Purcell expresses interest in AD position

Athletics Directors19

This didn’t take long. Obviously the AD search is just getting started but you have to believe Purcell will be in the mix.

Wilmington Star-News

Bobby Purcell’s name was already being mentioned as a possible replacement for Lee Fowler even before the N.C. State athletic director announced that he was stepping down on Tuesday. Now that the job is officially open, the long-time director of the Wolfpack Club has thrown his hat into the ring as a candidate.

“I have expressed my interest to chancellor (Randy) Woodson that I am interested in the job,” Purcell said. “It’s something I’ve tried to prepare myself for my entire career and I feel like I’m ready for it. I certainly hope I get the opportunity.”

Purcell, 55, was a finalist for the job in 2000 when Fowler was hired from Middle Tennessee State.

Here’s another story from the N&O about NC State’s options. Ken Tysiac does a good job of explaining some of the choices NC State will need to make when deciding on the next AD.

Link

Athletics Directors

19 Responses to Purcell expresses interest in AD position

  1. DRW 05/07/2010 at 11:17 AM #

    As much as I like Bobby, I don’t think he should be the choice for the job. He is too good in his current position, and I think we need to hire an outsider with proven AD experience.

  2. WTNY 05/07/2010 at 11:21 AM #

    Yet Another NC State Sports Blog has a good article on the issue:

    YANCSSB: Thoughts on the AD Search, Purcell

    “As expected, Bobby Purcell—Executive Director of The Wolfpack Club—has officially thrown his name into the ring as a candidate for the N.C. State AD job. Purcell interviewed for the same position 10 years ago when Lee Fowler was hired.

    I’m conflicted on where I stand with hiring Purcell away from the WPC.”

  3. UnclePen 05/07/2010 at 11:27 AM #

    I agree with the comment on that other blog that Chuck Amato would be a good hire. If not for the AD job, he could take Bobby Purcell’s current job. Then we’d have Wolfpack interests represented from top to bottom.

  4. DRW 05/07/2010 at 11:30 AM #

    Amato would be a horrible hire. Why would you want someone who had such a high turnover rate on his staff when he was a coach?

    That’s almost as bad an idea as giving Lowe a contract extension now, as Jeff Gravely proposed in an article.

  5. packof81 05/07/2010 at 12:05 PM #

    “… I think we need to hire an outsider with proven AD experience.”

    Yeah. We gotta be careful about this choice. We need someone real good to come in and turn this thing around. Lets not be hasty.

  6. PackHooligan 05/07/2010 at 12:16 PM #

    Purcell should definitely be considered. He should be able to clearly detail his ideas for managing and improving the athletic department, since I imagine he has a very good knowledge of its inner workings. It should be easy for Woodson to see if these ideas coincide with his own.

  7. GAWolf 05/07/2010 at 1:07 PM #

    He has the support of some of our coaches as well.

  8. blackdom 05/07/2010 at 1:23 PM #

    DRW Where wa the article concerning giving Lowe an extention? The new AD does not need the support of our current coaches,he has to have free reign and hire his own people if in fact he is not happy with what he was left with.

  9. ADVENTUROO 05/07/2010 at 1:31 PM #

    OK, Guys…..put aside any preconceived notions about Bobby Purcell…and look at this from a Managerial and Career standpoint.

    Here are some salient points, as I see them….and they are based on a long, and sometimes successful career. One thing I DID learn, is that when you have aspirations to “climb” a certain mountain and you repeatedly fail or have difficulties, then you decide WHAT Mountain you are best suited for…

    OK…Here goes…

    Bobby has been VERY successful in the WPC. He is probably in the top 10, maybe top 5 “Directors” of College Sports Organizations.

    He is 55 years old, making a crapper full of money and has achieved most of the goals that he set. Remember, he is at the TOP of the heap. The BoD of the WPC decided WHAT, with hin input, should be accomplished and then they “grade” him with pay and incentives. So far, he has got all A’s….maybe even a few A+’s.

    SO, he is mature enough to decide if he should pursue the job. The fact that he was the runner-up speaks volumes. He had a resume that is impeccable. He also has seen the turmoil and NOT gotten involved. He stayed above (or out) of the Fray…

    NOW, if he DECIDES that HE is up to the job, then I would say….GIVE IT TO HIM….of COURSE, you need to do a search…but you may WELL have the man for the job.

