The search is over

As Fred Glass spoke to members of the press, IU administrators, coaches, family and friends on Tuesday, he calmly explained his plans for the future of IU’s athletics department.

Glass, named the next director of athletics Tuesday, defined his vision of what he hopes IU athletics will become during the next few years.

“It starts with comprehensive compliance,” Glass said. “We’ve got to follow the rules, and we have to become known again for following the rules.”

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Glass stressed that academic achievement and athletic excellence should be cornerstones of the department.

“Kids need to go to class,” Glass said. “They need to progress toward their degree, and they need to graduate. ... We’ve got to give our coaches the tools and the resources they need to be successful.”

IU President Michael McRobbie formally introduced Glass as the next athletics director Tuesday morning at a press conference at the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center.

Glass will begin work Jan. 2, 2009, two days after current athletics director Rick Greenspan is scheduled to step down. Greenspan announced his resignation in June in response to allegations of NCAA violations.

Tuesday’s announcement ended months of speculation about who would take the reigns of the department.

The position had been filled for some time, however.

“It was late last week,” said Glass, when asked exactly when he was offered the job, “and I accepted immediately.”

McRobbie said Glass’ qualifications for the position are varied and numerous.

“Fred is a strong Hoosier leader, who has taken on tough problems and worked collaboratively to solve those problems,” McRobbie said. “Fred Glass has demonstrated a remarkable talent for leadership, for mastering the details of challenges, diplomacy and consensus building, and for getting things done.”

While Glass has no formal experience in collegiate sports administration, he has worked on several committees and organizations on sports-related issues and was named one of the 25 most influential people on sports in central Indiana by The Indianapolis Star in 2002.

He also spearheaded the effort to build Lucas Oil Stadium and helped with the operation of prominent Indianapolis landmarks as president of the Marion County Capital Improvement Board of Managers.

Glass was selected through a search process, which began in August. He underwent a screening process and several interviews with McRobbie and others before being offered his new position.

“We were really determined to find someone who demonstrated strong leadership skills, understood Indiana University and our situation, and had a proven track record of being successful in building and leading organizations,” said Roger Thompson, a member of the search committee that made its recommendation to McRobbie. “When you get down to it, Fred Glass is someone of tremendous integrity. He’s as bright a guy as you’re going to find, and he’s really committed to Indiana University.”

Glass, who received undergraduate and law school degrees from IU and is a partner at the Indianapolis law firm Baker & Daniels, said he was excited about the new position. He laid out a general vision for the future of IU athletics during his tenure.

Glass said he wants to bring the University and the athletics department into a closer relationship during his time at IU.

“I look forward to integrating the athletic department more consistently with the University,” Glass said. “I think there’s so much opportunity to leverage the tremendous resources of this University for the benefit of the athletic department.”

However, Glass also admitted that his office will encounter several challenges going forward.

One hurdle will present itself when the NCAA Committee on Infractions renders it decision regarding five major violations levied against the men’s basketball program. The violations stem from recruiting infractions former coach Kelvin Sampson and his staff committed.

Other difficulties will be managing 24 varsity sports, ensuring coaches have the resources they need, overseeing the ongoing facility upgrades and planning for future expansion – including the possible replacement of Assembly Hall.

Glass’s wife, Barbara, said she was proud of her husband.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “Our family is a big IU family, and we just couldn’t be happier about it. I think he’s ready for it. He’s worked on so many things that I think it’ll be a good transition.”

Glass expressed confidence in IU’s future.

“Indiana University is in my blood, and I love Indiana University,” he said. “If we stay focused, I think we’re really in for a new golden age of Indiana athletics.”