No definitely no announcement here. I was actually told it would likely be awhile- whether that means Dec/Jan or the Spring, who knows. If its not going to get done in the next 2 months, maybe it would be better to wait until the late Spring which is when candidates, other than fired retreads, will be looking for jobs.

I believe that it is most likely we will hire an AD none of us have ever heard of. I never heard of any of our AD's prior to them coming here. I was just wondering if anyone could come up with a name, that might carry some pizzaz locally. Someone who has a connection to UALR or even the State of Arkansas. I can't think of anyone. I actually wondered, a few months ago, if Derek could be a possibility. But, that was before the Knicks gave him a 25 million dollar contract.

Any ex-coach at a big name program would provide that.

(09-10-2014 02:52 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  Any ex-coach at a big name program would provide that.

Now days it seems like ex-coaches are less likely to be hired as AD's. Schools want a business, CEO type who can raise money and sell tickets. I guess that's what Chris was. I just hope the next guy spends just a little more of his time connecting to the average Joe Fan. However, as money driven as college sports are these days I'm not sure how likely that is.

I don't care about an ad that will hang out with the average fan. I care about the following:
Promote the program, update the Trojan tracker to hd, hire a broadcaster that doesn't complain about the refs through the entire game, improve timeout and halftime entertainment, make tickets reasonable throughout the arena, make sure the coaches shows are not low budget, get Trojans bball games on at least ualr tv. Anything else I'm missing?

We need to take our time and do it right.

(09-10-2014 04:04 PM)LR Alum Wrote:  I don't care about an ad that will hang out with the average fan. I care about the following:
Promote the program, update the Trojan tracker to hd, hire a broadcaster that doesn't complain about the refs through the entire game, improve timeout and halftime entertainment, make tickets reasonable throughout the arena, make sure the coaches shows are not low budget, get Trojans bball games on at least ualr tv. Anything else I'm missing?

Yea Alum, one thing comes to mind. Don't fiddle fart around with a coach for more than three to five years at the most. who hasn't produced more than Shields has, and your attendance is in a free fall . And one that took over a team with a good record for three years prior, and was left with a cupboard in pretty good shape.

That's why I want an AD that sees this job as a stepping stone. That way they will not settle for mediocrity.

(09-10-2014 04:04 PM)LR Alum Wrote:  I don't care about an ad that will hang out with the average fan. I care about the following:
Promote the program, update the Trojan tracker to hd, hire a broadcaster that doesn't complain about the refs through the entire game, improve timeout and halftime entertainment, make tickets reasonable throughout the arena, make sure the coaches shows are not low budget, get Trojans bball games on at least ualr tv. Anything else I'm missing?

I think that sums it up. In talking to a couple of folks, lowering ticket prices, at least, in the leather sections is just not going to happen. No new AD is going to come in and "give back" money he is already getting by lowering season ticket prices. Promoting seats in the endzones and upper deck, will hopefully become more of a priority, but I would think any AD would focus on getting the expensive seats sold. Hopefully, promotions, selling mini-plans to casual fans, getting kids to the games, etc. will all be things a new AD will work on. Reassessing radio broadcasts and getting some games on TV should also get his immediate attention. But, I'm getting the feeling this hiring will not be quick, which may be a good thing. I guess we could always hire John L. Smith to be interim AD for a year.

No reason the bleachers should not be full, at least for every conference game.

(09-10-2014 02:49 PM)mjs Wrote:  No definitely no announcement here. I was actually told it would likely be awhile- whether that means Dec/Jan or the Spring, who knows. If its not going to get done in the next 2 months, maybe it would be better to wait until the late Spring which is when candidates, other than fired retreads, will be looking for jobs.

I believe that it is most likely we will hire an AD none of us have ever heard of. I never heard of any of our AD's prior to them coming here. I was just wondering if anyone could come up with a name, that might carry some pizzaz locally. Someone who has a connection to UALR or even the State of Arkansas. I can't think of anyone. I actually wondered, a few months ago, if Derek could be a possibility. But, that was before the Knicks gave him a 25 million dollar contract.

I don't think that the time of year really has anything to do with hiring an AD like it does with coaches. If they are smart, they will go after a young energetic guy who wants to make a splash so he can move up. Arkansas connections are way, way overrated unless the candidate is otherwise well qualified with experience in athletic administration. The last thing we need is another AD who wants to retire in the job.

(09-10-2014 04:48 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(09-10-2014 04:04 PM)LR Alum Wrote:  I don't care about an ad that will hang out with the average fan. I care about the following:
Promote the program, update the Trojan tracker to hd, hire a broadcaster that doesn't complain about the refs through the entire game, improve timeout and halftime entertainment, make tickets reasonable throughout the arena, make sure the coaches shows are not low budget, get Trojans bball games on at least ualr tv. Anything else I'm missing?

I think that sums it up. In talking to a couple of folks, lowering ticket prices, at least, in the leather sections is just not going to happen. No new AD is going to come in and "give back" money he is already getting by lowering season ticket prices. Promoting seats in the endzones and upper deck, will hopefully become more of a priority, but I would think any AD would focus on getting the expensive seats sold. Hopefully, promotions, selling mini-plans to casual fans, getting kids to the games, etc. will all be things a new AD will work on. Reassessing radio broadcasts and getting some games on TV should also get his immediate attention. But, I'm getting the feeling this hiring will not be quick, which may be a good thing. I guess we could always hire John L. Smith to be interim AD for a year.

Last season I think a bought 2 walk up tickets for $30 a piece in the lower level leather seats. That is way too high for what we are putting on the floor. I been to games at sec sun belt, acc, big 10, etc. that was lower than our price. Tickets are too high for the current level of our program. They also charge the same amount for the ladies games. I been to ladies games at other places and lower level tickets run from $5 to $10.

