Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotosFresno, Calif. ? Al Bohl and his wife, Sherry, live on a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighborhood a couple miles north of the Fresno State campus and a couple blocks away from Clovis West High.
A two-car garage is visible from the street, but the rest of the modest house is tucked behind a couple trees and some bushes. While walking up to the house, a bay window emerges to the left of the front door and a stained-glass window appears on the right.
Inside is a cozy, well-decorated home. On the kitchen table, next to a stack of Journal-World newspapers, is a gift basket with a Kansas University hat resting on top. Through the glass sliding doors in the kitchen, a shaded patio is visible, and just beyond that is a small swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.
“If you went out golfing today and it’s hot and you jumped in that pool, you’re cooled down right away,” says Bohl, who’s casually dressed in a short-sleeved red-and-white striped knit shirt and black pants. “It’s real nice.”
Bohl hasn’t spent much time at home during the past few days, being hired as Kansas University’s athletics director the same position he held for the past five years at Fresno State on Thursday.
During a 70-minute interview Saturday at his home, Bohl sits comfortably on his couch and reflects on where he’s been and considers where he’s going. He discusses everything from fund raising to having fun, but it’s not until the conversation turns to football that Bohl’s eyes light up and he moves to the edge of his seat.
“Regardless of the outcome in football we want to win the games but we can also have a good time and make it miserable for Nebraska and Oklahoma to come in there and play,” Bohl says emphatically. “If not anything else, we can make them drive back to Lincoln knowing that the Jayhawks made it tough on them.”
Bohl is spending Saturday afternoon relaxing at home after a hectic week. Last Sunday and Monday, he was in Lake Tahoe for a reception and golf outing.
The Bohls arrived in Lawrence on Tuesday night, spending some time driving around and getting a feel for the town. Wednesday “rapid fire” is how Bohl describes it was filled with being interviewed by KU’s search committee, touring the campus and meeting various coaches and officials.
Wednesday night was a time to wait and wonder.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee Photo“That was an interesting night,” Bohl says, “very similar to what I would imagine (President Harry S.) Truman and some of those other people went through, wondering what would happen.
“Then I get the phone call at 7:20 in the morning.”
As has been well documented, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway was on the other end of the call, offering Bohl a job as athletics director. The rest of the day was a whirlwind of meetings with school officials, KU coaches and members of the media.
On Thursday night, Bohl finally was able to something he loves to do.
“We went out and got a big hamburger,” he says with a smile.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotoThe Bohls returned home to Fresno on Friday night but not before being delayed in Phoenix because of a faulty air conditioner and by Saturday morning Bohl was back in his Fresno State office shuffling papers.
“You travel all over the country and you’ve still got to do paperwork,” he says with a laugh.
Looking back, looking ahead
Bohl has made a career out of making an impression.
While spending nine years as athletics director at the University of Toledo, Bohl directed record-breaking fund drives and season-ticket campaigns. He also aided the Rockets in renovating the football stadium and locker rooms, and was instrumental in the increased marketing of women’s sports.
During Bohl’s five-year tenure at Fresno State, the Bulldogs have enjoyed unprecedented success both on and off the field. The football team has been to back-to-back bowl games, the softball team won a national championship and the basketball team has qualified for two straight NCAA Tournaments.
“He gives you a chance to coach,” FSU football coach Pat Hill says. “He gives you support and lets you go. He has increased attendance for football. We’ve gone to a bowl, won the conference and been on television 11 times in the last two years.
“This program has really turned the corner under his leadership, and it’s not only our football program.”
Bohl, though, is equally as proud of the things he’s done away from the field, such as improved graduation rates and increased academic awards.
“I would like to be remembered for the same things that I bring to Kansas,” Bohl says, “things that I did at Toledo, that I did at Fresno State and that I’m going to do at Kansas. That is to continue to have a tremendous impact on our student-athletes academically. I’m going to make sure we go by the rules. I want our budget to be in the black. I’ve done that here at Fresno State.
“I also want to be remembered for the things that I’ve done for equity. Here we have our two programs growing together. And finally, I’m very proud that we did all those things, but we really competed well. As far as I’m concerned, that’s no accident.”
Bohl’s philosophy is to stress the importance of academics as well as the importance of winning. His dream was to see every sport at Fresno State ranked in the top 25 nationally at some point.
But Bohl also knows one of the most important aspects of his job is fund raising. He played a vital role in securing $11 million to help build the Save Mart Center on campus, and the Bulldog Foundation also has brought in $7 million in donations for the third year in a row.
“Al stepped in at a very difficult time for us,” women’s swimming and diving coach Daniella Irle says. “I think he did a great job in what started out as a tough, challenging situation. We have new, upgraded facilities on campus, and believe me, if he wasn’t in there fighting for them, that wasn’t going to happen.
“Fund raising wasn’t going to happen without Al Bohl.”
Bohl believes the first place to start looking for funds at KU is in Memorial Stadium.
“By building football up, it generates revenue,” he says. “Yes, it is about football, but it’s also about generating the dollars that help all the other programs. You want me to do something to help the baseball team? Then I need to generate some dollars for that. You want me to do something to help the softball team? You’ve got to generate the dollars to do that.
“Football is one of the key ways to do that.”
It certainly was at Fresno State, where the Bulldogs sold out every football game last season except the final game, falling just 500 tickets short.
