Leath leaves ISU for Auburn president job

[Dandy]

He took the job, but let's be honest, the media drug him through the mud basically asking him to take his first available job with the whole plane thing....

He terk der jerb.

 

[Clonefan32]

See yah. Between the Bubu thing and the plane, he can go as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Cycsk]

Everyone wishing Leath gone needs to awfully careful what they wish for.

I am not a Leath proponent by any means. My wife works on campus and he definitely has a negative reputation with the mid level employees/faculty. Generally he has been very good for the university during a historic time of growth. In many respects he stepped aside and let growth happen instead of "shaping" it and screwing up progress in the process.

With all the negative pub due to the plane scandal, hiring politicians for high level positions without proper vetting and rastetter land deals, there was little doubt he is looking to move on. And maybe it is time, but i'd take another Leath as his replacement. He's been a huge friend of the athletic department (bubu palo situation notwithstanding, but really what was he supposed to do? make a wrong move there and you're accused of being a mini baylor fast).

Historically ISU presidents have not put the emphasis on athletics. Geoffrey was good for athletics and Leath continued letting Jamie do his thing. This is the exception, not the rule in ISU history and has led to many decades of futility.

Keep in mind the replacement is selected by a board who's members are appointed by Brandstad, a graduate of Iowa and in the past has not been an ISU first kinda guy (more like Iowa first and just make sure they're #1 in this state)

Whomever is the hire will have a lot on there plate.

I pretty much agree with everything in this post.

 

[Bader]

Dear god don't hire another Martin Jischke

 

[Cycsk]

Darn. If only we had beaten Purdue!

 

[CycloneErik]

Will they meet him at the airport?

 

[Cyclonepride]

Hope to go they bring in someone who wants to continue to build up the university and the sports programs. We are looking at a pretty uncertain future, and without a President who sees the importance of Athletics we could be in trouble.

Fred for President?

 

[Tornado man]

Senior VP/Provost Jonathan Wickert will undoubtedly succeed him - he will be a university president somewhere and this is made to order for him - and will do a tremendous job.

 

[wxman1]

Did he fly to his own interview?

Still no idea how he managed to screw up the flap that badly without hitting anything else.

 

[cycopath25]

The Mayor for President

 

[Tre4ISU]

The next thing you guys are going to tell me is that Miles Bridges is transferring to ISU. Thanks Auburn! Keep pace MSU!

 

[CtownCyclone]

The Mayor for President

First act as ISU President: changing title to Mayor of ISU. Can even keep his Twitter handle.

 

[DSM4Cy]

He's a "good ol' boys club" kind of guy. That might be a fit in Alabama, not as much in Iowa. I won't miss him. Unfortunately, the BoR gives me little confidence - although it seems they did a good job with the UNI search. It could get worse. So I can't say whether I'm happy or not.

 

[DSM4Cy]

Senior VP/Provost Jonathan Wickert will undoubtedly succeed him - he will be a university president somewhere and this is made to order for him - and will do a tremendous job.

IDK much about him. Why would he be a good choice?

 

[cyIclSoneU]

I think Wickert will be a serious contender at least for the job. He is a thoughtful person who would lead Iowa State well. In an age where Bruce Harreld can get a president job we should hope for someone like Wickert.

 

[jbhtexas]

Senior VP/Provost Jonathan Wickert will undoubtedly succeed him - he will be a university president somewhere and this is made to order for him - and will do a tremendous job.

How does he stand on the Bubu issue and the cancellation of the spring drinking/rioting holiday?

 

[Mr Janny]

He's a "good ol' boys club" kind of guy. That might be a fit in Alabama, not as much in Iowa. I won't miss him. Unfortunately, the BoR gives me little confidence - although it seems they did a good job with the UNI search. It could get worse. So I can't say whether I'm happy or not.

I was just talking about this with my father in law, last night. How, in the past, the public never likely would have known about the plane incident. The "perks" of the job would probably just be understood. And maybe at Auburn, that's still the way it works. But things have changed, at least they have here. Any perceived impropriety is going to be noted, and people will seize on it. It's bad optics all around, and that matters nowadays.

 

[Tornado man]

IDK much about him. Why would he be a good choice?

Tremendous academic credentials (he was dean of the engineering college prior to provost), very well respected among faculty, very ambitious in furthering Iowa State University, engaging and charming while still being intense and hard-working. A Cyclone thru and thru also. Sports fan. Very good road race runner for his age group.
His goal is to be a large research university president. ISU will not want to lose him.

 

[CyArob]

Wickert would be a great pick.

 

[DSM4Cy]

Tremendous academic credentials (he was dean of the engineering college prior to provost), very well respected among faculty, very ambitious in furthering Iowa State University, engaging and charming while still being intense and hard-working. A Cyclone thru and thru also. Sports fan. Very good road race runner for his age group.
His goal is to be a large research university president. ISU will not want to lose him.

I knew about his past in the College of Engineering, but not the more personal info. Color me interested in hearing from him - at the least, I hope he's a finalist so we get to hear his vision. I'd guess he will be interim, no doubt.