Committee narrows AD search to short list

After more than a month of interviews, the Athletics Director Search Committee has narrowed its pool of 100 candidates to three to five, IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley said.\nThe 16-member committee received a total of 100 applicants by the July 16 deadline, with the goal of having the finalist pool reduced to, at most, six to eight by mid-August to present to IU President Adam Herbert.\n"The list of potential candidates has been narrowed down to three to five, and the president is in the process of interviewing and very carefully conducting the due diligence process," Beckley said. "Our goal is still to announce a new athletics director by the end of August."\nThough the goal is to end the search by the end of August, it hasn't been ruled out that the search might take longer than anticipated, said Bill Stephan, vice president of University relations and corporate partnerships at IU. \n"President Herbert wants to make sure that we have the right person," Stephan said. "Different challenges have kept the process open, as other strong candidates have emerged, and the committee and president are considering all of the candidates."\nBeckley said he believes the next athletics director is within the final pool of candidates. Herbert will make the final decision.\n"It is important for the candidates to have all the qualifications to be the next athletics director," Beckley said. "But the new athletics director will have to be able to work with the president, and only the president knows who will be the next athletics director."\nIn conducting the search process, the committee looked for someone who met 12 criteria, including the ability to act as a spokesperson for the athletics department and serve as a leader for coaches and other staff.\nThis is an important detail because of IU's recent revolving door of athletics directors. When hired, the next director will be IU's fourth in five years.\nDuring the past year, debate over the athletics department has been heated because of the budget deficit, the proposed plan of $65 million in facility upgrades and the $30 student athletic fee.\nBecause of the all the issues facing the department, it will be important to find a candidate who plans to make his or her home in Bloomington for years to come, Stephan said.\n"The committee clearly has an interest in finding a strong candidate that will stay with the University for a long time," Stephan said. "Successful athletics departments have had strong athletic leadership for a good number of years, and the new athletics director will be a long term solution and response to the athletics position."\nHerbert announced the search May 27.\nThe committee consists of members throughout the IU community, which gives many perspectives in finding the next athletics director.\nThe new athletics director will replace Interim Director Terry Clapacs, who also serves as vice president for administration and chief administrative officer. Clapacs has filled the position since November 2002 when then-athletics director Michael McNeely resigned after 16 months in Bloomington. \nOnce a new athletics director is announced, Clapacs will resume full-time duties of the vice president of administration and chief administrative officer.\nAfter the announcement, the search committee released an advertisement that was sent throughout the country formally announcing the opening of the athletics director position. Released jointly with the advertisement was a Web site that allowed potential candidates to find out more information about the qualifications for the position and more about the University and the athletics department.