Bohl’s goal is to sell out Memorial Stadium on a steady basis, and he has an idea on how he’s going to accomplish that. It’s while explaining his plan during the interview that he moves to the edge of the couch and begins to wave his hands emphatically.
The way he sees it, the Jayhawks averaged about 30,000 or 32,183 to be exact fans a game last season. That leaves about 20,000 unsold seats per game. So Bohl intends on touring the state and recruiting “volunteers” to join his effort, just like he did when he arrived at Fresno State, spending afternoons outside the Save Mart in Los Banos passing out season ticket applications.
“We’ve got the regulars,” Bohl says of the current ticket holders. “The regulars have been holding down the fort. And we need to get some volunteers that will invest for a couple years and come on board and let’s fill up that stadium. Regardless of what has happened in the past, let’s fill it up and make it miserable for those other teams like UCLA, Nebraska, Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the defending national champion.
“At the worst, we’re going to have a great time on Saturday.”
Bohl recognizes the best way to attract fans is by winning and being invited to participate in postseason bowl games something KU hasn’t done since the 1995 season.
The Bohls certainly have a history with bowls, having spent 11 years at Ohio State. They even admit they’ve been spoiled after attending the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Citrus Bowl, to name a few.
The abundance of bowl games made things interesting for the Bohl children Brett, now 31; Nathan, 29; and Heidi, 25 during Christmas while growing up.
“It was always open your presents and pack because you’re going to a bowl game the next day,” Sherry quips.
Bohl did his part to improve the program at Fresno State by hiring football coach Pat Hill, then an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens, the year after Bohl was hired.
Hill might not have been the most obvious choice Brian Billick, then a Minnesota Vikings assistant, interviewed and had dinner at the Bohls’ house but he seemed to be the right choice for Fresno State.
Bohl figured Billick would come in, score a lot of points and then bolt for the NFL or a bigger college. Hill, who was born in Los Angeles, knew the area and would be more likely to stick around.
The move seems to have worked for the Bulldogs.
“The thing that was great about him,” Hill says, “is when you’re in a leadership position it’s important to delegate responsibilities and let people work. He would give you the guidelines and let people work. He’s not always there looking over your shoulder. He gives you support and the tools necessary to get the job done and expects you to do get it done.”
‘A big friend of Al Bohl’s’
The Bohls certainly are going to miss Fresno and the friendships they’ve made.
Sherry still remembers when they had just moved to California and still were living in a school-owned apartment. One of their soon-to-be neighbors invited them to a block party on their street, and when the Bohls arrived there was a large banner that said, “Bohl’s Block Party.”
“That’s the kind of friends we’ve had here,” Sherry says.
Of course, at the same time they’re thinking about the people they have to leave behind, the Bohls also are looking forward to the friends they’ll make.
“You miss people. That’s the most important thing,” Bohl says. “We have so many friendships that we’ve made before, we’re looking forward to doing the same thing in Kansas.”
That shouldn’t be a problem.
“Sherry and I are excited about being Jayhawks,” Bohl says. “We’ll look forward to seeing people at all of our athletics events. We cherish coming back to the Midwest, making new friends there.
“Anybody that is a Jayhawk fan is now a big friend of Al Bohl’s.”
Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotosFresno, Calif. ? Al Bohl and his wife, Sherry, live on a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighborhood a couple miles north of the Fresno State campus and a couple blocks away from Clovis West High.
A two-car garage is visible from the street, but the rest of the modest house is tucked behind a couple trees and some bushes. While walking up to the house, a bay window emerges to the left of the front door and a stained-glass window appears on the right.
Inside is a cozy, well-decorated home. On the kitchen table, next to a stack of Journal-World newspapers, is a gift basket with a Kansas University hat resting on top. Through the glass sliding doors in the kitchen, a shaded patio is visible, and just beyond that is a small swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.
“If you went out golfing today and it’s hot and you jumped in that pool, you’re cooled down right away,” says Bohl, who’s casually dressed in a short-sleeved red-and-white striped knit shirt and black pants. “It’s real nice.”
Bohl hasn’t spent much time at home during the past few days, being hired as Kansas University’s athletics director the same position he held for the past five years at Fresno State on Thursday.
During a 70-minute interview Saturday at his home, Bohl sits comfortably on his couch and reflects on where he’s been and considers where he’s going. He discusses everything from fund raising to having fun, but it’s not until the conversation turns to football that Bohl’s eyes light up and he moves to the edge of his seat.
“Regardless of the outcome in football we want to win the games but we can also have a good time and make it miserable for Nebraska and Oklahoma to come in there and play,” Bohl says emphatically. “If not anything else, we can make them drive back to Lincoln knowing that the Jayhawks made it tough on them.”
Bohl is spending Saturday afternoon relaxing at home after a hectic week. Last Sunday and Monday, he was in Lake Tahoe for a reception and golf outing.
The Bohls arrived in Lawrence on Tuesday night, spending some time driving around and getting a feel for the town. Wednesday “rapid fire” is how Bohl describes it was filled with being interviewed by KU’s search committee, touring the campus and meeting various coaches and officials.
Wednesday night was a time to wait and wonder.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee Photo“That was an interesting night,” Bohl says, “very similar to what I would imagine (President Harry S.) Truman and some of those other people went through, wondering what would happen.
“Then I get the phone call at 7:20 in the morning.”
