Dana Ford

[DWRedbird]

I think we’re on the same page. Either Pedon breaks through in the next two years or we part ways with yet another HC and start over; it’s what programs do.

But cutting bait after two years and eating three expensive years before he’s had a chance to see what his recruits can do - assuming they stick around - seems premature.

And it’s not like Redbird Athletics is flush with cash to do so anyway…

I think another factor is going to be who we end up with as our new permanent AD. If Pedon has a similar year next year to this one and we've got a new AD, they may want to clean house and bring in their own guy.

That said I think there is a 0% chance we part with Pedon this offseason, unless he resigns or takes another job somewhere else. I also wouldn't hold my breath that he will make any staff changes either.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

I think another factor is going to be who we end up with as our new permanent AD. If Pedon has a similar year next year to this one and we've got a new AD, they may want to clean house and bring in their own guy.

That said I think there is a 0% chance we part with Pedon this offseason, unless he resigns or takes another job somewhere else. I also wouldn't hold my breath that he will make any staff changes either.

I think he’s got two years to show what he can build. We bailed on Moser a year early and he turned out to be the architect we have still yet to find since.

 

[MadBird]

I think he’s got two years to show what he can build. We bailed on Moser a year early and he turned out to be the architect we have still yet to find since.

Well, Moser didn't start building until well after we sent him packing. Learned at the foot of Majerus for 4 years, right?, then in his first 7 years at Loyola only had two winning seasons. Took him a while to figger it out.

 

[DWRedbird]

I think he’s got two years to show what he can build. We bailed on Moser a year early and he turned out to be the architect we have still yet to find since.

As @MadBird said, Porter didn't become the guy until he left and studied under someone better. I think if he had stayed with us and never left to go study under Majerus, Porter is probably at Southern Oklahoma State University rather than Oklahoma right now. That said, I'm not saying whether we should pull the plug on Pedon next year, but if we get a new AD and Pedon hasn't shown any improvement in 3 years, then I wouldn't be shocked if the AD decides to pick out their own guy to move forward with.

As to Dana Ford, I wouldn't be shocked to see him land at a Big 10/Big 12 school where he can help a bigger coach recruit. Maybe Porter brings him in to Oklahoma or Depaul if he makes the jump.

 

[ScoreboardDotRace]

That said, I'm not saying whether we should pull the plug on Pedon next year, but if we get a new AD and Pedon hasn't shown any improvement in 3 years, then I wouldn't be shocked if the AD decides to pick out their own guy to move forward with.
.

I think the ‘IF’ in here is the big variable. They promoted Tarhule from
Interim to President. Do they just take the interim off the title of Beggs too for AD? Is that better or worse for Pedon?

Let’s hope the team makes a jump next year and that’s a moot point.

 

[Sladerunningbear]

Flying

As @MadBird said, Porter didn't become the guy until he left and studied under someone better. I think if he had stayed with us and never left to go study under Majerus, Porter is probably at Southern Oklahoma State University rather than Oklahoma right now. That said, I'm not saying whether we should pull the plug on Pedon next year, but if we get a new AD and Pedon hasn't shown any improvement in 3 years, then I wouldn't be shocked if the AD decides to pick out their own guy to move forward with.

As to Dana Ford, I wouldn't be shocked to see him land at a Big 10/Big 12 school where he can help a bigger coach recruit. Maybe Porter brings him in to Oklahoma or Depaul if he makes the jump.

Does that mean Dan will be a better coach after studying under Bob the Builder?

Tired of it.

Spread it.

 

[cpacmel]

 

[Brick]

Good for him. Always a class act !!

 

[leeno33]

I think the ‘IF’ in here is the big variable. They promoted Tarhule from
Interim to President. Do they just take the interim off the title of Beggs too for AD? Is that better or worse for Pedon?

Let’s hope the team makes a jump next year and that’s a moot point.

Pretty sure she said from day 1 she didn't want the permanent job. I think she just wants to retire soon. With that said, have we even started searching? In all likelihood, Pedon probably has at least 2 more years to prove himself. I don't see Beggs making that decision, and I don't see a new AD firing him in his first year. Most AD's don't fire coaches in their first year for mediocrity, especially at our level. That's assuming we have an AD by this coming school year. Any delay would buy Pedon more time if needed.

