The Search Is On...

Adunk33

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The same group has been hired that lead ISU to its latest Provost hire. Dr. Aondover Tarhule has only been with ISU a short time, but those I've spoken with are very impressed. Witt/Kieffer also assisted with UCLA's latest hire.

Let's find the person who will take ISU out of the lull its been!
 

Total Red

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Former Illinois State University AD Dr. Sheahon Zenger has been mentioned as a possible candidate. I'm not sure that all of our fans are fully aware of the web of connections between Dr. Zenger and our Head FB Coach Brock Spack. I just recently connected some of the dots myself and this is what I found.

2009 - Zenger hires a new Head FB Coach - Brock Spack
2011 - Zenger leaves Illinois State for the AD job at Kansas
2012 - Grad student Jonathan Mays is hired into the Athletic Dept. at Kansas. At the same time Coach Spack's daughter Alicia is working on a Masters in Sports Mgmt. at Kansas
2015 - Jonathan Mays and Alicia Spack get married
2016 - Alicia Mays hired as Director of Football Operations at Illinois State
2017 - Jonathan Mays hired as Asst. Basketball Coach at Illinois Wesleyan
2018 - Sheahon Zenger let go as Kansas AD
2019 - Sheahon Zenger hired as AD at the Univ of New Haven (CT)
2019 - Jonathan Mays hired as Assoc Director of Athletics at the Univ of New Haven. In a shocking development Alicia Mays gives up a once in a lifetime dream job with Redbird Football to be with her husband in Connecticut

The tangled web connecting Zenger-Spack-Mays is a thick one. It's almost a shame that there aren't any accusations of wrongdoing here. A murder somewhere along the line would make for a good "Dateline" investigation.
Coach Spack is not on the selection committee but he knows many of the people that are and people talk. Would Coach Spack try to influence things in favor of Dr. Zenger? Up until now I would say "no" but I left out the most important connection in the entire nexus. In 2018 Alicia Mays gave birth to a baby girl, "Annie". I learned from the Brock Spack Show Thursday that Coach Spack facetimes with granddaughter Annie every day. If he has practice that day he does it right before he hits the field. GAME OVER!!!
It's a given Coach Spack is pulling every string and pushing every button to get Sheahon Zenger back to Normal. If Dr. Zenger comes back then Jonathan Mays comes back. If Jonathan Mays comes back then Alicia Mays comes back. If Alicia comes back then ANNIE comes back. That's all we need to know.

Will it happen? Dr. Zenger was/is well regarded around here. That's a major plus but the atmosphere around campus has changed a lot since Sheahon was here last. He doesn't check some of the boxes the search committee will want to see checked. We can only wait for the next episode of "All My Redbirds" to see if Annie Mays will be reunited with her beloved Papa Spack.
 
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Bird Friend

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I like/liked Dr. Z. He was good for ISU. But, no. Now is not the time to go back.
 

MadBird

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Former Illinois State University AD Dr. Sheahon Zenger has been mentioned as a possible candidate. I'm not sure that all of our fans are fully aware of the web of connections between Dr. Zenger and our Head FB Coach Brock Spack. I just recently connected some of the dots myself and this is what I found.

2009 - Zenger hires a new Head FB Coach - Brock Spack
2011 - Zenger leaves Illinois State for the AD job at Kansas
2012 - Grad student Jonathan Mays is hired into the Athletic Dept. at Kansas. At the same time Coach Spack's daughter Alicia is working on a Master's in Sports Mgmt. at Kansas
2015 - Jonathan Mays and Alicia Spack get married
2016 - Alicia Mays hired as Director of Football Operations at Illinois State
2017 - Jonathan Mays hired as Asst. Basketball Coach at Illinois Wesleyan
2018 - Sheahon Zenger let go as Kansas AD
2019 - Sheahon Zenger hired as AD at the Univ of New Haven (CT)
2019 - Jonathan Mays hired as Assoc Director of Athletics at the Univ of New Haven. In a shocking development Alicia Mays gives ups a once in a lifetime dream job with Redbird Football to be with her husband in Connecticut

The tangled web connecting Zenger-Spack-Mays is a thick one. It's almost a shame that there aren't any accusations of wrongdoing here. A murder somewhere along the line would make for a good "Dateline" investigation.
Coach Spack is not on the selection committee but he knows many of the people that are and people talk. Would Coach Spack try to influence things in favor of Dr. Zenger? Up until now I would say "no" but I left out the most important connection in the entire nexus. In 2018 Alicia Mays gave birth to a baby girl, "Annie". I learned from the Brock Spack Show Thursday that Coach Spack facetimes with granddaughter Annie every day. If he has practice that day he does it right before he hits the field. GAME OVER!!!
It's a given Coach Spack is pulling every string and pushing every button to get Sheahon Zenger back to Normal. If Dr. Zenger comes back then Jonathan Mays come back. If Jonathan Mays comes back then Alicia Mays comes back. If Alicia comes back then ANNIE comes back. That's all we need to know.