As has been well documented, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway was on the other end of the call, offering Bohl a job as athletics director. The rest of the day was a whirlwind of meetings with school officials, KU coaches and members of the media.
On Thursday night, Bohl finally was able to something he loves to do.
“We went out and got a big hamburger,” he says with a smile.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotoThe Bohls returned home to Fresno on Friday night but not before being delayed in Phoenix because of a faulty air conditioner and by Saturday morning Bohl was back in his Fresno State office shuffling papers.
“You travel all over the country and you’ve still got to do paperwork,” he says with a laugh.
Looking back, looking ahead
Bohl has made a career out of making an impression.
While spending nine years as athletics director at the University of Toledo, Bohl directed record-breaking fund drives and season-ticket campaigns. He also aided the Rockets in renovating the football stadium and locker rooms, and was instrumental in the increased marketing of women’s sports.
During Bohl’s five-year tenure at Fresno State, the Bulldogs have enjoyed unprecedented success both on and off the field. The football team has been to back-to-back bowl games, the softball team won a national championship and the basketball team has qualified for two straight NCAA Tournaments.
“He gives you a chance to coach,” FSU football coach Pat Hill says. “He gives you support and lets you go. He has increased attendance for football. We’ve gone to a bowl, won the conference and been on television 11 times in the last two years.
“This program has really turned the corner under his leadership, and it’s not only our football program.”
Bohl, though, is equally as proud of the things he’s done away from the field, such as improved graduation rates and increased academic awards.
“I would like to be remembered for the same things that I bring to Kansas,” Bohl says, “things that I did at Toledo, that I did at Fresno State and that I’m going to do at Kansas. That is to continue to have a tremendous impact on our student-athletes academically. I’m going to make sure we go by the rules. I want our budget to be in the black. I’ve done that here at Fresno State.
“I also want to be remembered for the things that I’ve done for equity. Here we have our two programs growing together. And finally, I’m very proud that we did all those things, but we really competed well. As far as I’m concerned, that’s no accident.”
Bohl’s philosophy is to stress the importance of academics as well as the importance of winning. His dream was to see every sport at Fresno State ranked in the top 25 nationally at some point.
But Bohl also knows one of the most important aspects of his job is fund raising. He played a vital role in securing $11 million to help build the Save Mart Center on campus, and the Bulldog Foundation also has brought in $7 million in donations for the third year in a row.
“Al stepped in at a very difficult time for us,” women’s swimming and diving coach Daniella Irle says. “I think he did a great job in what started out as a tough, challenging situation. We have new, upgraded facilities on campus, and believe me, if he wasn’t in there fighting for them, that wasn’t going to happen.
“Fund raising wasn’t going to happen without Al Bohl.”
Bohl believes the first place to start looking for funds at KU is in Memorial Stadium.
“By building football up, it generates revenue,” he says. “Yes, it is about football, but it’s also about generating the dollars that help all the other programs. You want me to do something to help the baseball team? Then I need to generate some dollars for that. You want me to do something to help the softball team? You’ve got to generate the dollars to do that.
“Football is one of the key ways to do that.”
It certainly was at Fresno State, where the Bulldogs sold out every football game last season except the final game, falling just 500 tickets short.
Bohl’s goal is to sell out Memorial Stadium on a steady basis, and he has an idea on how he’s going to accomplish that. It’s while explaining his plan during the interview that he moves to the edge of the couch and begins to wave his hands emphatically.
The way he sees it, the Jayhawks averaged about 30,000 or 32,183 to be exact fans a game last season. That leaves about 20,000 unsold seats per game. So Bohl intends on touring the state and recruiting “volunteers” to join his effort, just like he did when he arrived at Fresno State, spending afternoons outside the Save Mart in Los Banos passing out season ticket applications.
“We’ve got the regulars,” Bohl says of the current ticket holders. “The regulars have been holding down the fort. And we need to get some volunteers that will invest for a couple years and come on board and let’s fill up that stadium. Regardless of what has happened in the past, let’s fill it up and make it miserable for those other teams like UCLA, Nebraska, Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the defending national champion.
“At the worst, we’re going to have a great time on Saturday.”
Bohl recognizes the best way to attract fans is by winning and being invited to participate in postseason bowl games something KU hasn’t done since the 1995 season.
The Bohls certainly have a history with bowls, having spent 11 years at Ohio State. They even admit they’ve been spoiled after attending the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Citrus Bowl, to name a few.
The abundance of bowl games made things interesting for the Bohl children Brett, now 31; Nathan, 29; and Heidi, 25 during Christmas while growing up.
“It was always open your presents and pack because you’re going to a bowl game the next day,” Sherry quips.
Bohl did his part to improve the program at Fresno State by hiring football coach Pat Hill, then an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens, the year after Bohl was hired.
Hill might not have been the most obvious choice Brian Billick, then a Minnesota Vikings assistant, interviewed and had dinner at the Bohls’ house but he seemed to be the right choice for Fresno State.
Bohl figured Billick would come in, score a lot of points and then bolt for the NFL or a bigger college. Hill, who was born in Los Angeles, knew the area and would be more likely to stick around.
The move seems to have worked for the Bulldogs.
“The thing that was great about him,” Hill says, “is when you’re in a leadership position it’s important to delegate responsibilities and let people work. He would give you the guidelines and let people work. He’s not always there looking over your shoulder. He gives you support and the tools necessary to get the job done and expects you to do get it done.”
