College Athletics Hiring Process and its Implications

About a month ago Sports Illustrated published an article in the April 8^th issue by George Dohrmann titled, “Big-name Hunters.” The article reviews an emerging and possibly problematic trend in college athletics. Over the past couple of years colleges and universities across the country have increasingly hired outside search firms to identify potential candidates to fill coaching vacancies.

On the surface this seems like a normal even harmless practice. However, the frequency with which this practice is embraced could have a lasting impact on the landscape of college athletics.

Not only do these actions affect multimillion-dollar decisions for colleges and universities, many of which are operating in the red, but it also bubbles to the surface the question of who is actually making these hiring decisions? Are universities doing their homework or just buying into snazzy PR presentations and pitches?

Dohrmann notes some sobering facts in the article:

• Search consultants charge $30,000 - $90,000 for men’s basketball and football coaches often for limited amounts of time and with varied results.
•  In 2005 Tennessee has spent $360,000 to search agencies to fill six positions.
•  North Carolina State forked out $255,000 to a search firm for only 67 days of work.

Dohrmann states that the result is that there is a new “power broker” in college athletics that is heavily influencing decisions on new coaching hires. While the university ultimately makes the decision on whom to hire, it is clear that the influence of search firms and the money involved are also impacting these decisions.

Consider the example of the recently dismissed Rutgers men’s basketball coach, Mike Rice. It makes you wonder if the university did it’s homework on that particular coaching hire or were they simply influenced or impressed by a crisp powerpoint presentation and glossy pamphlet by a search firm looking to get its client hired.

What are the implications if search or PR firms are pushing for their clients (coaches) to get these jobs in place of a thorough internal review by the university? Most importantly, this illustrates the problem with pressures on winning and the decision-making process for new coaching hires.

As future sports managers, I believe these are important situations to reflect upon particularly as it relates to influences on decision-making and leadership that could impact our future work or careers.

Daniel Nelson

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