Megan Franklin, new UNI AD

[clenz]

Issues like what? The BOR wanting to end UNI?

It doesn’t need to be aired here, and more than a few would be in denial about the issues


it wasn’t the firm. It wasn’t Bowlsby. It wasn’t BOR. It wasn’t DEI -which is actually illegal in this state now and using that is just chicken**** “I’m not brave enough to be racist or sexist so I’ll say DEI”.

There are reasons and/or people within the athletic department that caused issues with interviews that made things go south with people who had great resumes and fans would have thought would have been named.


Everything there, and elsewhere, being said I am going to give every benefit of the doubt to her ability to lead us forward. I took the same attitude with David. I was one of the biggest supporters of his for the first 3-4 years before it became clear it wasn’t working. The same approach is being taken here

[havok58]

There were issues but none of them came from the BOR nor the Bowlsbys or search firm.

Share the knowledge. The search is over, the hire has been made. Giving us insight of what you know or heard isn’t going to change things now.

The only issue I’m aware of is the university itself. Lack of funding from the BOR, lack of private investors for NIL funding. Basically too much to do to move UNI back at the top in football and basketball and the lack of resources to make it happen. Maybe that is what caused viable candidates to back off or use UNI as leverage for a pay raise.

I also am curious to know if she applied for the AD position at Drake and what happened.

[BCPanther]

I can't outright confirm this but...

It sounds like there were some messaging and professionalism issues exhibited by our core coaches that scared at least two, if not more, candidates off.

[havok58]

There are reasons and/or people within the athletic department that caused issues with interviews that made things go south with people who had great resumes and fans would have thought would have been named.

The only people in the athletic department that can have that kind of impact in interviews for their next boss would be coaches. I figure if I was interviewing for an AD position and can’t win over the head coaches in the two primary sports I would drop out too. So were Farley and / or Jacobson not liking the ideas they were hearing from the candidates? Or could either one be like “you may be my boss on paper, but in reality I call the shots”? I mean after Harris who could blame them.

[havok58]

I can't outright confirm this but...

It sounds like there were some messaging and professionalism issues exhibited by our core coaches that scared at least two, if not more, candidates off.

If so, I feel bad for Bowlsby coming back to try to do something good for UNI and its future, only to have it tanked by selfish and insecure coaches. Too bad Nook can’t lay out some discipline for them.

['70 Grad]

I welcomed DH too, many times and wanted him to succeed. Had conversations with him about his playing career. Been to his house for dinner.
This time it just has to work.

[Blue42]

I can't outright confirm this but...

It sounds like there were some messaging and professionalism issues exhibited by our core coaches that scared at least two, if not more, candidates off.

Honest to God...we can't get out of our own way.

I mean wtf?

Tulane does us a massive favor. We get Bob to come in and right the ship. And then can't get through a goddam interview process?!?!

[SteinPizza]

I can't outright confirm this but...

It sounds like there were some messaging and professionalism issues exhibited by our core coaches that scared at least two, if not more, candidates off.

A few days ago someone posted about at least one of the candidates having a terrible interview, or something like that. It sounds like the terrible part of it may have been on the coaches and a lack of professionalism. If true, what a crock of bull****. If someone wants UNI to get a rep as someplace NOT to work, that’s a great way to do it. Word travels fast.

Also, someone brought up the soccer/football stadium built at Drake next to their basketball practice facility. It was unpopular amongst a large number of people, but had nothing to do with Drake. It was a partnership with the Des Moines Public Schools, and some wanted DMPS to spend money on things other than stadiums. Not sure how realistic that criticism was, and it did get built and looks good. Hopefully she was one of the principal people who shoved it thru. As for Des Moines hosting a couple of NCAA basketball tournaments, just about everyone credits Catch Des Moines and business leaders for that. I’m sure Drake was involved, but ultimately they were needed as the host school for the first one. Iowa State was host school for the second. My impression was/is it’s the metro area selling itself that wins those bids, not the schools. I’ve never heard her name, or Brian Hardin or Jamie Pollard being mentioned as big drivers behind hosting NCAA games, but could be wrong.

[kochrab]

I look at the whole coach and AD interview thing differently.