‘A big friend of Al Bohl’s’
The Bohls certainly are going to miss Fresno and the friendships they’ve made.
Sherry still remembers when they had just moved to California and still were living in a school-owned apartment. One of their soon-to-be neighbors invited them to a block party on their street, and when the Bohls arrived there was a large banner that said, “Bohl’s Block Party.”
“That’s the kind of friends we’ve had here,” Sherry says.
Of course, at the same time they’re thinking about the people they have to leave behind, the Bohls also are looking forward to the friends they’ll make.
“You miss people. That’s the most important thing,” Bohl says. “We have so many friendships that we’ve made before, we’re looking forward to doing the same thing in Kansas.”
That shouldn’t be a problem.
“Sherry and I are excited about being Jayhawks,” Bohl says. “We’ll look forward to seeing people at all of our athletics events. We cherish coming back to the Midwest, making new friends there.
“Anybody that is a Jayhawk fan is now a big friend of Al Bohl’s.”
Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotosFresno, Calif. ? Al Bohl and his wife, Sherry, live on a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighborhood a couple miles north of the Fresno State campus and a couple blocks away from Clovis West High.
A two-car garage is visible from the street, but the rest of the modest house is tucked behind a couple trees and some bushes. While walking up to the house, a bay window emerges to the left of the front door and a stained-glass window appears on the right.
Inside is a cozy, well-decorated home. On the kitchen table, next to a stack of Journal-World newspapers, is a gift basket with a Kansas University hat resting on top. Through the glass sliding doors in the kitchen, a shaded patio is visible, and just beyond that is a small swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.
“If you went out golfing today and it’s hot and you jumped in that pool, you’re cooled down right away,” says Bohl, who’s casually dressed in a short-sleeved red-and-white striped knit shirt and black pants. “It’s real nice.”
Bohl hasn’t spent much time at home during the past few days, being hired as Kansas University’s athletics director the same position he held for the past five years at Fresno State on Thursday.
During a 70-minute interview Saturday at his home, Bohl sits comfortably on his couch and reflects on where he’s been and considers where he’s going. He discusses everything from fund raising to having fun, but it’s not until the conversation turns to football that Bohl’s eyes light up and he moves to the edge of his seat.
“Regardless of the outcome in football we want to win the games but we can also have a good time and make it miserable for Nebraska and Oklahoma to come in there and play,” Bohl says emphatically. “If not anything else, we can make them drive back to Lincoln knowing that the Jayhawks made it tough on them.”
Bohl is spending Saturday afternoon relaxing at home after a hectic week. Last Sunday and Monday, he was in Lake Tahoe for a reception and golf outing.
The Bohls arrived in Lawrence on Tuesday night, spending some time driving around and getting a feel for the town. Wednesday “rapid fire” is how Bohl describes it was filled with being interviewed by KU’s search committee, touring the campus and meeting various coaches and officials.
Wednesday night was a time to wait and wonder.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee Photo“That was an interesting night,” Bohl says, “very similar to what I would imagine (President Harry S.) Truman and some of those other people went through, wondering what would happen.
“Then I get the phone call at 7:20 in the morning.”
As has been well documented, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway was on the other end of the call, offering Bohl a job as athletics director. The rest of the day was a whirlwind of meetings with school officials, KU coaches and members of the media.
On Thursday night, Bohl finally was able to something he loves to do.
“We went out and got a big hamburger,” he says with a smile.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotoThe Bohls returned home to Fresno on Friday night but not before being delayed in Phoenix because of a faulty air conditioner and by Saturday morning Bohl was back in his Fresno State office shuffling papers.
“You travel all over the country and you’ve still got to do paperwork,” he says with a laugh.
Looking back, looking ahead
Bohl has made a career out of making an impression.
While spending nine years as athletics director at the University of Toledo, Bohl directed record-breaking fund drives and season-ticket campaigns. He also aided the Rockets in renovating the football stadium and locker rooms, and was instrumental in the increased marketing of women’s sports.
During Bohl’s five-year tenure at Fresno State, the Bulldogs have enjoyed unprecedented success both on and off the field. The football team has been to back-to-back bowl games, the softball team won a national championship and the basketball team has qualified for two straight NCAA Tournaments.
“He gives you a chance to coach,” FSU football coach Pat Hill says. “He gives you support and lets you go. He has increased attendance for football. We’ve gone to a bowl, won the conference and been on television 11 times in the last two years.
“This program has really turned the corner under his leadership, and it’s not only our football program.”
Bohl, though, is equally as proud of the things he’s done away from the field, such as improved graduation rates and increased academic awards.
“I would like to be remembered for the same things that I bring to Kansas,” Bohl says, “things that I did at Toledo, that I did at Fresno State and that I’m going to do at Kansas. That is to continue to have a tremendous impact on our student-athletes academically. I’m going to make sure we go by the rules. I want our budget to be in the black. I’ve done that here at Fresno State.
“I also want to be remembered for the things that I’ve done for equity. Here we have our two programs growing together. And finally, I’m very proud that we did all those things, but we really competed well. As far as I’m concerned, that’s no accident.”
Bohl’s philosophy is to stress the importance of academics as well as the importance of winning. His dream was to see every sport at Fresno State ranked in the top 25 nationally at some point.
