As Rob posted below, it appears the athletic department is set to hire Jack Swarbrick as the new AD, with the Chicago Tribune now confirming the report that started buzzing overnight. I'm not sure what qualifications one looks for in an AD, but I imagine that Swarbrick could be seen as an unconventional hire. He's never worked in the capacity of athletic director, or anywhere else in college administration, but the Indianapolis lawyer has been closely involved with negotiating big-time sporting events for the city, including the Final Four and Super Bowl. Perhaps most importantly, if you can convince the NFL to put the finale of their season in Indianapolis, regardless of whether there's a new stadium or not, you must have at least traces of silver on your tongue. Despite his inexperience at the college level, Swarbrick was a finalist for the NCAA presidency eventually awarded to Myles Brand and has spent time working with gymnastics, rowing and other Olympic sports. He also has the qualification of being a Notre Dame alum, meaning there won't be any awkward transition phase where veterans in the athletic department have to recommend it best we not sell the naming rights to the Stadium or change the color scheme. When discussing what I wanted in our new AD, the only two qualifications I really cared about was getting an alum and someone who could get things done, and it seems like Swarbrick fits that bill quite nicely. For ...
Anytime
As Rob posted below, it appears the athletic department is set to hire Jack Swarbrick as the new AD, with the Chicago Tribune now confirming the report that started buzzing overnight. I'm not sure what qualifications one looks for in an AD, but I imagine that Swarbrick could be seen as an unconventional hire. He's never worked in the capacity of athletic director, or anywhere else in college administration, but the Indianapolis lawyer has been closely involved with negotiating big-time sporting events for the city, including the Final Four and Super Bowl. Perhaps most importantly, if you can convince the NFL to put the finale of their season in Indianapolis, regardless of whether there's a new stadium or not, you must have at least traces of silver on your tongue. Despite his inexperience at the college level, Swarbrick was a finalist for the NCAA presidency eventually awarded to Myles Brand and has spent time working with gymnastics, rowing and other Olympic sports. He also has the qualification of being a Notre Dame alum, meaning there won't be any awkward transition phase where veterans in the athletic department have to recommend it best we not sell the naming rights to the Stadium or change the color scheme. When discussing what I wanted in our new AD, the only two qualifications I really cared about was getting an alum and someone who could get things done, and it seems like Swarbrick fits that bill quite nicely. For ...