Sure, you could assume that our coaches were being "high maintenance", but I don't necessarily think that's the case. I would argue that our coaches are unanimously fighting for the opposite of what David was in some regards and that may have created some conflict and disagreement there. It's a fine balance you have to walk coming into a position like this because we would be equally upset if a new AD was brought in and started cleaning house with some of these coaches who bleed purple and gold.

We have to be willing to give this new AD a fair shot, she deserves it. We also have to trust that Bowlsby was involved in this decision on some level as that is what he stated early on. All that to say, I'm excited to hear from her soon.

[clenz]

I look at the whole coach and AD interview thing differently.

Sure, you could assume that our coaches were being "high maintenance", but I don't necessarily think that's the case. I would argue that our coaches are unanimously fighting for the opposite of what David was in some regards and that may have created some conflict and disagreement there. It's a fine balance you have to walk coming into a position like this because we would be equally upset if a new AD was brought in and started cleaning house with some of these coaches who bleed purple and gold.

We have to be willing to give this new AD a fair shot, she deserves it. We also have to trust that Bowlsby was involved in this decision on some level as that is what he stated early on. All that to say, I'm excited to hear from her soon.

Based on what a few have heard - and I've heard from multiple unrelated sources "being high maintenance" (aka just being rude, late, overl negative, stubborn, acting like they don't want to be there, they should be in charge and the AD is there to serve them, showing up in dirty sweat suits, etc.) is exactly the issue.

One interviewed poorly on their end. One apparently walked out of the interview - one that wanted the job and the firm wanted at UNI - and said "I can't work somehwere that is that negative all the time"

Your last part I am 100% in agreement with though.

[06panther10]

Without knowing the real story, I am going to side with our coaches. I trust our coaches, and know they are high character people. Additionally, the way they have been yanked around by our Admin and Athletic department the last several years, they have every right to be bitter.

[BCPanther]

In the end, she's got to change the culture. It's toxic and has been for a long time and that goes for the staff, the individual sports staffs, the fan base, everybody.

She's got a hole to climb out of and she is going to get every single chance from me to do that. Bob at least stabilized the ship and gave her as fresh a start as we could possibly have given the next person and it sounds like there's some real money there to get shovels in the ground relatively quickly on facilities that we badly need.

Let's roll and let's get this thing moving forward and, frankly, I'd be more than happy with the level that Drake is at department wide right now.

[UNIpanther99]

If any of this was true, I was hoping this would be the sort of thing Bowlsby would have been able to sort out and set right before interviews started. If there is that much deep seeded bitterness within the department, we might be in worse trouble that we think.

She used the phrase "Legacy Era" in her tweet. I think all of our legendary coaches need to be thinking about their own legacy and get behind this new AD with all of the support she will need.

[kochrab]

Based on what a few have heard - and I've heard from multiple unrelated sources "being high maintenance" (aka just being rude, late, overl negative, stubborn, acting like they don't want to be there, they should be in charge and the AD is there to serve them, showing up in dirty sweat suits, etc.) is exactly the issue.

One interviewed poorly on their end. One apparently walked out of the interview - one that wanted the job and the firm wanted at UNI - and said "I can't work somehwere that is that negative all the time"

Your last part I am 100% in agreement with though.

Appreciate the insights. If true, our new AD has a task ahead of her to help change culture. If bitterness and negativity have taken root in some of our coaches, they need to change or get off the ship. It's impossible to drive the ship forward with anchors holding it back.

[clenz]

Without knowing the real story, I am going to side with our coaches. I trust our coaches, and know they are high character people. Additionally, the way they have been yanked around by our Admin and Athletic department the last several years, they have every right to be bitter.

I don't disagree at all. I've had a conversation with BC where I said the same thing. It's hard to look at what the coaches - especially Jake, Farley, and Doug - have gone through and not understand where the bitterness and anger come from. I guess my only pushback would be that you are trying to find someone to change that culture, to be on your side, and get you what you need/want to compete, setting that bitter/negative tone from the start is probably going to push people away that would be who you need to make changes.

I'm all in on Dr. Franklin. The D+ forum seems to have high thoughts on her. If she can come in and find a way to dig out of the negative attitude our department has right now and can sell a vision to donors and sponsors everything can be turned around. David couldn't sell water to someone stranded in Death Valley. If she can come in with personality and organization, which I would guess she has given her background in strategic planning, things should work well.