But Bohl also knows one of the most important aspects of his job is fund raising. He played a vital role in securing $11 million to help build the Save Mart Center on campus, and the Bulldog Foundation also has brought in $7 million in donations for the third year in a row.
“Al stepped in at a very difficult time for us,” women’s swimming and diving coach Daniella Irle says. “I think he did a great job in what started out as a tough, challenging situation. We have new, upgraded facilities on campus, and believe me, if he wasn’t in there fighting for them, that wasn’t going to happen.
“Fund raising wasn’t going to happen without Al Bohl.”
Bohl believes the first place to start looking for funds at KU is in Memorial Stadium.
“By building football up, it generates revenue,” he says. “Yes, it is about football, but it’s also about generating the dollars that help all the other programs. You want me to do something to help the baseball team? Then I need to generate some dollars for that. You want me to do something to help the softball team? You’ve got to generate the dollars to do that.
“Football is one of the key ways to do that.”
It certainly was at Fresno State, where the Bulldogs sold out every football game last season except the final game, falling just 500 tickets short.
Bohl’s goal is to sell out Memorial Stadium on a steady basis, and he has an idea on how he’s going to accomplish that. It’s while explaining his plan during the interview that he moves to the edge of the couch and begins to wave his hands emphatically.
The way he sees it, the Jayhawks averaged about 30,000 or 32,183 to be exact fans a game last season. That leaves about 20,000 unsold seats per game. So Bohl intends on touring the state and recruiting “volunteers” to join his effort, just like he did when he arrived at Fresno State, spending afternoons outside the Save Mart in Los Banos passing out season ticket applications.
“We’ve got the regulars,” Bohl says of the current ticket holders. “The regulars have been holding down the fort. And we need to get some volunteers that will invest for a couple years and come on board and let’s fill up that stadium. Regardless of what has happened in the past, let’s fill it up and make it miserable for those other teams like UCLA, Nebraska, Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the defending national champion.
“At the worst, we’re going to have a great time on Saturday.”
Bohl recognizes the best way to attract fans is by winning and being invited to participate in postseason bowl games something KU hasn’t done since the 1995 season.
The Bohls certainly have a history with bowls, having spent 11 years at Ohio State. They even admit they’ve been spoiled after attending the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Citrus Bowl, to name a few.
The abundance of bowl games made things interesting for the Bohl children Brett, now 31; Nathan, 29; and Heidi, 25 during Christmas while growing up.
“It was always open your presents and pack because you’re going to a bowl game the next day,” Sherry quips.
Bohl did his part to improve the program at Fresno State by hiring football coach Pat Hill, then an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens, the year after Bohl was hired.
Hill might not have been the most obvious choice Brian Billick, then a Minnesota Vikings assistant, interviewed and had dinner at the Bohls’ house but he seemed to be the right choice for Fresno State.
Bohl figured Billick would come in, score a lot of points and then bolt for the NFL or a bigger college. Hill, who was born in Los Angeles, knew the area and would be more likely to stick around.
The move seems to have worked for the Bulldogs.
“The thing that was great about him,” Hill says, “is when you’re in a leadership position it’s important to delegate responsibilities and let people work. He would give you the guidelines and let people work. He’s not always there looking over your shoulder. He gives you support and the tools necessary to get the job done and expects you to do get it done.”
‘A big friend of Al Bohl’s’
The Bohls certainly are going to miss Fresno and the friendships they’ve made.
Sherry still remembers when they had just moved to California and still were living in a school-owned apartment. One of their soon-to-be neighbors invited them to a block party on their street, and when the Bohls arrived there was a large banner that said, “Bohl’s Block Party.”
“That’s the kind of friends we’ve had here,” Sherry says.
Of course, at the same time they’re thinking about the people they have to leave behind, the Bohls also are looking forward to the friends they’ll make.
“You miss people. That’s the most important thing,” Bohl says. “We have so many friendships that we’ve made before, we’re looking forward to doing the same thing in Kansas.”
That shouldn’t be a problem.
“Sherry and I are excited about being Jayhawks,” Bohl says. “We’ll look forward to seeing people at all of our athletics events. We cherish coming back to the Midwest, making new friends there.
“Anybody that is a Jayhawk fan is now a big friend of Al Bohl’s.”
Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotosFresno, Calif. ? Al Bohl and his wife, Sherry, live on a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighborhood a couple miles north of the Fresno State campus and a couple blocks away from Clovis West High.
A two-car garage is visible from the street, but the rest of the modest house is tucked behind a couple trees and some bushes. While walking up to the house, a bay window emerges to the left of the front door and a stained-glass window appears on the right.
Inside is a cozy, well-decorated home. On the kitchen table, next to a stack of Journal-World newspapers, is a gift basket with a Kansas University hat resting on top. Through the glass sliding doors in the kitchen, a shaded patio is visible, and just beyond that is a small swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.
“If you went out golfing today and it’s hot and you jumped in that pool, you’re cooled down right away,” says Bohl, who’s casually dressed in a short-sleeved red-and-white striped knit shirt and black pants. “It’s real nice.”
Bohl hasn’t spent much time at home during the past few days, being hired as Kansas University’s athletics director the same position he held for the past five years at Fresno State on Thursday.
