Official UCF Sports Thread - Basketball: NIT Bid? Football: Spring Practice Underway

Post #1261 » by **Knightro** » Thu Feb 4, 2021 5:11 pm

Eddie Nunez - AD, New Mexico
Doug Gillin - AD, Appalachian State
Mark Alnutt - AD, Buffalo
Beth Goetz - AD, Ball State
Zac Selmon - Sr. Associate AD, Oklahoma

^ This is apparently the list of finalists.

In addition to these names, there appears to be at least one additional "mystery" candidate that is rumored to be a current Power 5 AD who doesn't want their name leaked in the search in case they don't get the job.

Post #1262 » by **UCF** » Thu Feb 4, 2021 6:13 pm

Really curious as to who that mystery candidate would be. I would also hope they would give Carr an opportunity interview. It’s a good job, so I’m not surprised at the interest level.

Post #1263 » by **Knightro** » Thu Feb 4, 2021 6:38 pm

UCF wrote:Really curious as to who that mystery candidate would be. I would also hope they would give Carr an opportunity interview. It’s a good job, so I’m not surprised at the interest level.

We might be finding out who the mystery man is

There are some people who have contacts with people involved in the search who seem to think that UCF is going to hire a current P5 athletic director.

It makes some sense. UCF paid Danny White more than like half of the current P5 AD's out there.

Post #1264 » by **UCF** » Thu Feb 4, 2021 7:29 pm

Most schools wouldn’t give an athletic director a rolling five year deal. It shows the school will commit to keeping them if they do a good job.

One name I thought of early on was Oliver Luck as an out of the box option.

Post #1265 » by **Knightro** » Fri Feb 5, 2021 2:16 am

The mystery candidate is Missouri AD Jim Sterk.

Not the choice I'd make, but he does have a history with President Cartwright.

Post #1266 » by **UCF** » Fri Feb 5, 2021 2:58 am

Knightro wrote:The mystery candidate is Missouri AD Jim Sterk.

Not the choice I'd make, but he does have a history with President Cartwright.

That would make sense why he might be interested.

I have to say this search process seems to have a lot of leaks for who is a candidate.

Kent · Post #1267 » by **Kent** » Fri Feb 5, 2021 4:06 am

I haven't been this excited about the team since the UCF-LSU game.

Even though that game resulted in a close L, it became run-of-the-mill that we would beat everyone and make it fun to watch in the process. It was a wild ride dating back to that winless season and GOL's last days.

Of course, then the team struggled a bit after the streak ended and we as fans/alumni who, so used to winning, were all of a sudden annoyed when the team lost some games.

I do feel this was the right time for the changes at AD and HC but that still means the right people have to be put in place.

The program is in such a good spot though because now it's a much more coveted job and whoever comes in is getting Gabriel for at least one more season.

Exciting and encouraging times.

EDIT: Ha! About 10 minutes after submitting my post, I came across this video that was released today. Charge on.

Watch on YouTube

Post #1268 » by **UCFJayBird** » Fri Feb 5, 2021 2:44 pm

Not loving the idea of Jim Sterk. I don't think his resume is particularly impressive. I'd prefer another up and comer.

The only thing that I think Jim Sterk might bring is his connections to the P5 and maybe his ability to help get UCF into a bigger conference when realignment comes.

Post #1269 » by **UCF** » Sat Feb 6, 2021 1:43 am

Wasn’t aware Sterk’s daughter works at UCF before I read this article.

www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/ucf-targeting-mizzous-sterk-for-ad-job/article_911c8833-c81d-5191-b22a-fb547e894c41.amp.html

Post #1270 » by **UCF** » Sat Feb 6, 2021 1:50 am

Kent wrote:
I do feel this was the right time for the changes at AD and HC but that still means the right people have to be put in place.

Losing Danny White imo is a substantial loss.

A change at football coach seemed like it was inevitably going to happen. At least we’ll get paid for losing him :lol:

Post #1271 » by **Knightro** » Sat Feb 6, 2021 2:47 am

Another unknown mystery candidate has emerged. Rumors that it's Auburn AD Allen Greene, but I don't know who it is.

Post #1272 » by **UCFJayBird** » Sat Feb 6, 2021 2:49 am

Jim Sterk has pulled out. If it is Allen Greene that will be one heck of a hire

Kent · Post #1273 » by **Kent** » Sat Feb 6, 2021 3:25 am

UCF wrote:
Kent wrote:
I do feel this was the right time for the changes at AD and HC but that still means the right people have to be put in place.

Losing Danny White imo is a substantial loss.

A change at football coach seemed like it was inevitably going to happen. At least we’ll get paid for losing him

Seeing White's move as a substantial loss was how I first perceived it too.

But after he and Heupel left, I started seeing the players hint on social media that they weren't mad he was gone, and we didn't see them start to flood the transfer portal.

It all made me realize there was a reason I wasn't 100% in on Heupel.

I mean, I defended him in my own social circle over the years. But it definitely didn't click all the way for me.

Not sure if you saw White's comments from his presser where he talked about having a pulse on the team and he's going to take the same approach at Tennessee...

That comment makes me think he's out of touch with the players while he thinks the opposite.

It made me realize we needed not only a new HC but a new AD too.

I appreciate him for all he did for the university and then some. His support from boosters definitely will be missed. And yes, it's undoubtedly a loss because he definitely is awesome, but with loss comes opportunity and that's how I look at this now.

Post #1274 » by **craig01** » Sat Feb 6, 2021 1:43 pm

UCFJayBird wrote:Jim Sterk has pulled out. If it is Allen Greene that will be one heck of a hire

Greene, who followed White as AD at Buffalo, would be a dynamic hire.

If true, my emotions yesterday went from completely depressed (Sterk, front runner) to super hyped if true.

Post #1275 » by **UCF** » Sat Feb 6, 2021 3:17 pm

I’m glad Sterk dropped out because I don’t think he would have elevated the program. It’s also embarrassing that for as much money as the SEC makes they don’t even pay the AD as much as a G5 school.

Post #1276 » by **UCFJayBird** » Sat Feb 6, 2021 4:01 pm

UCF wrote:I’m glad Sterk dropped out because I don’t think he would have elevated the program. It’s also embarrassing that for as much money as the SEC makes they don’t even pay the AD as much as a G5 school.

Agreed. I think he would've probably been find at the operational aspects of the job, but he lacked the intangibles that a school like UCF needs, which is someone who can energize the fan base and keep that momentum of excitement around it. And an older guy with minimal outreach on social media who is probably looking at his last job before retirement doesn't do that, especially for a fan base as young as ours.

Post #1277 » by **UCF** » Sun Feb 7, 2021 12:40 am

Thought by now we’d have an AD in place... we need to hire a FB coach ASAP to get ready for the fall.

Post #1278 » by **Knightro** » Sun Feb 7, 2021 1:13 am

UCF wrote:Thought by now we’d have an AD in place... we need to hire a FB coach ASAP to get ready for the fall.

I'm guessing AD announcement by Monday at the absolute latest. Head coach announcement by the following Monday at the latest.

Post #1279 » by **UCF** » Mon Feb 8, 2021 1:00 pm

Knightro wrote:
UCF wrote:Thought by now we’d have an AD in place... we need to hire a FB coach ASAP to get ready for the fall.

I'm guessing AD announcement by Monday at the absolute latest. Head coach announcement by the following Monday at the latest.

Here’s hoping today we get good news.

Post #1280 » by **Knightro** » Mon Feb 8, 2021 2:56 pm

Sounds like Arkansas State AD Terry Mohajir is the pick.