April 26, 2001 — Athletic director Bob Frederick resigns after 14 years, saying he has had enough of the ever-increasing pressure to win and would like to return to teaching.
June 2001 — After poring over a list of candidates submitted by Atlanta head-hunting firm Heidrick and Struggles Inc., a KU search committee headed by Reggie Robinson of the chancellor’s office, interviews Mike Hamrick, AD at East Carolina; Kathleen DeBoer, senior associate AD at Kentucky; Doug Woolard, AD at Saint Louis U.; and Al Bohl, AD at Fresno State.
June 28, 2001 — Bohl, who had been at Fresno State for five years and at Toledo U. for nine years before that, is the search committee’s choice to become KU’s 13th athletic director. “The appointment of Al Bohl signals the start of a new and exciting era in KU athletics,” Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. Hemenway adds Bohl’s salary will be $255,000, or $5,000 more than Kansas State athletic director Tim Weiser makes.
Aug. 1, 2001 — Bohl officially takes over.
Nov. 4, 2001 — Bohl fires football coach Terry Allen with three games remaining in the season and names defensive coordinator Tom Hayes as interim coach. The firing actually came the day before a 51-17 loss to Nebraska, but isn’t announced until the day after the game.
Nov. 5, 2001 — Kansas men’s basketball coach Roy Williams says he is “disappointed and sad” about Allen’s firing. Williams adds: “I’m not the athletic director. I’m not the administration. I’m just one more smiling face around here.”
Dec. 3, 2001 — Bohl hires Oklahoma offensive coordinator Mark Mangino to succeed Allen after Mangino had withdrawn his name from a list of candidates two days earlier.
April 11, 2002 — The Fresno Bee publishes a story linking Bohl to an improper transfer of funds. The Bee reports that according to a review by FSU officials, annual budget shortfalls ranging from $200,000 to $400,000 were masked by internal transfers over three consecutive years from a non-operating budget.
May 9, 2002 — Bohl tells the KU Athletics Corporation board he “did nothing inappropriately” while at Fresno State. “I’m confident we followed proper procedures.” Board chair John Ferraro says of Bohl: “He feels innocent, and I’m convinced he is.”
June 16, 2002 — Bohl says the dispute over the funds transfer has been resolved, but doesn’t give details. The Journal-World speculates Bohl returned bonus money to the school. Hemenway issues a statement saying, “Al wants to get on with his work here at the University of Kansas, and that’s what we want.”
July 30, 2002 — The NCAA reports it is investigating possible rules violations against Fresno State, mainly in its men’s basketball program. The NCAA had sent a preliminary letter of inquiry in October of 2000, but members of the KU search committee were unaware of it and blame Heidrick and Struggles Inc. for failure to provide the information.
Dec. 6, 2002 — In the wake of a 2-10 football season, Bohl gives Mangino a one-year contract extension through 2007.
December, 2002 — Fresno State announces self-imposed sanctions stemming from the rules violations that prompted the NCAA letter of inquiry.
Feb. 8, 2003 — The Fresno Bee publishes a story detailing allegations from former FSU basketball team statistician Stephen Mintz, who says he wrote and delivered 17 pieces of coursework in 2000 for three players.
Feb. 12, 2003 — “We’re aware of recent news reports regarding Fresno State University,” Hemenway says. “Both Fresno State and the NCAA have ongoing investigations and it would not be appropriate to comment on those investigations at this time. No changes in athletic administration at KU are being considered.”
Feb. 14, 2003 — Amid a firestorm of media reports that Bohl’s job is in jeopardy, Williams addresses the situation at a news conference, not mentioning Bohl by name. “My relationship with my athletic director is a very professional relationship. He’s the athletic director, and I know that. If I need something, I go talk to him about it.”
March 5, 2003 — Fresno State imposes a postseason ban in the wake of allegations of academic fraud in the men’s basketball program while Jerry Tarkanian was head coach. Fresno State president John Welty does not, however, blame Bohl for what happened during Tarkanian’s tenure. Bohl was Fresno State’s AD from 1996 to 2001 when the violations occurred.
March 19, 2003 — Bohl announces that the university will honor the last year of its contract with women’s basketball coach Marian Washington. Bohl would not say, however, what Washington has to do to have her contract renewed after the 2003-04 season.
March 28, 2003 — Prominent KU benefactor Dana Anderson, a friend of Williams and former member of the KU Athletics Corp. board of directors, makes known his feelings about the athletics department turmoil. “If there are irreconcilable differences between coach and Al Bohl — and I don’t have any animosity toward Al Bohl — but if a choice needs to be made, it’s not really much of a choice. Coach feels like he’s being micromanaged, and if that’s the case we need to eliminate the micromanagement. I don’t want to negotiate or debate it. Let’s just make the change.”
April 1, 2003 — Basketball coach Matt Doherty resigns under fire at North Carolina, a day before Kansas departs for the Final Four in New Orleans. Speculation mounts that Williams will jump ship for Carolina, in part because of his relationship with Bohl.
April 5, 2003 — Bohl is welcomed by as many boos and hisses as polite applause as he walks on stage at KU’s pep rally in New Orleans before the Kansas-Marquette national semifinal game.
April 7, 2003 — Kansas loses to Syracuse in national title game. Hemenway says this about trying to keep Williams from bolting for North Carolina: “Nothing is absolutely certain in life, but we’ll sure try to — how should I say this? — we’re sure planning to do everything we can to support Roy Williams and the Kansas basketball program.”
April 9, 2003 — Hemenway, saying he was convinced a change in leadership in the athletic department was necessary, announces Bohl’s firing. Bohl calls it “a sad day in college athletics when a college basketball coach can hire and fire an athletic director.” Former KU football letterman A. Drue Jennings named interim athletic director.
April 14, 2003 — Kansas loses Williams to his alma mater, North Carolina.
April 21, 2003 — Jennings announces hiring of Bill Self from Illinois to replace Williams.
April 28, 2003 — Chancellor Hemenway announces April 28 as first day he and Jennings to sit down and discuss plan to hire AD.
June 8, 2003 — Journal-World reports Oral Roberts University’s Mike Carter has withdrawn his name from consideration for the KU vacancy.
June 9, 2003 — Journal-World reports Lew Perkins of UConn is pick to replace Bohl.
June 10, 2003 — Perkins introduced as KU athletic director. “I’m here to support people, to support our coaches and our staff. I believe in working hard and I’m a very student-oriented person,” Perkins said.