    I do NOT think, with his track record, that he would let his EGO overrule common sense. He HAS to have considered this possibility and therefore is he feels he can do it, then I have confidence in him.

    He would NOT risk public ridicule and also blemish a prestigous career by asking and accepting a job that he can NOT do.

    Along the way, every professional HAS to access his abilities. He SHOULD then focus his energies on the positives and also try to improve the negatives. Sometimes, it is NOT possible to totally take out all the negatives….you can IMPROVE on them, but you can not change them sufficiently to make you successful in certain jobs.

    Therefore, you need to focus on what you do well and, I know it sounds trite, Be the best you can be at what you are doing. Jimmy V, if you ever listen to his audio book, “They gave me a lifetime contract and then declared me dead….” talks about his athletic career, where he was almost cut from the freshman football squad as a QB. In his senior year, he made all conference. The same was true with his BB career. He barely made the Freshman JV squad, got his chance mid season as a Soph and had a great college career. He was no Michael Jordon…but he made up in brains and desire what he lacked in talent.

    Thus, I think that Bobby would be a GREAT AD….

    My thoughts….others may, and probably will differ

  10. DRW 05/07/2010 at 1:42 PM #

    blackdom:

    http://www.wralsportsfan.com/voices/blogpost/7544127/

  11. wufpup76 05/07/2010 at 2:29 PM #

    “He has the support of some of our coaches as well.”

    ^Not sure this is a good thing if we’re looking for more accountability.

  12. MatSci94 05/07/2010 at 3:04 PM #

    “He has the support of some of our coaches as well.”

    Which coaches? This is a guy that needs to be able to pull the plug if something goes south.

  13. PackerInRussia 05/07/2010 at 3:29 PM #

    Any chance of Purcell souring (and walking away from his current position) if he gets overlooked again?

  14. Cosmo96 05/07/2010 at 4:01 PM #

    YANCSSB has summed up my feelings exactly:

    “I’ve reconciled things to this: If—after an exhaustive AD search from a third-party firm—Bobby Purcell is determined to be the best possible candidate for the job, I will have ZERO problem with that whatsoever. In my mind, he’s certainly qualified. But I would be very, very disappointed if the university, Chancellor Woodson and the Board Of Trustees simply settles on Purcell because he represents the path of least resistance.”

  15. 61Packer 05/07/2010 at 7:00 PM #

    After reading the lead editorial in today’s News & Observer, which roundly criticized the dismissal of Fowler, how can we believe anyone who writes for this paper anymore?

  16. Wulfpack 05/08/2010 at 9:27 AM #

    I think Bobby definitely deserves an interview. His love for NCSU runs deep and he’s been a very effective leader. But there MUST be a screening process, and we MUST also interview top flight AD’s that have done the job. This will give all involved a better idea of what is out there and what Bobby truly has to offer.

    The issue that ALWAYS comes up when you hire from within the family is favoritism. Bobby has existing relationships that he probably does not want to sever, but as an AD you have a duty to do what is best for the athletics program as a whole. It’s a tough situation for anyone to be in. But I have no doubt that Bobby cares deeply about NCSU and only wants what is best.

  17. packalum44 05/08/2010 at 9:29 AM #

    One question I’d ask him is who he’d fire once in office. Put is just like that, “So who will you dismiss if you took the reigns on July 1st?”.

    Tarantini is an easy call. He goes in the first month. I’d probably release Avent as well, he’s had his time and hasn’t gotten the job done.

    Who else?

  18. wolfbuff 05/08/2010 at 11:49 AM #

    As much as I like Purcell, I’m not so sure success at his current position would translate to success as an AD of a major university. That said, I’m not sure we even need someone with AD experience. The position is more like a Sr. VP or CEO of a corporation. Part of it is marketing and fundraising, which BP is definitely good at. But there is so much more to the job. He would be the sentimental choice. But he may be too close to it. Would he be willing to make tough personnel decision given that he has longstanding relationships with the current coaches?

  19. coach13 05/08/2010 at 4:11 PM #

    I have rental property, and one of the worst things I ever did was rent to a friend. Had to give him the boot. The same potential problem when you hire in house. Putting your job and duties before your personal ties.

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