[Cracked Sidewalks] Why Cottingham?

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

Why Cottingham?

Why Cottingham?  Some will say why not.  Some will say it's about time.  Others will say why.  Why?  Count me as part of the last group.

Look, I have nothing personal against Cottingham.  I worked with him a smidge while in the athletic department in the late 1990's.  He's a very charming fellow, nice guy, solid lawyer.  Overall, a solid guy, solid employee at MU (yes, he is a UW-Madison graduate leading the MU Athletic Department...makes you a bit squeemish doesn't it), smart fellow, understands the MU mission, has a strong legal background to navigate today's more complex collegiate athletic landscape, etc, etc.  In today's college athletics world, that legal acumen will serve him well, especially with the potentially rough and tumble scenarios that could present themselves down the road with any potential Big East re-alignments.

Here's the one thing we don't know, and it's big.  How is he at picking a coach?  How is he at understanding that part of the job...the student-athlete and coaching relationship?  Is that a learned skill that he can hone?  Or do you just have it?  Makes you wonder when 30 minutes ago someone like Kelvin Sampson was fired (according to Fox Sports) at Indiana.  Hmmmm.  As dominoes fall, will Cottingham be able to pick the right "next guy" if that decision came about?

Bill Cords, who I had the pleasure of working with for many years, didn't have Cottingham's legal background or some of those other business skills that are so badly needed in today's environment.  I never felt he was comfortable at the fund raising aspect required today, either.  But the one attribute that he had as a given was the coaching factor.  Cords was a football coach for many years, he understood the recruiting process, the teaching process, the scheduling process, etc.  That was a tremendous asset for him when it came to hiring coaches and dealing with them.

So, like many things in life, there are trade-offs. We now have an AD well positioned in some areas of the business, but there is that glaring unknown.  For that reason I ask why.  Why?  Cottingham has been the interim AD for over a year...why now make him the AD?  Was it based on his efforts over the last 14 months?  Certainly plausible and perhaps likely.  Or was it the inability to attract any other good candidates?  On one hand, I'm thrilled we actually have an AD permanently in place, on the other hand it really makes one scratch their head that an outside placement firm couldn't find anyone else (nobody leaked anyway) with some serious AD experience as a candidate.  Perhaps Cottingham just beat them all out.  I don't know and doubt any of us will ever know what the "process" was in selecting the AD, but it always fascinates me when firms or schools have this much time and spend money on outside firms only to settle on an inside candidate.  Sometimes it works out to be a terrific hire.  Sometimes it's simply about settling.  I hope it's not the latter.

One additional comment....how does this effect Crean?  One could argue Crean has been a defacto AD for a few years now....certainly the CEO of the only product line in the athletic department that is profitable.  That is to say, his voice is loud and is heard.  Does this hire, especially with 14 months working with Crean, mean that it has Crean's blessing?  Does this hire mean Crean is likely to remain at MU for many years to come as he continues to orchestrate from a top his perch?  The implication by some, certainly, will be that Crean remains essentially in control of his domain while Cottingham runs "the rest of the department".  Again, all just guesses and innuendo at this point.

I would argue that on one hand, the hiring of Cottingham may solidify Crean's tenure at MU even longer.  It keeps everything status quo.  In some athletic departments there is a strong AD organization, much like a strong Mayoral government system in some cities.  While other departments or cities use a committee approach without a strong singular head.  In this case, Crean remains the most important person in the MU athletic department and I don't see Cottingham as someone that equals that power.  Sure, if NCAA transgressions were to occur on Crean's watch then that's a different story where Cottingham suddenly becomes the guy.  But from my perch 2000 miles away, Crean is CEO of hoops with Cottingham as AD over the other sports and passive oversight over basketball.  Not a bad setup if you have an ethical coach who runs a tight ship (which I believe we do), but it does allow for more freedom then some folks are comfortable with.  I could be dead wrong on my interpretation, but that's my guess....Crean still remains essentially the guy.

On the other hand, some might argue that this is an AD that will function like other ADs across the country who will do their best to help their coaches and programs, but ultimately has the final word on everything...including hoops.  I don't see that, but who knows.

Let's hope after a 14 month process they got it right....despite having him there all this time right under their nose...despite the fact he's a UW-Madison badger....despite the fact he's never been in an athletic department role other then the last 14 months....let's hope.  Nothing in the previous 14 months screams he shouldn't have the job...then again we haven't gone through one of those pinnacle moments either.

Good luck.  Fingers crossed.  We want nothing but success for you and the department.

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2008/02/why-cottingham.html

[The Lens]

Excellent analysis. 

[SoCalwarrior]

Good article, chicos.  I hope we never have to rely on him to find another BB coach.

[4everwarriors]

has Crean's blessings. But, for what reasons? Was Cottingham the best available applicant or most likely to roll over puppet?

[The Lens]

We hired by all reports a very good corporate attorney who may or may not be friends with people who post on scout.

