Search committee members speak out on new Michigan athletic director David Brandon
Michigan basketball coach John Beilein was on the search committee for a new athletic director. (File photo)
“I think ones that can really relate to what it’s like be a coach and understand what we go through,” Beilein said Wednesday. “That’s the biggest thing, ADs that really understand this and understand how hard we work and what to say or not to say after a good win or loss.”
So, as a member of Michigan’s athletic director search committee, how big of a concern is it that new AD David Brandon has never served as an athletic administrator before?
“I think he took care of that in the interview process - if there was a concern,” Beilein said.
Brandon, the CEO of Domino’s Pizza and a former Michigan football player and university regent, was named the school’s 11th athletic director on Tuesday, replacing Bill Martin, another successful businessman-turned-AD.
Brandon said Tuesday that he has plenty of other experience that will serve him well in his new role, including 22 years as a CEO.
For Beilein and another member of the university’s search committee, faculty-athletic representative Percy Bates, those qualities were apparent during the interview process.
“His leadership right away” stood out, Beilein said. “Bill’s done such a great job of getting us to this stage and now there’s new challenges to overcome. I really liked what he brought as far as his leadership.”
Bates said Brandon’s enormous success in the business world - Domino’s doubled its market capitalization to $2 billion under his leadership - coupled with his ties to the university made him the most attractive candidate.
“I don’t know that he severed himself from his involvement from the university,” Bates said.
While Brandon’s Michigan ties weren’t a prerequisite for the job, they certainly helped.
“As you know, the history of this university, there is always this notion of, quote, a Michigan person that often can get to the head of the line,” Bates said. “I don’t think anybody has said that that was a criteria. In fact, going back to the original job description, I don’t think that was mentioned. But what makes a person attractive is a sense of having a wide range of variables and one of those is being someone who is knowledgeable about this university.”
In his teleconference with reporters Tuesday, Brandon spoke passionately of his Michigan ties. He met former Michigan athletic director Don Canham as an 18-year-old and won 3 Big Ten championships playing under the school’s winningest football coach, Bo Schembechler, who also served a stint as AD.
He said he hopes to reflect qualities of both men in his new career.
“But I’m not Don Canham, I’m not Bo Schembechler, I’m Dave Brandon,” he said. “And I’ll bring my life’s experiences to this job and I’ll work harder than any athletic director has ever worked to be successful.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
KeepingItReal
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 1:37 p.m.
Each one of you were so intent on criticizing me for my comment that you you fail to grasp the issues that I raised. Its interesting how one set of comments can be seem as thoughtful and other comments, especially if they do not stroke our reality can be seen as whining.
ecmichman
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 12:53 p.m.
Zulu - Stop whining. IF you are a minority and IF you feel that you are disadvantaged because of it - you need to get over it. U-M hired the best person for the job. Deal with it.
81wolverine
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
The search was NOT a charade and I doubt very much they spent "a huge amount of money". There were quite a few qualified people I assume. But, when someone like David Brandon raises his hand to say he wants the job, the process becomes much easier. Why? Most people in the Michigan community never thought we'd be able to get someone with his qualifications: CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation, over 20 years successfully managing large organizations, former athlete at U-M, 8 years serving as regent, extensive ties and relationships with the athletic community and donors, friends with many former football players, proven track record of community service, etc, etc, etc. Further, his knowledge of the university and athletic traditions will enable him to step right in and be productive from day one. Would someone with no previous ties to U-M be able to do that? Very doubtful. All this is why the selection committee made their decision quickly. I'm sure it was pretty clear even when they looked at the list of candidates on paper, that David Brandon was the obvious choice. Most, if not all the committee members probably knew personally of his abilities already. Prolonging the search would REALLY have wasted a "huge amount of money".
Ralph
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 8:39 p.m.
What a bunch of BS.
KeepingItReal
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 7:56 p.m.
The search committee and the President need to stop this charade. They spent a huge amount of money supposedly during a legitimate "search" for a new athletic director, knowing all along who they were going to hire. Sets a wonderful precedent and example for other areas of the U when it comes to the "hook up" in hiring at the U. Please spare us any further comments about what a wonderful hire Mr. Brandon is and let's him get on the with the job. For those of you who are concern about where he stands on affirmative action, don't worry. The one area of the U where affirmative action is of no concern is the FB program. There will plenty of black athletes to bolster the U's affirmative action goals for the rest of the U.