During a 70-minute interview Saturday at his home, Bohl sits comfortably on his couch and reflects on where he’s been and considers where he’s going. He discusses everything from fund raising to having fun, but it’s not until the conversation turns to football that Bohl’s eyes light up and he moves to the edge of his seat.
“Regardless of the outcome in football we want to win the games but we can also have a good time and make it miserable for Nebraska and Oklahoma to come in there and play,” Bohl says emphatically. “If not anything else, we can make them drive back to Lincoln knowing that the Jayhawks made it tough on them.”
Bohl is spending Saturday afternoon relaxing at home after a hectic week. Last Sunday and Monday, he was in Lake Tahoe for a reception and golf outing.
The Bohls arrived in Lawrence on Tuesday night, spending some time driving around and getting a feel for the town. Wednesday “rapid fire” is how Bohl describes it was filled with being interviewed by KU’s search committee, touring the campus and meeting various coaches and officials.
Wednesday night was a time to wait and wonder.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee Photo“That was an interesting night,” Bohl says, “very similar to what I would imagine (President Harry S.) Truman and some of those other people went through, wondering what would happen.
“Then I get the phone call at 7:20 in the morning.”
As has been well documented, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway was on the other end of the call, offering Bohl a job as athletics director. The rest of the day was a whirlwind of meetings with school officials, KU coaches and members of the media.
On Thursday night, Bohl finally was able to something he loves to do.
“We went out and got a big hamburger,” he says with a smile.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotoThe Bohls returned home to Fresno on Friday night but not before being delayed in Phoenix because of a faulty air conditioner and by Saturday morning Bohl was back in his Fresno State office shuffling papers.
“You travel all over the country and you’ve still got to do paperwork,” he says with a laugh.
Looking back, looking ahead
Bohl has made a career out of making an impression.
While spending nine years as athletics director at the University of Toledo, Bohl directed record-breaking fund drives and season-ticket campaigns. He also aided the Rockets in renovating the football stadium and locker rooms, and was instrumental in the increased marketing of women’s sports.
During Bohl’s five-year tenure at Fresno State, the Bulldogs have enjoyed unprecedented success both on and off the field. The football team has been to back-to-back bowl games, the softball team won a national championship and the basketball team has qualified for two straight NCAA Tournaments.
“He gives you a chance to coach,” FSU football coach Pat Hill says. “He gives you support and lets you go. He has increased attendance for football. We’ve gone to a bowl, won the conference and been on television 11 times in the last two years.
“This program has really turned the corner under his leadership, and it’s not only our football program.”
Bohl, though, is equally as proud of the things he’s done away from the field, such as improved graduation rates and increased academic awards.
“I would like to be remembered for the same things that I bring to Kansas,” Bohl says, “things that I did at Toledo, that I did at Fresno State and that I’m going to do at Kansas. That is to continue to have a tremendous impact on our student-athletes academically. I’m going to make sure we go by the rules. I want our budget to be in the black. I’ve done that here at Fresno State.
“I also want to be remembered for the things that I’ve done for equity. Here we have our two programs growing together. And finally, I’m very proud that we did all those things, but we really competed well. As far as I’m concerned, that’s no accident.”
Bohl’s philosophy is to stress the importance of academics as well as the importance of winning. His dream was to see every sport at Fresno State ranked in the top 25 nationally at some point.
But Bohl also knows one of the most important aspects of his job is fund raising. He played a vital role in securing $11 million to help build the Save Mart Center on campus, and the Bulldog Foundation also has brought in $7 million in donations for the third year in a row.
“Al stepped in at a very difficult time for us,” women’s swimming and diving coach Daniella Irle says. “I think he did a great job in what started out as a tough, challenging situation. We have new, upgraded facilities on campus, and believe me, if he wasn’t in there fighting for them, that wasn’t going to happen.
“Fund raising wasn’t going to happen without Al Bohl.”
Bohl believes the first place to start looking for funds at KU is in Memorial Stadium.
“By building football up, it generates revenue,” he says. “Yes, it is about football, but it’s also about generating the dollars that help all the other programs. You want me to do something to help the baseball team? Then I need to generate some dollars for that. You want me to do something to help the softball team? You’ve got to generate the dollars to do that.
“Football is one of the key ways to do that.”
It certainly was at Fresno State, where the Bulldogs sold out every football game last season except the final game, falling just 500 tickets short.
Bohl’s goal is to sell out Memorial Stadium on a steady basis, and he has an idea on how he’s going to accomplish that. It’s while explaining his plan during the interview that he moves to the edge of the couch and begins to wave his hands emphatically.
The way he sees it, the Jayhawks averaged about 30,000 or 32,183 to be exact fans a game last season. That leaves about 20,000 unsold seats per game. So Bohl intends on touring the state and recruiting “volunteers” to join his effort, just like he did when he arrived at Fresno State, spending afternoons outside the Save Mart in Los Banos passing out season ticket applications.
“We’ve got the regulars,” Bohl says of the current ticket holders. “The regulars have been holding down the fort. And we need to get some volunteers that will invest for a couple years and come on board and let’s fill up that stadium. Regardless of what has happened in the past, let’s fill it up and make it miserable for those other teams like UCLA, Nebraska, Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the defending national champion.
“At the worst, we’re going to have a great time on Saturday.”
Bohl recognizes the best way to attract fans is by winning and being invited to participate in postseason bowl games something KU hasn’t done since the 1995 season.
