’s leader is about the only one not in a hurry to put this chapter of IU athletics in the rearview mirror.
“President McRobbie will take however much time he needs to make a well-informed decision,” MacIntyre said.
Well informed—wouldn’t we all like to be afforded that luxury?
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For starters, that Tom Crean nod appears to be nearly genius. Michael McRobbie, by all accounts, is a very solid president well respected by the trustees and faculty. People bashed the search committee that turned out 2 very capable candidates and ultimately landed Tom Crean and a boatload of optimism taboot.
People called for Greenspan's head after the controversial Failure To Monitor and IU showed him the door despite massive donations, facilities, and overall successes he's seen across all sports. IU reacted to both the Sampson and Greenspan fallout in good faith. Keep in mind McRobbie had nothing to do with Sampson or Greenspan's hiring... nothing.
Because IU isn't opening their AD process like an open book, meaning you have NO IDEA what is going on behind the scenes doesn't mean this process is being botched by any means.
Bob De Carolis was the main name to surface recently and reported here as well. A solid name with Big Ten ties, huge donor ability, and a business-like AD style that has pumped life into Oregon State's athletics (see: 2 upsets over USC and back to back Nat'l College World Series titles for evidence, plus new facilities, and massive fan support).
Where is the confusion? Because you are confused doesn't mean there is confusion in Bloomington. They've laid out a pretty straight forward process. Greenspan will be out in December and they've narrowed down a small group of candidates that they will act upon shortly. Confusion??? Sounds fine to me so far. IU would be foolish to be open about talking about ADs who are still employed.... further, I think that is actually unethical and probably against a code of conduct to publically discuss currently employed ADs.
Confusion OR just the process itself??? I'll stick with the latter.