UC has a new President who played the game(s), and who remains active in competive sports, including basketball.

Will he be a President who both enjoys watching "his" teams play, and who values athletics for its role in uni pride and the resulting alumni donations.

How will the Athletic Department be treated under Williams?
What will be his expectations?
Will Williams see Kelly as a major asset?
What goals will be set for Athletics?
Will the return of positive cash flow from the basketball program be expected on a faster timetable?

How does Mike Thomas fit into the picture? Is his personality suited for the raising of large sums of money? If not, I'd say he will not be around for long.

I do understand that Athletics is not among the highest priorities for President Williams, but they will have their day under the microscope.

I don't think Thomas will last under this guy.

(09-14-2009 07:23 PM)subflea Wrote:  I don't think Thomas will last under this guy.

What gives you that impression?

(09-14-2009 07:25 PM)oleskl Wrote:  

(09-14-2009 07:23 PM)subflea Wrote:  I don't think Thomas will last under this guy.

What gives you that impression?

Can't speak for Sub, but since I am in agreement with Sub's assesment, I think that means that Thomas is a fairly dim bulb and that this Pres will feel no tie or political reason to not seek an upgrade (as soon as that opportunity presents itself).

This guy is going to have his finger on the strings of UC athletics like no president we have seen. I got the impression he feels he just got handed the keys to a new sports car and he can't wait to work it out. I see good and bad in that.

Mike Thomas is not the salesman that Williams is probably going to want running the athletic department. Anyone who has spoken to Thomas will likely tell you that he isn't the type of guy that can get corporations to hand over large sums of money for things we want. Losing Thomas wouldn't bother me, but if he goes so does Waddell who I think has been a great addition to our athletic department.

(09-14-2009 11:11 PM)subflea Wrote:  Mike Thomas is not the salesman that Williams is probably going to want running the athletic department. Anyone who has spoken to Thomas will likely tell you that he isn't the type of guy that can get corporations to hand over large sums of money for things we want. Losing Thomas wouldn't bother me, but if he goes so does Waddell who I think has been a great addition to our athletic department.

With absolutely no information to back me up other than the both of you are perspicacious individuals, I agree with you and Rath.

I think Williams may not find Thomas to his liking. I could be wronq as Thomas seems quite the anal personality, and maybe Williams is an analytical also.
I think he will love Coach Kelly. Kelly is a thinker with max personality, and a Democrat to boot.
I have concerns about Mick unless Mick can really pull one off this year. The revenues are not trending up in Mick's department, and Mick is not the charismatic type. Think about the differences between the personalities of Coach Cronin and Coach Kelly. Big, I tell ya', big.

I would hate to lose Waddell. He is in touch with the common man.

I have always thought that MT is not much of a thinker. He will always do precisely what he is told to do without question. Some Presidents/CEOs like that and some don't. I don't know enough about the new prez to say which way he leans.

I must be in the minority here... I think MT has done a great job of surrounding himself with good people. That leaves MT time to take care of the important things... future scheduling, kissing Kelly's ass :), and hopefully talking to local companies for sponsorship. Maybe they need to get a person on staff for fundraising (I thought that was Arkielpane, however), but I think MT has done a good job getting the athletic department in line for future growth.

Honestly, IMO Thomas has done a pretty fine job in knocking his core duties out of the park. The academic profile for football and basketball have gone off the charts. Just three years in, it sure looks like he made maybe one of the best hires in a generation of non-elite college football. The culture of the Athletics Department has changed a complete 180 degrees from what it was under everyone who preceeded him - from just tolerating the fans to being wholly focused on the fan experience. The marketing at the grassroots level has been excellent. Bringing in guys like Waddell has been a home run in terms of getting out the good word and putting together ticket packages that the market has embraced (sold out Family Sections & Lair for football....and now basketball this upcoming year).

If the knock is that he can't raise big dollars no whammies - in his defense I'm not sure it should be the AD's sole responsibility to shoulder the burden for raising funds for expansion, etc. Since it is one of his strengths, maybe Williams comes in and helps with the heavy lifting which would be fabulous. I actually like the fact we don't have an AD that needs to constantly be in the limelight (see Tom Jurich). Shut up and manage your department effectively, provide the tools and support that is needed, then get the hell out of the way and let the coaches and players be the face of the university.

I think Thomas is a good manager. He's not a mover and shaker which is not exactly a bad thing.

Also in defense of Thomas the economy the last couple of years has been a huge issue to overcome.

However, I look up north to Akron and see that they have a very nice new $62 million football stadium with club suites/press box that opened this season. Here is (in part) how they did it:

Naming rights

InfoCision
Principle naming rights for the stadium were purchased by InfoCision Management Corporation, a Bath, Ohio based firm that operates call centers.[19] In making a $10 million donation to the university, InfoCision secured naming rights for the stadium for twenty years.[20]

Summa
Summa Health System, an Ohio organized delivery company, purchased (by means of its for-profit insurance company, SummaCare) twenty years of naming rights for the field with a $5 million donation.[21]

FirstMerit
FirstMerit Corporation, a diversified financial services company headquartered in Akron, purchased (by means of its charitable giving arm, FirstMerit Foundation) naming rights for the club level seating of the press tower for ten years.[22]

Towpath Credit Union
Towpath Credit Union, formerly called the "Akron Teachers Credit Union", pledged $100,000 over five years to secure naming rights to the press box located in top level of the press tower. The press box will be referred to as the Towpath Credit Union Press Box at least until 2013, with an additional option for a five year extension through 2018.[23]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_Field...on_Stadium

Naming rights to the stadium is not an option. it has already been done. P & G helped fund Varsity Village in exchange for the stadium to remain James Gamble Nippert Stadium.