Has this guy ever hired a coach?  Sold in a sponsorship program? Fundraised? Handled ticket sales?  Overseen compliance?  Negotiated a TV / Radio package?

There are dozens of guys out there who have done all of the above and have JDs AND MBAs to boot.  If Crean took IU or UK in 2006 or 2007 there is no way this guy is the AD.  Do I have issues with Coach Crean?  Yes.  But the majority of those issues deal with how much power and control he has at MU.  The checks and balances of a normal Ath Dept have been wiped away in the past 3-4 years and I don't believe that is healthy.  This is not an action that cures that at all.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'm thrilled that BBFran and Shot of Whisky have given their thumbs up....that will make me sleep better at night.

[Pardner]

Didn't Cottingham get this role 1.5 years ago?  They are just now issuing the press release.

Thanks Chicos--nice write-up.  I agree, sports networking is critical for MU to sell its uniqueness.  I hope the rest of the staff stays--the ones that have the contacts.  That said, Cottingham has some unique skills needed for the times.  It looks like he is a builder, which is critical for the other sports now we are in the BE.  I would like to see a vision everyone can rally around, though, versus status quo.  It is a transitional time for MU sports--and strategic sports leadership is a must. 

[Marquette84]

  But the majority of those issues deal with how much power and control he has at MU.  The checks and balances of a normal Ath Dept have been wiped away in the past 3-4 years and I don't believe that is healthy.  This is not an action that cures that at all.

Serious questions for you: 

1.  Were you concerned about the lack of "checks and balances" under AL or Hank when they each held both the HC and AD roles?

2.  Specifically what checks and balances have been "wiped away" in the last 3-4 years?

I'm trying to think of which aspects of the basketball or athletic department that have gotten worse since Crean arrived, and I'm having a hard time coming up with any. 

[The Lens]

  But the majority of those issues deal with how much power and control he has at MU.  The checks and balances of a normal Ath Dept have been wiped away in the past 3-4 years and I don't believe that is healthy.  This is not an action that cures that at all.

Serious questions for you: 

1.  Were you concerned about the lack of "checks and balances" under AL or Hank when they each held both the HC and AD roles?

2.  Specifically what checks and balances have been "wiped away" in the last 3-4 years?

I'm trying to think of which aspects of the basketball or athletic department that have gotten worse since Crean arrived, and I'm having a hard time coming up with any. 

I don't think the Ath Dept has gotten worse at all.  However, for my comfort level (and I'm just one fan) our head coach has too much power.  Al & Hank were decades ago, now the AD position across the country is being filled with sports executives who have experience in a wide range of issues.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Why Cottingham?
One could argue Crean has been a defacto AD for a few years now....certainly the CEO of the only product line in the athletic department that is profitable.  That is to say, his voice is loud and is heard.

The "Gold?"

[Nukem2]

Cottingham will do just fine.  As for hiring a BB coach, I think search firms nowadays do most of that work in the background.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Cottingham will do just fine.  As for hiring a BB coach, I think search firms nowadays do most of that work in the background.

Like the search firm that helped us find a replacement for our interim AD?

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

Cottingham will do just fine.  As for hiring a BB coach, I think search firms nowadays do most of that work in the background.

Like the search firm that helped us find a replacement for our interim AD?

Haha....at least it didn't cost us too much money.

[Nukem2]

PRN, you are comparing apples and oranges.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Didn't Cottingham get this role 1.5 years ago?  They are just now issuing the press release.

Thanks Chicos--nice write-up.  I agree, sports networking is critical for MU to sell its uniqueness.  I hope the rest of the staff stays--the ones that have the contacts.  That said, Cottingham has some unique skills needed for the times.  It looks like he is a builder, which is critical for the other sports now we are in the BE.  I would like to see a vision everyone can rally around, though, versus status quo.  It is a transitional time for MU sports--and strategic sports leadership is a must. 

He is a very capable person and I hope he does well....I'm sure we all do.  I've listed a few of the concerns I have, let's hope he's up to the task.

[Nukem2]

As for hiring coaches, thats always a dicey matter;and, as I posted earlier, the use of search guys/firms is now prevalent in Div I major sports.  Look at Bill cords, he go KO and TT right but "failed" on Deane.  Now Deane was a very good X's and O's guy, but was very deficient on the recruiting front leading Cords to questioning Deane's committment and ultimately replacing Deane in short order. Had he not done so, I believe we would have had a repeat of the Dukiet years (and Dukiet was also a good X's and O's guy, but deficient in recruting as well as people skills).  Many ADs nowadays really are not sports people first and foremost as the world is simply changing.  Change always brings risk; but, you have to start somewhere.

[OpenLook]

Cottingham is more of a "here and now" type hire -- he's a guy that works well with the current cast of coaches (especially TC) and other administration. More than anything he is a status quo guy. The good thing, I believe, is that TC is very comfortable with him and this is another indication that TC is here for the long haul.