SMU focusing on four AD candidates

[Cheesesteak]

Sources: SMU focusing on four AD candidates

Monday, March 20, 2006
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News

SMU officials are centering on several candidates for its athletic directors job.

The position becomes vacant on May 31 when Jim Copeland retires.

SMU is looking at Rick Dickson of Tulane, Rick Hartzell from Northern Iowa, Chet Gladchuk from Navy and Gary Barta of Wyoming according to sources.

Tulane officials confirmed Monday that SMU president Gerald Turner spoke with Tulane president Scott Cowen about Dickson.

The two presidents are close friends and served on various NCAA committees.

“We are aware that SMU has spoken to Rick Dickson,” Tulane spokesperson Michael Strecker said.

SMU officials were also interested in Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart. But Barnhart said through a spokesperson he wasn’t interested in the position.

Earlier this month, during the Conference USA men’s basketball tournament in Memphis, Turner said he’s pleased with the progress of the search.

“We have a number of people interested,” Turner said. “We’re very encouraged by it, and we have some very good candidates. All things being equal, you sort of target a sitting AD.”

Turner is also leaning toward finding an athletic director from one of the power conferences.

Tom Barry, the chairman of SMU’s search committee, said he’s not sure when they will meet but was hopeful it would be soon.

[PK]

"Turner is also leaning toward finding an athletic director from one of the power conferences." This would indicate we may have a ways to go yet...right?

[RGV Pony]

Sources: SMU focusing on four AD candidates


Turner is also leaning toward finding an athletic director from one of the power conferences.

.

Doesn't that pretty much rule out any of the four guys about whom the article is written?

[crazy horse]

I had not heard Chet Gladchuk's name before. Here is his bio from Navy's site:

http://navysports.collegesports.com/gen ... het00.html

Opinions?

[Water Pony]

Sorry to hear Scott Secules isn't in the running/

As for Chuck Gladchuk, he was just named AD of the Year while at Navy. As I recalled, he has been at U. of Houston before that. Quality guy, who has been strong in FB and non-revenue sports, as well. Perhaps, he can find a way to bring lacrosse to Dallas.

Having said that, I think the Navy job is one of the best in the country, especially as an independent.

[SMU Football Blog]

Sources: SMU focusing on four AD candidates


Turner is also leaning toward finding an athletic director from one of the power conferences.

Doesn't that pretty much rule out any of the four guys about whom the article is written?

On the blog, I wrote I would talk later about "Turner Quote Weirdness" and this is what I meant. Every time Turner is quoted, there is something odd about it. Basically, I don't think he knows what a power conference is. The candidates come from C-USA, Mountain West, Independent and Missouri Valley. Obviously, those four are not "power conferences," though you could make a weak case for Missouri Valley in basketball in 2006.

My guess is he means I-A as a conference.

[Hoop Fan]

yep, weird quote. I'm actually surprised we have that much interest from sitting ADs. Especially Gladchuk at Navy, unless he wants to get back to texas, that seems like a lateral move.

[Stallion]

well if you read the bio on Gladchuk it mentioned he was AD at Boston College for 7 years-perhaps that is what he means.

[Buckethead]

Mitch Barnhart was at SMU in the early 80's.Use to work in the Mustang Club. Bob Hitch was the AD at the time. Left I think a year before we got the DP. Went to Tennessee for about 12 years, was the number two guy there. Left and beame the AD at Oregon State before going to Kentucky. Good guy wish he would come back. Can't blame him for not wanting to.

[EastStang]

Gladchuk would be a great hire because he is accustomed to trying to blend sports and high academic standards at Navy. He knows how to build a football schedule. Navy basketball is nothing to write home about, and that would be a negative on his resume, but height restrictions (you don't get many centers who grow six inches their freshman year), and pro calibre players don't like the six year military committment.

[SMU Football Blog]

I now have something up on all candidates. I admit I have next to nothing on Barta, but he does not have much of a record compared to the other three. Not saying he's a bad hire, just saying the guy doesn't have much experience.

But you have to admit, if somebody had said these were the four finalists the day after Copeland quit, most would have laughed. These are quality candidates and better than I expected.

