Topic: O'Malley and the AD

[svherd]

There are several here that have advocated for Jeff to get the full time gig as our AD. I don't know the man, any time I have seen him he seems like a good guy. That said, I'd like to get posters thoughts on why O'Malley should be given the job. How would he lead our AD/School to better days? And if he isn't chosen as the AD, would you no longer support Marshall athletics.

[BerkshireHerdFan]

He a  super smart guy with a law degree. He has been around long enough to know what works here and what does not but has never had enough power to actually change much.

[svherd]

He a  super smart guy with a law degree. He has been around long enough to know what works here and what does not but has never had enough power to actually change much.

Being around here is a double edged sword. So any ideas he had, if that innovative and good, were not implemented because KO or Hamrick wouldn't get the credit? So he has stayed arund here for many years even though his thoughts and ideas weren't valued? That would be hard to believe.

[whf]

I'll bite...

Of course I'll support MU Athletics if he doesn't get the job.

Why I'd like for him to get the job?
1.  Continuity; many will downplay this, but we have a lot in the pipeline.  We need to do all we can from starting all over on many subjects. Too much change isn't as good as some would hope, new president, new coach(es),
2.  Personality, he isn't off-putting, nor is he overly personable and out-going.  He speaks with emotion and thought, not a salesman overselling...
3. Knowledge, he knows college athletics and he knows the G5 level athletic process; has some identification across the country with his "rules" work
4. He isn't a historical MU guy, I like that right now.
5. Finally, he's very common, anyone who wears sneaks with slacks and a blazer is OK with me (hehe)

[whf]

Being around here is a double edged sword. So any ideas he had, if that innovative and good, were not implemented because KO or Hamrick wouldn't get the credit? So he has stayed arund here for many years even though his thoughts and ideas weren't valued? That would be hard to believe.

Who said nothing that was his idea wasn't done?  It wasn't his job to be the spokesman for the department, now he is. How is he doing now?  Most organizations ideas don't come from the organization chart leader, and i doubt that has been the case at MU under Hamrick either.

[herdfan129]

He's earned the opportunity and he's shown me this last season that he was willing to try new things in terms of fan promotions etc.

[BerkshireHerdFan]

Being around here is a double edged sword. So any ideas he had, if that innovative and good, were not implemented because KO or Hamrick wouldn't get the credit? So he has stayed arund here for many years even though his thoughts and ideas weren't valued? That would be hard to believe.

Just the way he spoke about the SBC move during the press conference   tells you how he is different.  Had we ever herd Hamrick acknowledge the fans concerns about tv?

I worked with Jeff when I was a student manger with FB  in 2001-2004 and had nothing but the greatest respect for him, especially the way he treated me and the other managers and trainers and support staff. Now Marcum on the other hand.......

[svherd]

Who said nothing that was his idea wasn't done?  It wasn't his job to be the spokesman for the department, now he is. How is he doing now?  Most organizations ideas don't come from the organization chart leader, and i doubt that has been the case at MU under Hamrick either.

Agree, but a good leader listens to his team. And if an idea is brought to the table from someone below him, he listens, get's more information and discusses with the team. Surely Hamrick wasn't on such an ego trip that he dismissed every thought or idea brought to him? If that is the case, that's terrible leadership, and does no good for Marshall.

[MUonium]

i would never stop my lifetime enthusiasm for Marshall and athletics in general, for any reason .  That said, i agree that some continuity/solid background and knowledge through all these recent and upcoming changes is important.  therefore, i'd be 100% behind hiring him as AD. 

i don't have a clue as to what his contract terms, both in years and potential financial impact would be- but the kicker is, if things don't go well within a couple, three years, the Board and President should not wait to let him go, just like coaches. 

i used to be a fiscally responsible person, but the current state of affairs in the NCAA/college athletics/NIL world has changed me.  perhaps it is a sellout, but i am now leaning towards the camp that believes it may be wiser to take chances financially and/or to solicit private $/sponsorships, at least to the extent that MU is able to leverage credits/sponsorships because the rewards may outweigh all. 

