Long not Long for UA?
Posted by Brett Kincaid on October 23, 2009
Sepculation is already running rampant that UA Athletic Director is on the “short list” to be the next Athletic Director at Michigan. Long served as an associate AD in Ann Arbor before climbing the ladder to his current position. As you probably recall, Long was hired just 2 years ago after Frank Broyles retired.
2 Responses to “Long not Long for UA?”
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Swineherd said
Does anybody see Long’s leaving Arkansas as a big loss? He seems like a nice guy, an administrator perhaps, but not the kind of strong leader who can crack the whip on the egomaniacs who coach and play and support athletic programs at a high national level.
Arkansas needs stability in its athletic programs now. Unfortunately it seems that Frank Broyles did not groom his successor from within the ranks of Razorback alums. Broyles himself was too much an egomaniac to live with a strong coach who could succeed him. Broyles is an icon.
Maukavelli said
I’m not local to F’ville, anymore, so maybe I’m missing news about the upper-admins at AR. BUT, I’m a grad student in Higher Education, so I know a thing-or-two about athletic administration and related topics. I have no clue how Long is doing things, but I feel as though he’s had to A) clean up the financial mess left in the wake after Broyles left, including firing the head of the Razorback Foundation b/c it was broke, B) figure out a new way to get revenue into the program after Broyles left, taking tons of $ with him (to be expected b/c as you noted, Broyles is an icon), and C) attempt to move the athletic program into the 21st Century. Revenue is down everywhere, so that’s a struggle for everyone. I just don’t see why there’s dissension about Long after two years? If there’s news that I’ve missed, please inform me. But, to me, if Michigan is looking, he’s got to be worth it (no, I don’t always agree that b/c someone else likes your talent, it must be worth something, but I think Michigan’s got a track record of good upper-administration hires). You mentioned that we need stability. Long staying only helps that stability. What issues have there been with him not “cracking the whip on egomaniacs” have I missed? Who’s running amok at this point?
You’re correct that Broyles didn’t groom a successor. Did you expect him to, though? In today’s colleges and universities, that just doesn’t happen much anymore (if it ever truly did). Terry Don Phillips was probably the closest thing to it, but he wasn’t gonna get the job b/c his ex-wife was on the Razorback Foundation Exec Board. An “administrator” is all that is out there, anymore. Ex-coaches have long-proven themselves bad ADs. Maybe Long isn’t the guy, but what evidence suggests that after two years? I’m willing to re-consider, but I need evidence.