December 11, 2007
The anatomy of a coaching search
The Atlanta Constitution-Journal paints an interesting picture of what goes into a BCS-conference team's coaching search. By detailing the process behind Georgia Tech interviewing of eight potential candidates as well as the hiring of Paul Johnson over an eleven-day period, the paper shine a light on the inner-workings of big-time college athletics.
Monday, Nov. 26: After six years, with a record of 44-32 overall and 0-6 against Georgia, Chan Gailey is dismissed as the coach at Georgia Tech. Athletics director Dan Radakovich says he will hire a coach to bring a new sense of energy and excitement to the program.
Thursday, Nov. 29: The Georgia Tech search committee, which consists of Radakovich, associate athletics director Wayne Hogan and Dan Parker of the Parker Executive Search Firm, begins its interviews. At the Westin Hotel near Jackson-Hartsfield International Airport, the committee meets with [Kentucky offensive coordinator Joker] Phillipsand [Connecticut coach Randy] Edsall.
Friday, Nov. 30: Also at the Westin Hotel, the search committee meets with [Florida co-defensive coordinator Charlie] Strong, [Georgia Southern coach Chris] Hatcher and [Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon] Tenuta.
Saturday, Dec. 1: Because it is championship Saturday, no interviews are conducted. Early in the day, ESPN reports that LSU coach Les Miles will be the next coach at Michigan, and that Tenuta will go with him as defensive coordinator. Miles calls a news conference at the Georgia Dome to deny the story and state that he will stay at LSU.
Sunday, Dec. 2: The search committee holds its first meeting with [Navy coach Paul] Johnson at the Westin Hotel. [Former Colorado and Washington coach Rick] Neuheisel and [former Auburn coach Terry] Bowden also are interviewed. Edsall tells reporters at the annual team banquet that he will be staying at Connecticut.
Monday, Dec. 3: In Baltimore, Johnson meets with Duke President Richard Broadhead, athletics director Joe Alleva and executive vice president Tallman Trask about the school's opening at head coach.
Tuesday, Dec. 4: Strong receives a phone call informing him that anybody being brought back for a second interview at Georgia Tech would have head coaching experience. ... Johnson and Jack Reale, his Atlanta-based agent, fly to Dallas to discuss the SMU opening. After the interview, both men fly to Atlanta.
Wednesday, Dec. 5: Johnson meets on campus with Radakovich, Hogan and President Wayne Clough. After the meeting, Johnson flies back to Annapolis knowing that he has three job offers: Georgia Tech, SMU and Duke.
Thursday, Dec. 6: Because of a snowstorm, Johnson does not have electricity at his home. He goes to his office at Ricketts Hall at about 8:15 a.m. to take a shower. Late in the morning, he meets with Navy athletics director Chet Gladchuk. That meeting ends just before noon, when Gladchuk tells The Capital newspaper of Annapolis that Johnson is "doing some serious soul searching about his future." Gladchuk meets with school officials to determine what Navy will be able to do to keep Johnson. ...
Back in Atlanta, Reale works with Radakovich on a letter of understanding concerning the Georgia Tech job. After a meeting that lasts more than two hours, Reale and Radakovich finish about 7 p.m. Reale faxes the letter of understanding to Johnson. ... Reale calls Duke and SMU to update them on the process. ... Johnson, his wife, Susan, and daughter, Kaitlyn, 14, discuss the opportunities.
Friday, Dec. 7: Johnson arrives at his office at Ricketts Hall at about 8:15 a.m. At about 9 o'clock, he calls Radakovich and tells him of his intention to come to Georgia Tech. Shortly after that, Johnson gets on the elevator and goes to the basement floor of Ricketts Hall to tell Gladchuk of his decision. ... After meeting with Gladchuk, Johnson goes back to his office, signs the letter of agreement to become Georgia Tech's next coach and faxes it to Radakovich at about 10:30 a.m. ... At 11:45 a.m. Johnson meets with his Navy team and delivers the news. He is going to Georgia Tech and will not be their coach for the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 20. The meeting ends before noon, and by 1:20 p.m. Johnson, along with his wife and daughter, meets Hogan at Baltimore-Washington International Airport for the flight to Atlanta on a private jet. After meeting with Tech athletics staff members, Johnson tapes an interview for his new school's Web site with Wes Durham, the voice of the Yellow Jackets. At 5:30 p.m., Paul Johnson is officially introduced as the 12th head coach at Georgia Tech.
For reference, I've added the full names/titles of the candidates interviewed for the Yellow Jackets position.
Kudos to the AJC for their work in compiling the Georgia Tech timeline.
Comments:
Ramblin' Gator said:
posted on December 11, 2007 7:10 PM — 216.10.193.20 — link — abuse?
The part of this process that nobody has mentioned (at least, not that I've noticed) was Radakovich's one big screw-up (IMO): extending Gailey's contract. By the time the new AD had moved from Baton Rogue to Atlanta, it was obvious that Chan would not be there much longer. His contract extension was negotiated by the previous AD and Rad would have been well within his rights to not sign it, especially as GT alums were already calling for Chan's head back then. That misstep cost the already financially overstretched athletic department millions.
On a completely unrelated topic, I think Duke should hire a black HC for their football team. Given the recent racial tensions/problems in Durham and the fact that Duke has NO African-American coaches, this would seem like a good move to me. Joker Phillips or Charlie Strong would be excellent candidates, though I would hate for the Gators to lose Strong.
posted on December 12, 2007 11:11 AM — 150.176.192.1 — link — abuse?Ben Prather
said:
#3) Duke should hire the best coach they can find. Race should not be an issue.
Hiring an African American to be politically correct and address racial tensions works about as well as putting out a grease fire with water. By this arguement, why not be the first to hire a woman coach?
Hiring an African American because they are the best person for the job is another story altoghether. With the recent racial tensions/problems in Durham such a coach might never get out from under the susspicion that they where hired for politics over skill.
That is unless they win. At Duke? That would indeed be the best man for the job.
Ramblin' Gator said:
posted on December 12, 2007 4:29 PM — 216.10.193.20 — link — abuse?
#3: Ben,
While normally I would agree with you (i.e. hire only the best available - no others need apply) in this case there are larger issues at work. I suspect a black head coach would be a step toward healing AND would help with their recruiting. The improved recruiting would probably lead to more wins for Duke.
What I'm proposing is not about political correctness as you asserted. If I wanted to do that, I would suggest Michigan hire a black HC, which is a bigger stage on which to make a statement. Or, I could suggest that EVERY open HC position be given to a black candidate. That way, the proportion of black head coaches would be close to about 1% of the black players in the NCAA. What I'm proposing is the university doing the right thing for the school, the team, and their community.
For the record, I'm a middle-aged white guy.
Besides, at this point, the Duke job must be the least attractive head coaching position in the FBS (f.k.a. Division 1). Their best hope is to hire a talented assistant coach from outside the program who will reinvigorate interest and improve recruiting.
Zac said:
posted on December 16, 2007 10:05 AM — 205.188.116.136 — link — abuse?
I could only agree with this if one can show me a case of proven performance; not to mention, the Duke job wouldn't be a stepping stone to something bigger and better, should the selected candidate be successful. The job needs to be made attractive enough to bring in, not only the right man for the job, but one who would be committed for the long haul. If it just so happens that this individual is a black man, so be it.
War Eagle Atlanta 
said:
posted on December 11, 2007 4:35 PM — 64.12.116.136 — link — abuse?Very interesting to take a peek behind the curtains to see who's pulling the levers, and the process in general.