[MrMustang1965]

...and pro calibre players don't like the six year military committment.

...unless you're David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs.

[MrMustang1965]

from the Lexington Herald-Leader:

University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart has no interest in the athletics director position at Southern Methodist University, an assistant said yesterday.

A report in the Dallas Morning News had Barnhart's name on a list of potential candidates to succeed Jim Copeland, who announced his retirement in February, effective May 31. Barnhart served as assistant executive director of SMU's Mustang Club from 1983-86.

Barnhart was in Chicago yesterday to watch the UK women's basketball team's NCAA Tournament game against Michigan State and wasn't immediately available for comment, but UK Assistant Athletics Director Scott Stricklin said he talked with Barnhart yesterday and Barnhart said "he had no interest in SMU and had no intentions of leaving the University of Kentucky for any job."

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sp ... 148106.htm

[SMU Football Blog]

Navy's Gladchuk hasn't been at Boston College in almost 10 years and both the football coach and basketball coach that he hired are still there. Al Skinner's basketball team is in the sweet 16 and Tom O'Brien's football team has been to seven straight bowl games. That is impressive.

[giacfsp]

Dickson, Hartzell and Gladchuck all sound like they have some attributes that make them attractive candidates. Don't know anything about the Wyoming guy. But here's his UW bio:






Gary Barta

Position:
Director of Athletics

It doesn't take long to get to know Gary Barta, and once you've met him, you'd swear you've known him for years. He makes you feel comfortable.

It doesn't take long to understand his passion for intercollegiate athletics, either. He'll get you fired up about the University of Wyoming.

There's his enthusiasm, friendly smile, and his ability to make you feel special. But more importantly, there's his commitment; his commitment to what is right with collegiate athletics; his commitment to the student-athlete; his commitment to the fan base that so loyally supports the program. He is as genuine as a Wyoming sunset.

On Sept. 15, 2003, former UW President Philip L. Dubois selected Barta as the school's seventh athletics director, to navigate Wyoming's intercollegiate athletics department through one of its most exciting and critical periods in history.

What has been accomplished since Barta's arrival is amazing. Wyoming's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is as healthy as it has been in decades.

Dubois' selection could not have been more right for Wyoming. "Gary is a leader," Dubois said. "He has the experience, the energy, and the personality to help move the University of Wyoming's Intercollegiate Athletics Program to the level of excellence we want for all of our university programs. He is not just the right guy, but he comes from the right kind of place. Coming from the PAC-10 (Washington), a BCS conference with a storied tradition of excellence, Gary knows what a first-class athletic program looks like, and he knows how to get us there."

Thanks to Barta, Wyoming is well on its way to getting there.

Not only are Wyoming's athletic programs enjoying more success, across the board, than they have in years, but the plan to address facility needs is well underway. In Barta's first two years, six Wyoming coaches have received Coach of the Year honors from the Mountain West Conference. Wyoming swimming produced an Olympian (Scott Usher), and Cowgirl track had a national champion (Shauna Smith). Eleven of Wyoming's programs earned grade-point averages of 3.0 or better following the spring semester. Cowboy offensive center Trenton Franz was selected as an Academic All-American, and earned an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship.

Dubois felt strongly that Barta was the man to assist him in securing funding for the Strategic Plan for Intercollegiate Athletics . The plan was approved by the university trustees in September of 2003 to position UW for success as a member of the NCAA Division I-A Mountain West Conference. A key element of the plan was to address critical facility needs to strengthen the recruitment of student-athletes and coaches, and to enhance the fan experience at War Memorial Stadium.

In 15 months, Barta has been instrumental in securing $20 million for facility renovation. In March of 2004, the Wyoming State Legislature approved a $10 million matching fund. By June of 2005, the $10 million was raised, and the matching fund exhausted. The campaign included a $5 million gift from Casper entrepreneurs John and Mari Ann Martin and Mick and Susie McMurry and their families, matched by the state for a total of $10 million.