[Flat Tire 2]

He is obviously smart since he is a Miami of Ohio grad. He has a law degree from the U of Dayton. I read his bio and I didn't realize he has worked as a college basketball official for 24 years. He is also the NCAA's Secretary-Rules Editor for Men's Basketball which is nice on his resume. He hasn't been in charge of MU athletic Department so he hasn't been able to demonstrate his complete abilities. I think he would be a good hire. He would know the "politics" of MU and the job.

There was a period when he had a couple of very good athletic Directors at MU. Lynn Snyder and Dave Braine come to mind. Both moved on to larger schools, Oregon State and VA Tech. It is similar to having good coaches, bigger programs will come calling if they do a great job.

By the way, I didn't realize Lynn had retired to Huntington before he died.
http://klingel.tributes.com/dignitymemorial/obituary/Lynn-J.-Snyder-104785947

[IM4DHERD]

Buddy of mine refereed with him for years and they remain good friends.  Says O'Malley told him part of the deal to take the interim role was that if he wasn't chosen for the full-time role, he does a have a place at Marshall.

[wlf]

He?s an excellent ambassador. I don?t know his resume, but I?ve been impressed by his personality and his attitude towards family.  A lot of positives have happened in his brief interim.

[svherd]

Buddy of mine refereed with him for years and they remain good friends.  Says O'Malley told him part of the deal to take the interim role was that if he wasn't chosen for the full-time role, he does a have a place at Marshall.

That's a great win - win for Marshall. We can certainly use his experience and knowledge of the school. Whoever gets the job will have a tall task in front of them. Keep our coaches here, keep facilities in good shape, grow the fan/donor base, fundraise like crazy, and make the game day experience one that makes people want to come back - win or lose.

[Always THE HERD]

He is obviously smart since he is a Miami of Ohio grad. He has a law degree from the U of Dayton. I read his bio and I didn't realize he has worked as a college basketball official for 24 years. He is also the NCAA's Secretary-Rules Editor for Men's Basketball which is nice on his resume. He hasn't been in charge of MU athletic Department so he hasn't been able to demonstrate his complete abilities. I think he would be a good hire. He would know the "politics" of MU and the job.

There was a period when he had a couple of very good athletic Directors at MU. Lynn Snyder and Dave Braine come to mind. Both moved on to larger schools, Oregon State and VA Tech. It is similar to having good coaches, bigger programs will come calling if they do a great job.

By the way, I didn't realize Lynn had retired to Huntington before he died.
http://klingel.tributes.com/dignitymemorial/obituary/Lynn-J.-Snyder-104785947

~
Quite impressive that he would come back to Huntington for retirement even though he was only here maybe 5-6 years and in other places quite longer.

[MUther]

I'll bite...

Of course I'll support MU Athletics if he doesn't get the job.

Why I'd like for him to get the job?
1.  Continuity; many will downplay this, but we have a lot in the pipeline.  We need to do all we can from starting all over on many subjects. Too much change isn't as good as some would hope, new president, new coach(es),
2.  Personality, he isn't off-putting, nor is he overly personable and out-going.  He speaks with emotion and thought, not a salesman overselling...
3. Knowledge, he knows college athletics and he knows the G5 level athletic process; has some identification across the country with his "rules" work
4. He isn't a historical MU guy, I like that right now.
5. Finally, he's very common, anyone who wears sneaks with slacks and a blazer is OK with me (hehe)

I never feel like there's too much change when something is as deep in a hole as we are/were as an athletic department.  I have no problem with O'Malley staying as AD or in some other role, but I have no problem with scorched earth policy either.  Burn it down and start over.  Post-COVID is a good time to reset.  Post-NIL decision and open transfer portal is also a good time to reset.  That doesn't mean O'Malley can't be part of that reset, but he better have strategies for dealing with those three things to get fans back and wins back and championships back.  If we can't get those things back, what the heck are we doing, here?