'U' Search Firm To Begin Meeting With AD Candidates Next Week
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Turnkey Search, the national search firm hired by the University of Minnesota to identify and vet candidates to be the next Gophers athletics director, has begun reaching out to candidates, two sources told WCCO.
The firm will begin vetting candidates in the Midwest and East during in-person meetings next week, according to a source.
Turnkey, as well as the 16-member search committee formed by president Eric Kaler to aid in the process, also met with University leadership last week in Minneapolis, according to two sources. Kaler has previously said he would like the athletic director to be hired by July 1. Minnesota is paying Turkey Search $150,000 plus expenses for its services.
Beth Goetz, who has been Minnesota's interim athletic director since Norwood Teague resigned in August in the midst of a sexual harassment scandal, is viewed by many as the frontrunner for the permanent job.
Other candidates expected to be targeted for consideration, according to multiple sources, include:
Bill Robertson, the current commissioner of the WCHA, is one name that seems to be gaining support, with a number of boosters and influential alumni pushing for him to receive serious consideration, sources said. The Cretin-Derham Hall graduate and St. Paul native has Minnesota ties, experience with college sports and is "well-known and well-connected" in the state's business community, sources said. Robertson has previously worked for the Wild, Timberwolves, Anaheim Angels and Anaheim Ducks.
Former Gophers linebacker and current Wall Street stockbroker Pete Najarian is also a popular candidate among those who want someone with Minnesota connections. His supporters say his financial sensibility would be a major benefit, and believe he would have no trouble invigorating enthusiasm among donors. Those factors would make up for his lack of experience in college sports administration, sources said.
Another target, according to sources, is Phil Esten, the deputy athletics director at Penn State. He was formerly at Minnesota in various roles: president and CEO of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, six years as an associate athletic director and the point person on the University's construction of TCF Bank Stadium, where he was instrumental in fundraising for that project.
Tom Wistrcill, who joined college media and marketing company Learfield Sports as an executive in June, is a target as well, according to a source. Wistrcill was the athletic director at Akron for six years, and was a senior associate athletic director at Minnesota under Joel Maturi.
Miami athletic director Blake James, who has ties to Minnesota and experience running a major athletic department, is expected to receive consideration, sources said, but might be a longshot considering his current position.
Former Gophers football player Bob Stein, who was president of the Timberwolves for 18 years, is a name multiple sources would like to see considered, as is Minnesota graduate Craig Thompson, the commissioner of the Mountain West conference for the last 17 years.
While lacking ties to Minnesota, Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier has a level of experience that is appealing, sources said. He has held that position at Northern Illinois since 2013. Before that, he was deputy director of athletics at Wisconsin – No. 2 only to Barry Alvarez – and oversaw all fundraising. He's also been an athletic director at Merrimack, Clarkson and Manhattanville. He was a finalist at Rutgers and Illinois in their recent athletic director searches.
Len Perna, the president and CEO of Turnkey, said the firm would have no comment on the process until its conclusion.