Will it happen? Dr. Zenger was/is well regarded around here. That's a major plus but the atmosphere around campus has changed a lot since Sheahon was here last. He doesn't check some of the boxes the search committee will want to see checked. We can only wait for the next episode of "All My Redbirds" to see if Annie Mays will be reunited with her beloved Papa Spack.

I'm worried about you TR, that is presidential campaign material!! Conspiracy theories, etc. ;)
 

StLRedbird

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The thing I liked most about Zenger was that he had a clear vision for ISU and wasn't afraid to try and sell you on it. The new guy doesn't have to be Zenger, but I would like someone that has a vision beyond keeping the lights on.
 

TIMMY

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Zenger is not coming back. The dude's got his dream job. I had no idea he had anything to do with American Football Monthly.:cool:

 
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Total Red

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Zenger is not coming back. The dude's got his dream job. I had no idea he had anything to do with American Football Monthly.:cool:

Riiight. I clearly remember discussing Dr. Zenger with a long-time Redbird fan around 2010. I told him that I thought that Sheahon was a good AD so he wouldn't be sticking around long. That person told me that he knew Sheahon personally and that Sheahon had been over to his house. He told me how deeply Sheahon had become involved in the B-N community and how much he wanted to raise his family here.

It wasn't long before he left for Kansas.

Standard operating procedure these days: Don't publicly acknowledge interest in another job if it could risk offending your current employer or donor base. If you get the job you can notify them from the airport on your way out of town.
 

fourthandshort

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Former Illinois State University AD Dr. Sheahon Zenger has been mentioned as a possible candidate. I'm not sure that all of our fans are fully aware of the web of connections between Dr. Zenger and our Head FB Coach Brock Spack. I just recently connected some of the dots myself and this is what I found.

2009 - Zenger hires a new Head FB Coach - Brock Spack
2011 - Zenger leaves Illinois State for the AD job at Kansas
2012 - Grad student Jonathan Mays is hired into the Athletic Dept. at Kansas. At the same time Coach Spack's daughter Alicia is working on a Masters in Sports Mgmt. at Kansas
2015 - Jonathan Mays and Alicia Spack get married
2016 - Alicia Mays hired as Director of Football Operations at Illinois State
2017 - Jonathan Mays hired as Asst. Basketball Coach at Illinois Wesleyan
2018 - Sheahon Zenger let go as Kansas AD
2019 - Sheahon Zenger hired as AD at the Univ of New Haven (CT)
2019 - Jonathan Mays hired as Assoc Director of Athletics at the Univ of New Haven. In a shocking development Alicia Mays gives up a once in a lifetime dream job with Redbird Football to be with her husband in Connecticut

The tangled web connecting Zenger-Spack-Mays-Oswald is a thick one. It's almost a shame that there aren't any accusations of wrongdoing here. A murder somewhere along the line would make for a good "Dateline" investigation.
Coach Spack is not on the selection committee but he knows many of the people that are and people talk. Would Coach Spack try to influence things in favor of Dr. Zenger? Up until now I would say "no" but I left out the most important connection in the entire nexus. In 2018 Alicia Mays gave birth to a baby girl, "Annie". I learned from the Brock Spack Show Thursday that Coach Spack facetimes with granddaughter Annie every day. If he has practice that day he does it right before he hits the field. GAME OVER!!!
It's a given Coach Spack is pulling every string and pushing every button to get Sheahon Zenger back to Normal. If Dr. Zenger comes back then Jonathan Mays comes back. If Jonathan Mays comes back then Alicia Mays comes back. If Alicia comes back then ANNIE comes back. That's all we need to know.