(09-10-2014 05:43 PM)LR Alum Wrote:  Last season I think a bought 2 walk up tickets for $30 a piece in the lower level leather seats. That is way too high for what we are putting on the floor. I been to games at sec sun belt, acc, big 10, etc. that was lower than our price. Tickets are too high for the current level of our program. They also charge the same amount for the ladies games. I been to ladies games at other places and lower level tickets run from $5 to $10.

Evidently Peterson and the chancellor must have been proud of the product we've seen on the floor, or they'd changed coaches long ago. No way a guy should still be on the payroll this long, who hasn't produced more than Shields has. I know, "who could we get that would be any better?" You'll never know if the fish are biting until you wet a hook. We'll see how they are biting when we fish for an AD. I'm betting there are some lunkers out there, just waiting to be reeled in. The sad part is, whomever is hired is coming in with handicap of not being able to bring in the coach of his choice to begin with.

Maybe they should wait until after the basketball season to hire the new AD. That way he'd only be responsible for one year with a coach he didn't hire, and maybe could even come up with a way to buy out Steve's contract for the final year.
I wonder if a new AD came in, part of his requirements would be that he could bring in his own coaching staff, and either buy Steve out or reassign him for a year and spread out his buyout over several years. If they owed him $182,000, spread it out over three or four years. He'd have income while finding another job, which I think he could, either as a head coach or an assistant at a good program at a good salary.

(09-10-2014 06:32 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  Maybe they should wait until after the basketball season to hire the new AD. That way he'd only be responsible for one year with a coach he didn't hire, and maybe could even come up with a way to buy out Steve's contract for the final year.
I wonder if a new AD came in, part of his requirements would be that he could bring in his own coaching staff, and either buy Steve out or reassign him for a year and spread out his buyout over several years. If they owed him $182,000, spread it out over three or four years. He'd have income while finding another job, which I think he could, either as a head coach or an assistant at a good program at a good salary.

Who's gonna run things for a year, the guy who said that there wasn't any problem with Norwood, or the guy with the DWI? They are the two top dogs aren't they? And yes, a new AD shouldn't be hogtied with a mediocre coach . But, he will be here. Hire a new coach, let him bring in his own selection as head coach. The chancellor shouldn't have allowed Peterson to give Shields an extension this year. Keep a coach who is just a notch above .500 on a short leash. A guy like Foley has a longer contract. We're very lucky to have kept Foley here with the numbers he's put up. Good thing he's an old Arkansas boy who evidently likes it in the state.

(09-10-2014 07:38 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(09-10-2014 06:32 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  Maybe they should wait until after the basketball season to hire the new AD. That way he'd only be responsible for one year with a coach he didn't hire, and maybe could even come up with a way to buy out Steve's contract for the final year.
I wonder if a new AD came in, part of his requirements would be that he could bring in his own coaching staff, and either buy Steve out or reassign him for a year and spread out his buyout over several years. If they owed him $182,000, spread it out over three or four years. He'd have income while finding another job, which I think he could, either as a head coach or an assistant at a good program at a good salary.

Who's gonna run things for a year, the guy who said that there wasn't any problem with Norwood, or the guy with the DWI?

What's the stories with Norwood and the DWI guy? I haven't heard those.

(09-10-2014 06:32 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  Maybe they should wait until after the basketball season to hire the new AD. That way he'd only be responsible for one year with a coach he didn't hire, and maybe could even come up with a way to buy out Steve's contract for the final year.
I wonder if a new AD came in, part of his requirements would be that he could bring in his own coaching staff, and either buy Steve out or reassign him for a year and spread out his buyout over several years. If they owed him $182,000, spread it out over three or four years. He'd have income while finding another job, which I think he could, either as a head coach or an assistant at a good program at a good salary.

I got the impression in talking to folks today that it could well be after basketball season. I was hoping we could bring in someone pretty quick, but I now believe that is unlikely. It likely isn't the ideal time to hire an AD. Probably the normal time would be late spring and during the summer. I really have no problem with Richard Turner being the interim AD. I think Gary Hogan would be fine as well. Plans for selling tickets, marketing the program, etc. have probably been set for this year already. Not sure how much a new guy could do at this point. I believe we already have some folks on staff who have ideas about how to market the program and sell tickets. They likely will have more freedom to try new things. Unfortunately some real good folks left the department in the last couple of years.

(09-10-2014 08:41 PM)Trojan Man Wrote:  What's the stories with Norwood and the DWI guy? I haven't heard those.

One of the Assistant or Associate AD's(I'll bet we've got more of those per capita than the hogs do)was assigned to investigate complaints in the baseball program and found nothing amiss. A few days later the baseball coach resigned, under pressure I'm sure after a tape appeared with him berating the players. The other Assistant or Associate AD got a DWI. Fine top notch leaders of young people, and someone said either one could do a good job for a year.

(09-10-2014 09:34 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(09-10-2014 08:41 PM)Trojan Man Wrote:  What's the stories with Norwood and the DWI guy? I haven't heard those.

One of the Assistant or Associate AD's(I'll bet we've got more of those per capita than the hogs do)was assigned to investigate complaints in the baseball program and found nothing amiss. A few days later the baseball coach resigned, under pressure I'm sure after a tape appeared with him berating the players. The other Assistant or Associate AD got a DWI. Fine top notch leaders of young people, and someone said either one could do a good job for a year.

I assume one of them will have the job for a few months. Maybe Anderson will pull a surprise and name someone I haven't thought of as interim AD. Like I said, John L. Smith might agree take the job for a year.