 

[isuquinndog]

Pretty sure she said from day 1 she didn't want the permanent job. I think she just wants to retire soon. With that said, have we even started searching? In all likelihood, Pedon probably has at least 2 more years to prove himself. I don't see Beggs making that decision, and I don't see a new AD firing him in his first year. Most AD's don't fire coaches in their first year for mediocrity, especially at our level. That's assuming we have an AD by this coming school year. Any delay would buy Pedon more time if needed.

She has flip flopped on it. She said she would like to stay, but doesn't want to be part of a search. Either the interim title is removed or she's out.

ISU Interim AD Beggs might want to keep the job

Now that the flap over spending on donor entertainment is over, and trustees have named a permanent ISU president, several interim positions need to be filled. One of those is in the Athletics Department.

www.wglt.org

 

[isuquinndog]

She says her contract is up at the end of June. That's in two months. So since nothing has happened (at least publicly) then I would guess she is staying for now.

 

[Adunk33]

She says her contract is up at the end of June. That's in two months. So since nothing has happened (at least publicly) then I would guess she is staying for now.

But she also says she doesn't see herself doing the job in 5 years....so...why would we hire a lame duck AD?

Also, what a terrible way to "interview" for a job:

• I want the job and you can't consider any other applicants
• If given the job I only want it for a couple years and you have to start the search again

Not a glowing interview IMO.

 

[ISUBird]

She says her contract is up at the end of June. That's in two months. So since nothing has happened (at least publicly) then I would guess she is staying for now.

I'd like our AD to last at least 5 years and since Beggs just said she only wants to do this for a few more years I want someone else. We need the stability.

 

[DougSutton]

I'm aware of another previous candidate (with a proven track record of success) that would have taken this job in a heartbeat if offered but didn't want to be part of a search either, and the university said they wouldn't do that because they were required to do a formal search process.

I agree with @ISUBird, I want someone that comes in wanting to be here and plant their stake in the ground to make a long term impact. That's the type of leader we need in the athletic department right now.

Her quote "I only want to do this for a few more years. I don't see myself here five years" feels completely out of alignment with what I want in a leader and would have a negative impact on the department.

On the other hand, I don't like how this seems to be putting public pressure on the university to make a decision quickly. If she felt that way, she could have communicated this in private through the university decision makers and then the only time to come out in public is after a decision has been made. Doing it this way feels to me like a way to strategically put pressure on the university to keep her under the terms she wants. That's just my take.

IF she were to stay, I wouldn't want it to be for more than 1 year and during that year, we can invest the time to do a proper national search to find an ideal new AD to take us to the next level. She's made it clear she has no desire to be here 5 years and a healthy compromise would be 1. And that way, she could be part of that search process and help to pass the baton to (hopefully) a great new AD that will bring enthusiasm and an enthusiastic vision that people want to be a part of.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

I'm aware of another previous candidate (with a proven track record of success) that would have taken this job in a heartbeat if offered but didn't want to be part of a search either, and the university said they wouldn't do that because they were required to do a formal search process.

I agree with @ISUBird, I want someone that comes in wanting to be here and plant their stake in the ground to make a long term impact. That's the type of leader we need in the athletic department right now.

Her quote "I only want to do this for a few more years. I don't see myself here five years" feels completely out of alignment with what I want in a leader and would have a negative impact on the department.

On the other hand, I don't like how this seems to be putting public pressure on the university to make a decision quickly. If she felt that way, she could have communicated this in private through the university decision makers and then the only time to come out in public is after a decision has been made. Doing it this way feels to me like a way to strategically put pressure on the university to keep her under the terms she wants. That's just my take.

IF she were to stay, I wouldn't want it to be for more than 1 year and during that year, we can invest the time to do a proper national search to find an ideal new AD to take us to the next level. She's made it clear she has no desire to be here 5 years and a healthy compromise would be 1. And that way, she could be part of that search process and help to pass the baton to (hopefully) a great new AD that will bring enthusiasm and an enthusiastic vision that people want to be a part of.

Would Dr. Zenger be willing to participate in a search committee in addition to his IWU duties? Lots of executives serve on other companies’ boards, so maybe it’s not a ridiculous idea.

After national search firms landed us Flanagan and Kinsey, color me unimpressed with their work to date. Ideally we’d have someone guiding the search who understands ISU and what we need from an AD.

 

[DougSutton]

Would Dr. Zenger be willing to participate in a search committee in addition to his IWU duties? Lots of executives serve on other companies’ boards, so maybe it’s not a ridiculous idea.

After national search firms landed us Flanagan and Kinsey, color me unimpressed with their work to date. Ideally we’d have someone guiding the search who understands ISU and what we need from an AD.