Facility needs addressed in the plan included: repairing the structure of War Memorial Stadium (upper West stands completed in summer of 2004); replacing the playing surface at the stadium, which has been named "Jonah Field" in recognition of the McMurry-Martin gift (completed in August of 2005); building of an indoor practice facility primarily for football and women's soccer, but ultimately benefitting all 17 sports at UW; enhancing the stadium with improved restroom and concession facilities, as well as donor suites; improving women's tennis facilities; and installing an all-weather track (funded through a gift of the Louis Madrid estate and contributions from families and fans honoring the eight UW cross country student-athletes killed in a 2001 car accident).

Barta is extremely impressed with UW's Strategic Plan, and he is equally impressed with the amount of progress made in such a short period of time.

"The plan does a great job of laying the ground work for Wyoming's future success," he says. "It is visionary, and yet practical. However, great vision without resources is irrelevant. I'm thrilled and grateful we've been able to accomplish both.. It has taken a lot of hard work by a lot of people, and tremendous generosity by many wonderful supporters, but I'm happy to say the Athletic Plan is well on its way. The buy-in, and the commitment to Cowgirl and Cowboy athletics is amazing.

"There is a great history and tradition with this athletics program. There is a marvelous love affair between this wonderful state, and its athletic programs. The momentum of the Strategic Plan has UW athletics back on a successful track, the kind of success that has built the tremendous tradition that is Wyoming. Those, who call themselves Cowboy fans, have done their part to make it happen. We're not done by any means, raising funds necessary to be successful is a constant. But the progress made has been very impressive."

Barta is a 41-year-old (Sept. 4, 1963) native of Minneapolis, Minn. Prior to coming to Wyoming, he served as the University of Washington's Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations and Sports Programs from 1996-2003. In that position, he was responsible for raising more than $100 million in private and corporate funds for capital improvements. He also was responsible for generating revenue to fund Washington's $40 million annual intercollegiate athletics budget. While at Washington, Barta was directly involved in a variety of duties including: hiring of coaches and administrative staff; coordinating the schedule for men's basketball; initiating and managing sponsorship relationships and negotiating radio network contracts.

Upon his arrival at Washington, he directed its "Campaign for the Student-Athlete" which included a $100 million upgrade of five athletics facilities. Barta was a central participant in the design and construction of those facilities, including the $44 million renovation of the Bank of America Arena and a $30 million renovation of the Dempsey Indoor Practice Facility. During his tenure, annual private support increased from $6.9 million per year to $15.8 million.

The Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion opened to rave reviews in November of 2000, and was the first building to be completed. In September of 2001, construction was completed on Dempsey Indoor, a 100,000 square-foot multipurpose practice facility that provided critical training space for Washington's 650 student-athletes. The final three buildings were in the design and planning stages when Barta left for Wyoming.

In addition to management of all external relations including fund-raising, marketing and ticketing programs, Barta assisted coaches and student-athletes in Washington's 23 sports to achieve a high level of success on and off the field. In his final year in Seattle (2002-03), 21 of the 23 Husky sports programs participated in postseason play, and the average grade-point average for the 23 teams was 3.0.

Barta was a member of the cabinet for the University's Vice President of Development. He directed the Washington athletics department strategic planning process, and was directly involved with Washington's Athletics Director in searching for and hiring head football and men's basketball coaches.

He has been an active participant in the National Association for Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), and served as vice president on the Executive Board for the National Association for Athletic Development Directors (NAADD).

Barta earned his bachelor of science degree in mass communication and broadcast journalism from North Dakota State University in 1987. He was an option quarterback for the Bison football squad that won the Division II NCAA National Championships in 1983, 1985 and 1986. He returned to NDSU to begin his career in 1988 as an associate director of development and later director of development. While at his alma mater, Barta assisted in the completion of a $15 million capital campaign, and served on a task force that helped raise funds for the 20,000-seat Fargo Dome on campus. He remained there through 1990. During that same time, he also was a sportscaster for WDAY radio and television in Fargo, N.D.

From 1990 through 1996, Barta served as Director of Athletics Development and External Relations at the Unversity of Northern Iowa. There he managed all fund-raising, marketing and promotions, and media relations activities for the school's 17-sport program.

Barta and his wife, Connie, have a son, Luke (7) and a daughter, Madison (5).