A 15-member committee will screen candidates for Kansas University’s athletics director vacancy.
Committee chair Reggie Robinson also confirmed that the headhunting firm of Heidrick and Struggles International Inc. had been retained. Its fee expected to be around $75,000 will be paid by private funds, Robinson said.
The search committee will include four members of the KUAC board John Ferraro, Don Green, Laird Noller and Theresa Klinkenberg. Ferraro, a professor of hearing and speech, will be vice chair.
Two former alumni members of the KUAC board Bill Hougland and Drue Jennings were selected, too.
Also named were former School of Law dean Mike Davis, softball coach Tracy Bunge, associate AD Janelle Martin, endowment association VP Kevin Corbett, registrar Rich Morrell, student body president Justin Miles and student-athletes Harrison Hill and Jennifer Jackson.
“This search committee represents a broad cross-section of talented people who are committed to the achievement of excellence at the University of Kansas,” Robinson said.
Over the last 15 months, Heidrick and Struggles Inc. has helped fill AD vacancies at Arizona State, Louisiana State, Michigan and Notre Dame. Heidrick & Struggles partner Chuck Knapp, a former president at the University of Georgia (1987-97) and Aspen Institute (1997-99) will lead the search process and be assisted by Mike Reiff, who formerly served as men’s coordinator for track and field at Stanford University.
The search firm has a goal of identifying 10-15 candidates for committee consideration. Robinson said the committee would meet for the first time in a week to 10 days.
“Ultimately, the committee will identify three or four candidates for campus interviews,” Robinson said. “A recommendation will be presented to the chancellor who will make the final selection. We expect to complete the search this summer.”
Earlier, Chancellor Robert Hemenway said he hoped to have the post filled by July 1. Bob Frederick will officially step down on June 30 to become a teacher in university’s health, sport and exercise science department.
Reggie Robinson, counselor to the chancellor, chair
John Ferraro, professor of speech and hearing, chair of KUAC board, vice chair
Tracy Bunge, softball coach
Mike Davis, professor of law
Kevin Corbett, KU endowment vice president for development
Don Green, professor of engineering, Big 12 Conference faculty rep
Harrison Hill, student-athlete (football)
Bil Hougland, former student-athlete (basketball), former KUAC board member
Jennifer Jackson, former student-athlete (basketball)
Drue Jennings, former student-athlete (football), former KUAC board member
Theresa Klinkenberg, director of administration
Janelle Martin, associate athletics director for compliance
Justin Mills, student body president
Rich Morrell, registrar
Laird Noller, alumnus, member of KUAC board