Zero chance he would participate in a national search committee in the public and go through the process of being a finalist for a new role. When he took the IWU job, he wasn't part of an IWU public national search either. IWU kept things private, did their search and made their hire. I believe now, Dr Zenger is going to be very happy at IWU and is embracing his role there. Even if ISU was in a position today to make a hire without a national search, I do not believe he would consider leaving IWU in the role he's in. He now lives in the community he's loved for a long time and with all of the shifts in college athletics over the last few years, any AD at a school like Illinois State is on unstable ground.

Now, IF over the last few AD hires (including the interim), Illinois State would have been willing to make a hire without a national search, like Dr Beggs appears to be giving Illinois State an ultimatum to do, I'll just say I have a strong belief that Dr Zenger would be our AD today and our department and university would be better off as a result (especially if you consider all that's happened over the last few hires). Personally, I would be upset if Illinois State gave Dr Beggs what she appears to be asking for (her terms to stay as long as she wants, but not for 5 years), without a national search, when the administration wouldn't do this before.

At this point, the best option from my perspective would be to do a private national search right now to see what candidates are available today and if we don't find an ideal candidate, sign Dr Beggs to a 1 year deal and take our time to vet out and find the ideal candidate through a national search. It's possible there could be an ideal candidate out there but we would have to act fast with due diligence as we can't afford to make another bad hire.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

Zero chance he would participate in a national search committee in the public and go through the process of being a finalist for a new role. When he took the IWU job, he wasn't part of an IWU public national search either. IWU kept things private, did their search and made their hire. I believe now, Dr Zenger is going to be very happy at IWU and is embracing his role there. Even if ISU was in a position today to make a hire without a national search, I do not believe he would consider leaving IWU in the role he's in. He now lives in the community he's loved for a long time and with all of the shifts in college athletics over the last few years, any AD at a school like Illinois State is on unstable ground.

Now, IF over the last few AD hires (including the interim), Illinois State would have been willing to make a hire without a national search, like Dr Beggs appears to be giving Illinois State an ultimatum to do, I'll just say I have a strong belief that Dr Zenger would be our AD today and our department and university would be better off as a result (especially if you consider all that's happened over the last few hires). Personally, I would be upset if Illinois State gave Dr Beggs what she appears to be asking for (her terms to stay as long as she wants, but not for 5 years), without a national search, when the administration wouldn't do this before.

At this point, the best option from my perspective would be to do a private national search right now to see what candidates are available today and if we don't find an ideal candidate, sign Dr Beggs to a 1 year deal and take our time to vet out and find the ideal candidate through a national search. It's possible there could be an ideal candidate out there but we would have to act fast with due diligence as we can't afford to make another bad hire.

I’m not putting Dr. Zenger up for the AD job he once held; rather, I suggest who better to help guide - or at least participate in - the search to find the next stellar Redbird AD?

 

[DougSutton]

I’m not putting Dr. Zenger up for the AD job he once held; rather, I suggest who better to help guide - or at least participate in - the search to find the next stellar Redbird AD?

Got it, I misunderstood your comment. Although I stand by what I shared. I do believe Dr Zenger has built a lot of relationships over the years and has his finger on the metaphorical pulse and wouldn't be surprised if he's put feelers out through his network through backchannels. That's pure speculation on my part but I do believe he would help to a certain degree as long as it wouldn't take too much of his time and energy. I don't believe he'd invest a deeper amount of time and energy though.

 

[Seven]

Beggs’ reasons for not wanting to be part of a search and not wanting to do 5 more years are perfectly valid. She had already put in for retirement, and she doesn’t want to end a long ISU career that she treasures on a sour note.

I think she shows a ton of integrity by being honest and up front with both ISU and the public, especially in an industry full of snake oil salesmen. Hopefully they can work a deal where she stays this upcoming year and helps the new president with the search process.

Beggs said she is interested in continuing to work at ISU, though she had put in for retirement as a professor before she was asked to take the temporary post in the Athletics Department. Beggs, speaking on WGLT's Sound Ideas, said she will not be part of a search process for a new AD if the university goes in that direction.

“A couple of reasons. One is that I only want to do this for a few more years,” said Beggs. “I don't see myself here five years from now or 10 years from now. When you apply for a job, you really should have some plans for longevity. And that's not what I'm interested in right now.”

Beggs also said another reason to decline to be part of a search is that she's had a good career at ISU and would not want to end it on a sour note if she were not selected.