The Bohls certainly have a history with bowls, having spent 11 years at Ohio State. They even admit they’ve been spoiled after attending the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Citrus Bowl, to name a few.
The abundance of bowl games made things interesting for the Bohl children Brett, now 31; Nathan, 29; and Heidi, 25 during Christmas while growing up.
“It was always open your presents and pack because you’re going to a bowl game the next day,” Sherry quips.
Bohl did his part to improve the program at Fresno State by hiring football coach Pat Hill, then an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens, the year after Bohl was hired.
Hill might not have been the most obvious choice Brian Billick, then a Minnesota Vikings assistant, interviewed and had dinner at the Bohls’ house but he seemed to be the right choice for Fresno State.
Bohl figured Billick would come in, score a lot of points and then bolt for the NFL or a bigger college. Hill, who was born in Los Angeles, knew the area and would be more likely to stick around.
The move seems to have worked for the Bulldogs.
“The thing that was great about him,” Hill says, “is when you’re in a leadership position it’s important to delegate responsibilities and let people work. He would give you the guidelines and let people work. He’s not always there looking over your shoulder. He gives you support and the tools necessary to get the job done and expects you to do get it done.”
‘A big friend of Al Bohl’s’
The Bohls certainly are going to miss Fresno and the friendships they’ve made.
Sherry still remembers when they had just moved to California and still were living in a school-owned apartment. One of their soon-to-be neighbors invited them to a block party on their street, and when the Bohls arrived there was a large banner that said, “Bohl’s Block Party.”
“That’s the kind of friends we’ve had here,” Sherry says.
Of course, at the same time they’re thinking about the people they have to leave behind, the Bohls also are looking forward to the friends they’ll make.
“You miss people. That’s the most important thing,” Bohl says. “We have so many friendships that we’ve made before, we’re looking forward to doing the same thing in Kansas.”
That shouldn’t be a problem.
“Sherry and I are excited about being Jayhawks,” Bohl says. “We’ll look forward to seeing people at all of our athletics events. We cherish coming back to the Midwest, making new friends there.
“Anybody that is a Jayhawk fan is now a big friend of Al Bohl’s.”
Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotosFresno, Calif. ? Al Bohl and his wife, Sherry, live on a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighborhood a couple miles north of the Fresno State campus and a couple blocks away from Clovis West High.
A two-car garage is visible from the street, but the rest of the modest house is tucked behind a couple trees and some bushes. While walking up to the house, a bay window emerges to the left of the front door and a stained-glass window appears on the right.
Inside is a cozy, well-decorated home. On the kitchen table, next to a stack of Journal-World newspapers, is a gift basket with a Kansas University hat resting on top. Through the glass sliding doors in the kitchen, a shaded patio is visible, and just beyond that is a small swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.
“If you went out golfing today and it’s hot and you jumped in that pool, you’re cooled down right away,” says Bohl, who’s casually dressed in a short-sleeved red-and-white striped knit shirt and black pants. “It’s real nice.”
Bohl hasn’t spent much time at home during the past few days, being hired as Kansas University’s athletics director the same position he held for the past five years at Fresno State on Thursday.
During a 70-minute interview Saturday at his home, Bohl sits comfortably on his couch and reflects on where he’s been and considers where he’s going. He discusses everything from fund raising to having fun, but it’s not until the conversation turns to football that Bohl’s eyes light up and he moves to the edge of his seat.
“Regardless of the outcome in football we want to win the games but we can also have a good time and make it miserable for Nebraska and Oklahoma to come in there and play,” Bohl says emphatically. “If not anything else, we can make them drive back to Lincoln knowing that the Jayhawks made it tough on them.”
Bohl is spending Saturday afternoon relaxing at home after a hectic week. Last Sunday and Monday, he was in Lake Tahoe for a reception and golf outing.
The Bohls arrived in Lawrence on Tuesday night, spending some time driving around and getting a feel for the town. Wednesday “rapid fire” is how Bohl describes it was filled with being interviewed by KU’s search committee, touring the campus and meeting various coaches and officials.
Wednesday night was a time to wait and wonder.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee Photo“That was an interesting night,” Bohl says, “very similar to what I would imagine (President Harry S.) Truman and some of those other people went through, wondering what would happen.
“Then I get the phone call at 7:20 in the morning.”
As has been well documented, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway was on the other end of the call, offering Bohl a job as athletics director. The rest of the day was a whirlwind of meetings with school officials, KU coaches and members of the media.
On Thursday night, Bohl finally was able to something he loves to do.
“We went out and got a big hamburger,” he says with a smile.
Fresno (Calif.) Bee PhotoThe Bohls returned home to Fresno on Friday night but not before being delayed in Phoenix because of a faulty air conditioner and by Saturday morning Bohl was back in his Fresno State office shuffling papers.
“You travel all over the country and you’ve still got to do paperwork,” he says with a laugh.
Looking back, looking ahead
Bohl has made a career out of making an impression.
While spending nine years as athletics director at the University of Toledo, Bohl directed record-breaking fund drives and season-ticket campaigns. He also aided the Rockets in renovating the football stadium and locker rooms, and was instrumental in the increased marketing of women’s sports.
During Bohl’s five-year tenure at Fresno State, the Bulldogs have enjoyed unprecedented success both on and off the field. The football team has been to back-to-back bowl games, the softball team won a national championship and the basketball team has qualified for two straight NCAA Tournaments.
