Duarte tweeting information now. Says Kevin Kirby, VP for administration, is the chair of the 13 member committee, and that Rice has hired a firm (Korn/Ferry International) to conduct the search with the goal to have an AD by Labor Day.

Info here: http://blog.chron.com/owls/2013/07/rice-...-director/

Interesting names

Looks like all the right names are there. Great choice of student-athlete representatives.

Very good choices for the most part. Great having Gabe and Natalie involved after the dealings the athletes had to put up with previously.

I see where Jeff Rose is on there. He is really committed to improving the on field product so that is a good sign.

Yeah, happy to see some of those names on the list. Does seem a little football-heavy (not saying that is bad thing, just observation). Anyone know more about Kirby and his interest/involvement in athletics?

A lot of good names on the committee. I agree it would have been nice to have someone from basketball and baseball on the committee too but still a good group.

(07-10-2013 01:43 PM)mrbig Wrote:  Yeah, happy to see some of those names on the list. Does seem a little football-heavy (not saying that is bad thing, just observation). Anyone know more about Kirby and his interest/involvement in athletics?

OldOwl, I'd say Bobby Tudor covers basketball quite well. And all of the folks on this list are (as far as I know) pro-athletics and supportive of baseball even though not specifically tied to that program. I'd say it is a group that will look to do what will move Rice athletics forward rather than find a caretaker who keeps things where they are or merely slows the slide. in my book, that is a very good thing!

(07-10-2013 01:43 PM)mrbig Wrote:  Yeah, happy to see some of those names on the list. Does seem a little football-heavy (not saying that is bad thing, just observation). Anyone know more about Kirby and his interest/involvement in athletics?

Well, Kirby probably attends at least 50% of basketball games, and he brings his son. I am unaware of his precise opinion/vision for the long term success of Rice athetics, but he certainly has interest. When he first came to Rice, he gave a number of talks on new buildings and Rice's performance relative to selective urban private schools like Vanderbilt and Emory, so I'm sure he has a grasp of the various factors that influence a school's success.

All the avid sport-supporting BOT members are on the Committee-- Bucky, Jeffrey. Lynn, Karen and Bobby. Overall, an excellent grouping. Any idea why the CitiGroup vice chairman is included?

(07-10-2013 02:16 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  All the avid sport-supporting BOT members are on the Committee-- Bucky, Jeffrey. Lynn, Karen and Bobby. Overall, an excellent grouping. Any idea why the CitiGroup vice chairman is included?

Maybe he want$ to build new facilitie$ for Rice? Or endow all athletic $cholar$hip$? Just getting greedy in this prolonged ding-dong.

(07-10-2013 02:16 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  All the avid sport-supporting BOT members are on the Committee-- Bucky, Jeffrey. Lynn, Karen and Bobby. Overall, an excellent grouping. Any idea why the CitiGroup vice chairman is included?

I'm pretty sure that Trauber used to play basketball for Rice and is a big donor. I think I've met him; very nice guy.

There's one person on the committee that I am not too fond of; however, the rest of the group is so strong that I have no concerns. We look to be going in the right direction.

(07-10-2013 03:03 PM)Wiessman Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 02:16 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  All the avid sport-supporting BOT members are on the Committee-- Bucky, Jeffrey. Lynn, Karen and Bobby. Overall, an excellent grouping. Any idea why the CitiGroup vice chairman is included?

I'm pretty sure that Trauber used to play basketball for Rice and is a big donor. I think I've met him; very nice guy.

Right on both counts.

Looks like a great list. And the search firm has some impressive hires in their portfolio. This looks like a great start to the process.

Trauber=Trauber Suite at Tudor. Former walkon player and has had a number of Rice functions at his home in River Oaks.

(07-10-2013 03:05 PM)bobreinhold1 Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:03 PM)Wiessman Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 02:16 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  All the avid sport-supporting BOT members are on the Committee-- Bucky, Jeffrey. Lynn, Karen and Bobby. Overall, an excellent grouping. Any idea why the CitiGroup vice chairman is included?e eno

I'm pretty sure that Trauber used to play basketball for Rice and is a big donor. I think I've met him; very nice guy.

Right on both counts.

Gave enough to have the Trauber Suite named for him.

The one guy missing from the Committee who I would have like to have been on it is The OG. He provides a very unique perspective on what's needed in an AD (from a coach's POV), and whomever becomes AD inherits the NCAA baseball committee representation. And though the new AD would be Wayne's boss, it's not as if Wayne's job would ever be in jeopardy. He's the Rice baseball coach until he decides to step down.