Will it happen? Dr. Zenger was/is well regarded around here. That's a major plus but the atmosphere around campus has changed a lot since Sheahon was here last. He doesn't check some of the boxes the search committee will want to see checked. We can only wait for the next episode of "All My Redbirds" to see if Annie Mays will be reunited with her beloved Papa Spack.
So if I read between the lines as well as I think I do ... you think Zenger shot JFK ?:unsure:
 
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Metamoron

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I have mixed thoughts on Dr Z. He always talked about the vision etc and talked a good game. Left too early to see if he could execute.

But my biggest recollection is the last discussion I had with him. One on one. We were talking basketball and it was Jank’s first or second year. We were talking about what a great job he had done making us relevant again.

He then made a comment that I will always remember, especially now about 10 years later. He talked about what a mess Wichita State’s basketball program was. Marshall has come in and the program had bottomed out. Aweful. Dr Z talked very negatively about where they were vs where we were at the time.

10 years later they have a final 4, an undefeated season, and multiple conference championships and at large selections, and a larger conference invite.

We have 1 trip to FCS football final and no NCAA tourney hoops games.
 

fourthandshort

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No, Zenger had the vision and came up with the plan for shooting JFK.
aghhh ... I'm slipping. Of course, that makes much more sense. And that's why he brought Spack in maybe ... Yes, because Spack could take us to Frisco, the perfect ruse for knocking off JFK in Dallas.

Now, all we need is proof he had access to a time machine ... because without it, there's no other way Spack could pull this off and be back in time for kickoff. This might also explain why Spack looked distracted all game, avoiding police and all ... which obviously cost us at least 7 pts and the Natty.

It all makes perfect sense now ... :rolleyes:

Denzel Washington 1 - You must be outside your mind!
 

MadBird

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I think I saw Zenger on the grassy knoll. Seriously, I would love to see him return to ISU. He had a very good record here and his experience at Kansas has to be a plus.
Two thoughts:

He's only been at New Haven for 1 year. A DII school "way out east" - he has no ties there, you would think. But, would he want to leave after a year?

Looking at his bio, surprised to see he's only 54 years old. Relatively young for an AD, I would think. Or at least, not "old". So, he wasn't quite 40 when he came to ISU. Be interesting to see him come back and pick up where he left off.
 

MadBird

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Geez, you get the idea the search committee hasn't met yet and isn't going to sit around and discuss the resumes and candidates more than just one meeting? Is that the way you interpret it? And then interview a week later and then hire someone a week or two after that? I was thinking there'd be a little more "thought" going into this, or that it might be harder to pick someone. Maybe I don't get it . . . .
 

Total Red

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Geez, you get the idea the search committee hasn't met yet and isn't going to sit around and discuss the resumes and candidates more than just one meeting? Is that the way you interpret it? And then interview a week later and then hire someone a week or two after that? I was thinking there'd be a little more "thought" going into this, or that it might be harder to pick someone. Maybe I don't get it . . . .
As I read it the university search comittee hasn't met yet but the search firm of Witt/Kieffer has already been hard at work. Witt/Keiffer supplies a list of candidates to the university search committee. Then the university committee can hit the ground running as they narrow down the list to those they want to interview.
 

StLRedbird

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I've never posted anything like this before, so am lacking in ANY street cred, but... I have it from a source close to the situation that Zenger is interested in the position. Don't have any idea if the interest is mutual. Happy Thanksgiving, all.
 

fourthandshort

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Just was reminded that New Haven is trying to go D-I and Zenger just got there a year ago. Not saying that would tie him there, but it might along with family connection and desire to maybe dial things down a bit professionally.

Buuuuutttttttt .... the ISU opening could be the one scenario he might step up for. He was here from 2005-10, before his move to Kansas. But he laid foundation for future. He hired Spack, and designed much of the stadium renovation plans. And he would probably be very welcome back by many, especially our donor and alumni basis. I just don't think Lyons inspired that group.

From everything I have heard about Zenger, this makes so much sense and he just might view this as a real good fit.
 

Bender

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This blurb from Randy's Pantagraph article linked above caught my eye about the current planning for the IPF:

“The last time I talked with Larry about this, people have been making contributions and that number is increasing in that account. That’s a good thing,” Dietz said. “But we also don’t have a particular design yet for the facility. At one time, we were talking more of a bricks and mortar facility. I think we’re going away from that to more of a dome kind of facility. That saves a considerable amount of money, and those are still very, very functional facilities.”

Dietz believes once the university is able to present a more specific plan with a cost attached, more donations will follow.
 
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