David Harris-New UNI AD

[jsb]

Outside of one crack pot state senator from Western Iowa, who has ever proposed this? We play guarantee games, at a reduced rate, in football and have given up asking either school to come play us in Cedar Falls in Men's Basketball. UNI uses .0006% of the state budget to fund athletics, far lower than any other peer institution.

Let's all hope that David Harris is really successful at UNI, both for him and his career and for UNI Athletics to continue to take less General Fund money. Its a win/win for everyone.

From those that know the athletic administration at Iowa State a bit better, how active is he in fundraising? We're told he's a fantastic administrator but the fundraising experience is a bit lacking? It this accurate?

i think you guys are right that fundraising hadnt been his role.

But he has been around it. Iowa state has had to do a lot of fundraising. I'm sure he has been involved.

I was was reading on your board that UNI doesn't have any dedicated fundraisers? Is that correct? If so, the greatest fundraiser in the world isn't going to help.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

i think you guys are right that fundraising hadnt been his role.

But he has been around it. Iowa state has had to do a lot of fundraising. I'm sure he has been involved.

I was was reading on your board that UNI doesn't have any dedicated fundraisers? Is that correct? If so, the greatest fundraiser in the world isn't going to help.

Somewhat true. We have an Deputy AD in charge of fundraising and the Panther Scholarship Club, his role is with big donors. There's also a director of the PSC and a single employee along with some interns. This is something that Dannen was unwilling to address and something that should be a new focus in coming budgets. You can't make money without spending money in those areas.

We also have a President that finds anything less than championships unacceptable, but is totally unwilling to help with fundraising for athletics and directing resources to athletics. He's a real piece of work.

 

[cyhiphopp]

Outside of one crack pot state senator from Western Iowa, who has ever proposed this? We play guarantee games, at a reduced rate, in football and have given up asking either school to come play us in Cedar Falls in Men's Basketball. UNI uses .0006% of the state budget to fund athletics, far lower than any other peer institution.

Let's all hope that David Harris is really successful at UNI, both for him and his career and for UNI Athletics to continue to take less General Fund money. Its a win/win for everyone.

From those that know the athletic administration at Iowa State a bit better, how active is he in fundraising? We're told he's a fantastic administrator but the fundraising experience is a bit lacking? It this accurate?

I've heard it a few times before the senator brought it up. Hopefully it never reaches fruition.

I think Harris will do well, but I don't know how the FCS as a whole will hold up in the future.

 

[JP4CY]

Very solid hire by UNI. I still think now that Jamie's kids are basically out of the house and James is out of a lot of the care he received as a boy at Blanks that it opens up a possible door at Wisconsin. Alvarez has to be retirement age.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I've heard it a few times before the senator brought it up. Hopefully it never reaches fruition.

I think Harris will do well, but I don't know how the FCS as a whole will hold up in the future.

Agreed, the FCS as we now know it won't be around a decade from now. The top tier (NDSU, UNI, Montana, and about 12 other schools) will more or less merge with the Group of 5 and that level will either have regional bowl games or a playoff of their own. The Power Five will split away to basically their own league where the top 8 will have a playoff and then everybody else will play in a year end bowl game ($$). The rest of what is currently the FCS will further cut scholarship limits, outlaw Full Cost of Attendance, and more or less become present day D2.

 

[HandSanitizer]

man.....that sucks. we will probably get beat by UNI all the time now.
Oh Wait...

Congrats though. good hire.



ps...as an AD. if i was doing contracts. I would draw something up that stated if you lose to an FCS school in football as a P5, you get a pay cut and wear the cone of shame during the applebees coaches show. But that is just me. I am *****.

 

[Cycsk]

David Harris press conference on right now. He is hitting a home run in his opening speech at UNI.

http://www.kwwl.com/Global/category.asp?c=195327

 

[Cycsk]

Now I'm really bummed about losing him . . . though it was inevitable because he said JP was preparing him to be an AD.

 

[ClivePurple]

David Harris has learned from one of the best at getting money out of athletics.

But...UNI fans are going to have to do their part. From my experience UNI fans tend to think that the athletic department is there to serve them. They are going to have to commit financially in order to sustain their success in football and in basketball.

My parents get UNI season basketball tickets. Not because they are huge UNI fans, but because the tickets are cheap. A program with the success of UNI basketball should have waiting lists for season tickets.

Correct on all counts. Gotta step up fan financial support big time.

 

[ClivePurple]

Hopefully with his ISU roots he won't expect Iowa and ISU to fund UNIs entire athletic department

Actually it's the opposite. UNI helps ISU's bottom line by providing cheap payouts while delivering Power 5 results. You have to pay Oklahoma 5 times the money to beat you in football and basketball than you do UNI.

 

[Cycsk]

I think UNI got a great AD. I'm guessing that he has his eyes on a Power 5 AD position, but it will mean that he really has to do well at UNI. Win/win.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

From what I've been told, he was very upfront in his interview that he wants to be an SEC or Big 12 AD someday. His goal is to continue to have on field success and get the Dome Renovation and Basketball Practice Facility done and move on in 5-8 years.

He's going to do great things at UNI and in the future, wherever he ends up!

 

[Cycsk]

From what I've been told, he was very upfront in his interview that he wants to be an SEC or Big 12 AD someday. His goal is to continue to have on field success and get the Dome Renovation and Basketball Practice Facility done and move on in 5-8 years.

He's going to do great things at UNI and in the future, wherever he ends up!

Pollard was at the press conference in Cedar Falls yesterday. Harris spoke glowingly about how Pollard has prepared him to be an AD. You have to think that Pollard has positioned himself pretty well for hiring the next "up and comer."

 

[Cycsk]

Somewhat related. Did anybody see the BTN feature on Gene Smith? He talks about how he was the token black candidate for lots of openings and thought Iowa State was going to be just another until he was hired. He talks about how folks at Iowa State only cared about the quality of your work, not the color of your skin. He made us look pretty good in the piece.

Interesting that it aired on the same day as Harris being announced as UNI AD.

 

[Bobber]

Thought it was pretty classy for JP to show up at the news conference with a purple tie in a show of support.

 

[Bobber]

Somewhat related. Did anybody see the BTN feature on Gene Smith? He talks about how he was the token black candidate for lots of openings and thought Iowa State was going to be just another until he was hired. He talks about how folks at Iowa State only cared about the quality of your work, not the color of your skin. He made us look pretty good in the piece.

Interesting that it aired on the same day as Harris being announced as UNI AD.

I have always thought a lot of Gene. He might not have been as good with the books, but was always approachable and he made some great hires.

 

[Cycsk]

Thought it was pretty classy for JP to show up at the news conference with a purple tie in a show of support.

Didn't notice that. Nice touch.

 

[ClivePurple]

I think UNI got a great AD. I'm guessing that he has his eyes on a Power 5 AD position, but it will mean that he really has to do well at UNI. Win/win.

Totally agree. Great hire. Wonderful gesture for Pollard and 4 of his senior staff to attend the presser in Cedar Falls. Really looking forward to meeting Mr. Harris. He appears to be really solid, experienced, and prepared.