“He gives you a chance to coach,” FSU football coach Pat Hill says. “He gives you support and lets you go. He has increased attendance for football. We’ve gone to a bowl, won the conference and been on television 11 times in the last two years.
“This program has really turned the corner under his leadership, and it’s not only our football program.”
Bohl, though, is equally as proud of the things he’s done away from the field, such as improved graduation rates and increased academic awards.
“I would like to be remembered for the same things that I bring to Kansas,” Bohl says, “things that I did at Toledo, that I did at Fresno State and that I’m going to do at Kansas. That is to continue to have a tremendous impact on our student-athletes academically. I’m going to make sure we go by the rules. I want our budget to be in the black. I’ve done that here at Fresno State.
“I also want to be remembered for the things that I’ve done for equity. Here we have our two programs growing together. And finally, I’m very proud that we did all those things, but we really competed well. As far as I’m concerned, that’s no accident.”
Bohl’s philosophy is to stress the importance of academics as well as the importance of winning. His dream was to see every sport at Fresno State ranked in the top 25 nationally at some point.
But Bohl also knows one of the most important aspects of his job is fund raising. He played a vital role in securing $11 million to help build the Save Mart Center on campus, and the Bulldog Foundation also has brought in $7 million in donations for the third year in a row.
“Al stepped in at a very difficult time for us,” women’s swimming and diving coach Daniella Irle says. “I think he did a great job in what started out as a tough, challenging situation. We have new, upgraded facilities on campus, and believe me, if he wasn’t in there fighting for them, that wasn’t going to happen.
“Fund raising wasn’t going to happen without Al Bohl.”
Bohl believes the first place to start looking for funds at KU is in Memorial Stadium.
“By building football up, it generates revenue,” he says. “Yes, it is about football, but it’s also about generating the dollars that help all the other programs. You want me to do something to help the baseball team? Then I need to generate some dollars for that. You want me to do something to help the softball team? You’ve got to generate the dollars to do that.
“Football is one of the key ways to do that.”
It certainly was at Fresno State, where the Bulldogs sold out every football game last season except the final game, falling just 500 tickets short.
Bohl’s goal is to sell out Memorial Stadium on a steady basis, and he has an idea on how he’s going to accomplish that. It’s while explaining his plan during the interview that he moves to the edge of the couch and begins to wave his hands emphatically.
The way he sees it, the Jayhawks averaged about 30,000 or 32,183 to be exact fans a game last season. That leaves about 20,000 unsold seats per game. So Bohl intends on touring the state and recruiting “volunteers” to join his effort, just like he did when he arrived at Fresno State, spending afternoons outside the Save Mart in Los Banos passing out season ticket applications.
“We’ve got the regulars,” Bohl says of the current ticket holders. “The regulars have been holding down the fort. And we need to get some volunteers that will invest for a couple years and come on board and let’s fill up that stadium. Regardless of what has happened in the past, let’s fill it up and make it miserable for those other teams like UCLA, Nebraska, Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the defending national champion.
“At the worst, we’re going to have a great time on Saturday.”
Bohl recognizes the best way to attract fans is by winning and being invited to participate in postseason bowl games something KU hasn’t done since the 1995 season.
The Bohls certainly have a history with bowls, having spent 11 years at Ohio State. They even admit they’ve been spoiled after attending the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Citrus Bowl, to name a few.
The abundance of bowl games made things interesting for the Bohl children Brett, now 31; Nathan, 29; and Heidi, 25 during Christmas while growing up.
“It was always open your presents and pack because you’re going to a bowl game the next day,” Sherry quips.
Bohl did his part to improve the program at Fresno State by hiring football coach Pat Hill, then an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens, the year after Bohl was hired.
Hill might not have been the most obvious choice Brian Billick, then a Minnesota Vikings assistant, interviewed and had dinner at the Bohls’ house but he seemed to be the right choice for Fresno State.
Bohl figured Billick would come in, score a lot of points and then bolt for the NFL or a bigger college. Hill, who was born in Los Angeles, knew the area and would be more likely to stick around.
The move seems to have worked for the Bulldogs.
“The thing that was great about him,” Hill says, “is when you’re in a leadership position it’s important to delegate responsibilities and let people work. He would give you the guidelines and let people work. He’s not always there looking over your shoulder. He gives you support and the tools necessary to get the job done and expects you to do get it done.”
‘A big friend of Al Bohl’s’
The Bohls certainly are going to miss Fresno and the friendships they’ve made.
Sherry still remembers when they had just moved to California and still were living in a school-owned apartment. One of their soon-to-be neighbors invited them to a block party on their street, and when the Bohls arrived there was a large banner that said, “Bohl’s Block Party.”
“That’s the kind of friends we’ve had here,” Sherry says.
Of course, at the same time they’re thinking about the people they have to leave behind, the Bohls also are looking forward to the friends they’ll make.
“You miss people. That’s the most important thing,” Bohl says. “We have so many friendships that we’ve made before, we’re looking forward to doing the same thing in Kansas.”
That shouldn’t be a problem.
“Sherry and I are excited about being Jayhawks,” Bohl says. “We’ll look forward to seeing people at all of our athletics events. We cherish coming back to the Midwest, making new friends there.
“Anybody that is a Jayhawk fan is now a big friend of Al Bohl’s.”
