Now that change has come to the leadership of NC State’s athletics programs, it’s fair to take an objective look at the state of the program as it really is, and what qualities the new Athletic Director should have in order for NC State to be more successful than is the current state of affairs. Here’s my take on the kind of man that NC State should hire, based upon the current lay of the land in West Raleigh.
There are times one can turn the reins of an enterprise over to an unproven or little-tested leader, and there are others where a leader with a strong track record of success are needed. The former is suitable when the organization is running optimally, and little change is needed. The inexperienced manager can learn on the job, being careful all the while to not make drastic changes until he is sure that the change is called for. His subordinates are proven and competent, and the programs he inherits are proven winners. The latter leader — the guy with the wealth of experience — is needed in a situation where things are not right, when the organization is performing well below its capability, and where strong guidance from the top is needed to create a management environment that sets the tone for future success. In other words, this is the guy you want to come in when things are broken because he knows how things are supposed to work.
As we posted yesterday, only four different programs — Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Softball & Wrestling — have won an ACC Championship during Lee Fowler’s ten-year tenure in Raleigh. Note that the two revenue sports of football and men’s basketball did not – and that those two sports drive the perception of NC State not only in North Carolina or in the region, they do so nationally. If a rising tide lifts all boats, that tide must come from the two marquee programs, and if it does, the positive effect will be seen across the entire landscape of Wolfpack athletics.
That said, State needs to focus its search on an Athletic Director who is that guy who will come in and set things straight, create an environment of defined goals and accountability, one who is not afraid to make the difficult decision as to whether a change is needed when things are not working as planned, and not only that, someone who knows what it takes to have a successful football program and a men’s hoops team that’s a regular entrant into the NCAA tournament.
In short, State should hire someone who meets this basic set of requirements:
- Athletic Director experience at a BCS/Power Conference school
- A successful record in managing football and basketball (conference championship-level teams, and one that’s an NCAA Tournament regular in basketball)
- A successful and dynamic fundraiser
- One who is successful public relations, works well with the press, and Internet management
- Demonstrated innovative and successful brand management, where value and media income are maximized
- Successful management of NCAA rules and regulations (no major probations or lingering questions)
- Has managerial courage – will make the tough call when it needs making
- Successful management of the academic requirements required by the University
This should not be a wish list, it should be the minimum set of standards. Chancellor Woodson has made the correct first step by involving a national search firm to shake the trees and find the right set of candidates. Now he must see it through and actually fill Lee Fowler’s chair with a proven AD. Getting someone who has that skill-set will not be cheap, and this is not the time for NC State to be foolishly bargain hunt to save a few thousand dollars. As an institution, it has shown the courage to make change, and now it needs to finish the task by showing the courage to pay the market rate someone with proven success demands.
This decision will have long-lasting effects, and getting it right this time is one of the most important things that NC State has done in athletics in quite a long time, probably since it replaced Jim Valvano. Let’s hope it gets it right this time and does a much better job than it has since the dark days of the early 1990’s.
