My Illinois Alum co-worker just sent me this chat from the News-Gazette.
Quote:Andrew, Mahomet, IL: Paul and Bob, do you have any ideas on who will replace Ron Guenther when he retires in the near future?
Bob Asmussen: Andrew,
I think the school will look first at internal candidates. After that, it will go outside and look at current athletic directors. Northern Illinois' Jim Phillips would be a logical starting point, but there are others.
Ron Guenther will have a large say in picking his replacement. He has certainly earned that right with all his good work over the years. And he is thrilled to see football get turned around just as the stadium is being redone.
That's it for this week. We'll have complete coverage from College Park in Thursday's paper. And we'll be back next week for another chat.
http://www.news-gazette.com/chats/2007/1..._asmussen/
Guenther's contract is up at the end of next year and the UI intends to have a new hire in place to work directly with Guenther during his final 6 months. I expect their search is already underway, with the intent to have the person on-board by mid-year.
Well on the plus side at least the AAPC is done and Phillips will still be here long enough to hire our new coach.
This is the one job offer that scares me. I think Jim is a loyal family and NIU guy, but the allure of the Big Ten and being an alumni would make an offer very enticing.
If they offer him the job, and they very well might, its bye bye Jim Phillips. And ya know I will be happy for him, he accomplished a ton in his short tenure at NIU. That said I hope that he is here for another 3-5 years. If he is I would imagine that we will have an indoor facitity and many more positive things as well.
Should Phillips leave, I have complete confidence that Dr. Peters will find a worthy successor. Of course, I hope we don't have to go that route too soon, but you never know. Now, if Dr. Peters leaves, then I'll worry.
Peters is past the point of leaving for another job- at his age he can't really commit to another school for 5-7 years. I expect he'll retire in the next 3-5.
As for JP- sure he'll be considered at U of I, but so will other good candidates. He's a great AD but there are other great ADs out there that would get looked at as well. A lot of boomer ADs are going to be retiring. NIU is in a place right now to land the next Jim Phillips- when the time comes, NIU stands to be in as good if not better shape.
I am a huge fan of JP and believe he was the best hire in the history of NIU athletics........
I think that many on this board are not looking at his total record from the prospective of the major schools.........
JP has done a great job fundraising and upgrading athletic facilities at NIU. But these positions are usually handled by Sr. Associate Ad's at the majors.......The major Ad's responsibility is revenue sports, attendence and the hiring of successful coaches......
Unfortunatly the FB, BB programs and attendence have not done very well under JP. He has a winner in the hiring of Carole Owens but so far the Patton hire looks like it is going to take much longer to turn the program around. The 1100 attendence for the first home game was very disappointing......JP will not get a major AD position until these programs and attendence turns around.....
JP's FB hire will not only be the biggest hire for NIU but also for the success of his own career......
Fortunatly for NIU, JP will be here for several more years........
..............................GO HUSKIES.....................................
Looks like the Northwestern AD job will be opening up. Their AD Murphy is believe to be headed to Green Bay to become the President of the Packers.
dynovinyl Wrote:Should Phillips leave, I have complete confidence that Dr. Peters will find a worthy successor. Of course, I hope we don't have to go that route too soon, but you never know. Now, if Dr. Peters leaves, then I'll worry.
100% Agreement
Phillips deal w/ IOWA on the lake front was HUGE in the AD community. HE IS A MONEY MAKER.
ElginHuskie Wrote:I think that many on this board are not looking at his total record from the prospective of the major schools.........
You've ID'd a lot of things that most casual fans forget, or have blinders to. I think he will be here a little longer as well, and he could be the most important person the University has ever hired to Athletics when his tenue is over.
Currently JP is a lot of flash, but less substance and I mean that in the very best way. He has more to accomplish, he knows that he has more to accomplish, and he knows he has the resources to see to that success. He clearly knows that next football coaching hire is the hinge on what he will swing to a better job, or to another 5+ years at NIU.
Although.....
Cary Groth accomplished less in her time here than JP has in his brief tenue, and I don't think anyone would argue she didn't leave for a better, more prestigious position at Nevada.
And I am pissed off that we don't have a home and home with Nevada yet. Ridiculous.
Personally, I think he is holding out for the AD job at Notre Dame. And he may have to wait that out at NIU, then another job (Illinois?) before that position is open at ND. And if his final dream is to be AD at Notre Dame, no way in hell does he go from NIU right to ND. No. Way. In. Hell.