Buried in yesterday's Mannuscript (which is not even on the Tribe website yet) was news that W&M has hired a new Deputy Athletic Director. There has been no article about it (as there was when Todd McFarlane was recently hired) and I hadn't even heard that there was a new vacancy announcement.

The new Deputy is Richard "Whit" Whitmore who currently holds the same position at Dartmouth (where Mann graduated, of course). Whitmore graduated from Brown in 1990.

So does anybody know anything about this guy? Does W&M even need a Deputy Athletic Director? I wouldn't want this to turn into the same situation as when Huge expanded the sports staff with all of her own flunkies and caused administrative salary bloat.

My guess is that he's going to have an organizational change in the department and the new person will take on a leadership position.

I’m not sure that we have the right folks in the right spots, but I don’t currently think that we are over staffed.


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I’d like a comparison between Huge’s and Mann’s front office/leadership support staffs.

At first glance, it appears Mann’s staff is of reasonable size and focus.


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I'm still not sure why we need a Deputy AD when, to my knowledge, we have not had one in a long time, if ever. However, if we really do need one, then how about this idea: move Dane Fischer into the Deputy slot for the last year of his contract. That way we save the $100K or so on Whitmore's salary, which can be used to pay part of the salary of the new coach (who arrives one year earlier this way). If Dane works out as the Deputy he can be retained at a lower salary and if he doesn't work out (or if he wants to leave on his own at any time) then so long after one year. Looks like this would check off many boxes.

(02-10-2024 11:06 AM)Zorch Wrote:  I'm still not sure why we need a Deputy AD when, to my knowledge, we have not had one in a long time, if ever. However, if we really do need one, then how about this idea: move Dane Fischer into the Deputy slot for the last year of his contract. That way we save the $100K or so on Whitmore's salary, which can be used to pay part of the salary of the new coach (who arrives one year earlier this way). If Dane works out as the Deputy he can be retained at a lower salary and if he doesn't work out (or if he wants to leave on his own at any time) then so long after one year. Looks like this would check off many boxes.

Why not promote Peel Hawthorne?

(02-10-2024 11:41 AM)wanm65 Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 11:06 AM)Zorch Wrote:  I'm still not sure why we need a Deputy AD when, to my knowledge, we have not had one in a long time, if ever. However, if we really do need one, then how about this idea: move Dane Fischer into the Deputy slot for the last year of his contract. That way we save the $100K or so on Whitmore's salary, which can be used to pay part of the salary of the new coach (who arrives one year earlier this way). If Dane works out as the Deputy he can be retained at a lower salary and if he doesn't work out (or if he wants to leave on his own at any time) then so long after one year. Looks like this would check off many boxes.

Why not promote Peel Hawthorne?

I thought she just got moved to Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).

(02-10-2024 11:53 AM)billymac Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 11:41 AM)wanm65 Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 11:06 AM)Zorch Wrote:  I'm still not sure why we need a Deputy AD when, to my knowledge, we have not had one in a long time, if ever. However, if we really do need one, then how about this idea: move Dane Fischer into the Deputy slot for the last year of his contract. That way we save the $100K or so on Whitmore's salary, which can be used to pay part of the salary of the new coach (who arrives one year earlier this way). If Dane works out as the Deputy he can be retained at a lower salary and if he doesn't work out (or if he wants to leave on his own at any time) then so long after one year. Looks like this would check off many boxes.

Why not promote Peel Hawthorne?

I thought she just got moved to Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).

Peel has been in a senior position for a number of years.

She would make a great deputy AD.

Why go outside when you have talent at home ???

(02-10-2024 12:22 PM)wanm65 Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 11:53 AM)billymac Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 11:41 AM)wanm65 Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 11:06 AM)Zorch Wrote:  I'm still not sure why we need a Deputy AD when, to my knowledge, we have not had one in a long time, if ever. However, if we really do need one, then how about this idea: move Dane Fischer into the Deputy slot for the last year of his contract. That way we save the $100K or so on Whitmore's salary, which can be used to pay part of the salary of the new coach (who arrives one year earlier this way). If Dane works out as the Deputy he can be retained at a lower salary and if he doesn't work out (or if he wants to leave on his own at any time) then so long after one year. Looks like this would check off many boxes.

Why not promote Peel Hawthorne?

I thought she just got moved to Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).

Peel has been in a senior position for a number of years.

She would make a great deputy AD.

Why go outside when you have talent at home ???

The same Mannuscript that announced Whitmore also said that Hawthorne is retiring this spring.

(02-10-2024 12:53 PM)Zorch Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 12:22 PM)wanm65 Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 11:53 AM)billymac Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 11:41 AM)wanm65 Wrote:  

(02-10-2024 11:06 AM)Zorch Wrote:  I'm still not sure why we need a Deputy AD when, to my knowledge, we have not had one in a long time, if ever. However, if we really do need one, then how about this idea: move Dane Fischer into the Deputy slot for the last year of his contract. That way we save the $100K or so on Whitmore's salary, which can be used to pay part of the salary of the new coach (who arrives one year earlier this way). If Dane works out as the Deputy he can be retained at a lower salary and if he doesn't work out (or if he wants to leave on his own at any time) then so long after one year. Looks like this would check off many boxes.

Why not promote Peel Hawthorne?

I thought she just got moved to Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).

Peel has been in a senior position for a number of years.

She would make a great deputy AD.

Why go outside when you have talent at home ???

The same Mannuscript that announced Whitmore also said that Hawthorne is retiring this spring.

Thank you I missed that.

She will be missed!

UVA recently filled a similar position with ex great, Wally Walker. Assume the responsibilities are roughly the same.

https://virginiasports.com/news/2023/09/...-director/