(07-10-2013 03:27 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The one guy missing from the Committee who I would have like to have been on it is The OG. He provides a very unique perspective on what's needed in an AD (from a coach's POV), and whomever becomes AD inherits the NCAA baseball committee representation. And though the new AD would be Wayne's boss, it's not as if Wayne's job would ever be in jeopardy. He's the Rice baseball coach until he decides to step down.

I was thinking that too...it's possible he said no. He's got more to do than most people his age aleady

(07-10-2013 03:32 PM)07owl Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:27 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The one guy missing from the Committee who I would have like to have been on it is The OG. He provides a very unique perspective on what's needed in an AD (from a coach's POV), and whomever becomes AD inherits the NCAA baseball committee representation. And though the new AD would be Wayne's boss, it's not as if Wayne's job would ever be in jeopardy. He's the Rice baseball coach until he decides to step down.

I was thinking that too...it's possible he said no. He's got more to do than most people his age aleady

I doubt they would have wanted to have a HC on the committee for fear of it giving the view of slanting the search. But I will agree he would have be an excellent choice.

(07-10-2013 02:16 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  All the avid sport-supporting BOT members are on the Committee-- Bucky, Jeffrey. Lynn, Karen and Bobby. Overall, an excellent grouping. Any idea why the CitiGroup vice chairman is included?

His name looked familiar, but in addition to what's mentioned above...

Stephen M. Trauber : MBA Texas Rice Jones School

http://business.rice.edu/Trauber.aspx Wrote:About the Jones School > Council of Overseers

Stephen M. Trauber
Mr. Stephen M. Trauber joined UBS Investment Bank in 2003 as a Vice Chairman and Global Head of Energy. Mr. Trauber currently manages Wall Street’s largest global energy investment banking practices with over 90 professionals committed to energy. Mr. Trauber began his career with Credit Suisse First Boston (1988-1995) and subsequently managed Morgan Stanley’s Energy Group in Houston (1995-2003).


Mr. Trauber has served as a financial advisor in many of the significant M&A transactions in the oilfield service, exploration and production, and refining and marketing sectors. Mr. Trauber's transaction volume exceeds $400 Billion. Notable energy transactions include: Anadarko/Kerr McGee, Anadarko/Western Gas, Chesapeake/Global Infrastructure Partners, Devon/Ocean, Devon/SantaFe, Devon/PennzEnergy, Devon/Anderson, Apache/BP Properties, Apache/Shell Oil Properties, Smith International/WH Energy, Pride International/Marine Drilling, Global Marine/SantaFe, Camco/Schlumberger, EVI/Weatherford, Dawson/Key Energy, Pool/Nabors, Valero/Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, Valero/Premcor, R&B/Falcon, R&B Falcon/Transocean, Halliburton’s sale of Dresser Industries, Smith International/Wilson Supply, BJ Services/OSCA, Saipem/Bouygues Offshore, Weatherford/CiDRA, Halliburton/Landmark Graphics, Precision Drilling Divisions/Weatherford, Dresser Rand/First Reserve, Kinder Morgan/Terresen.

In addition, Mr. Trauber has executed many of the largest and most important financings in these sectors. Notable financings include: two convertible offerings each for Nabors, Weatherford, Devon, Chesapeake and Cooper Cameron; convertible offerings for Valero, Toreador and Pride International; equity offerings for Weatherford, Apache, Devon, Premcor, Valero, Cal Dive, Diamond Offshore, Enterprise Products, and Chesapeake. Mr. Trauber has played an integral role in the IPOs of Complete Production Services, Dresser Rand, Chart Industries, Dril-Quip, OSCA, W-H Energy, Wood Group, Stone Energy, Premcor, TODCO, Cooper Cameron, Dresser-Rand and Duncan Energy.

Mr. Trauber is on the board of Theater Under the Stars Foundation and the Society for the Performing Arts Foundation in Houston and former Chairman and President of Society for the Performing Arts. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Children’s Museum and the River Oaks Baptist School. Mr. Trauber has served as Chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership and is an Overseer of the Jones Business School at Rice University as well as a College Associate at Rice University. Mr. Trauber served on the Mayor’s Economic Development Task Force for the city of Houston. Mr. Trauber was awarded the first Annual Congressman Barbara Jordan award for Community Service and he and his wife are the recipients of the 2003 “I Have a Dream” award for their support of local children’s charities and of children’s education. Mr. Trauber and his wife have Chaired 9 galas and/or Capital Campaigns for local charities raising over $20mm dollars.

Mr. Trauber received his BA in Economics and Managerial Studies from Rice University in 1984. He was an Austin Scholar and earned his MBA from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in 1988. He is married to Leticia and has three children: Matthew, Alexis and Jacob.

He would be a contemporary of Hambone, RiceDoc, RUOwls, and Bobby Tudor, if I'm correct...