Sexton promoted to VP Stu. Affairs w/ new title Exec Director, Boatright Deputy AD

[shockmonster]

No one seems to be worried but I'll post a link to the thread which caught my attention a few years back. Take it for what it's worth. http://shockernet.net/forum/showthre...ight=boatright

Somebody has a great memory for things that most on here would forget.

[Shocker1976]

Why is there speculation that ES would be the successor to Bardo? If they look internally for a successor I would think the logical candidate is the Provost, Tony Vizzini. He has functioned as Bardo's right hand man and has been the key player under Bardo on the work for the Innovations Campus. Certainly it appears that ES may also have a prominent role, but he will be reporting to Vizzini.

IMO Dr Vizzini is currently the most logical successor for Dr Bardo should the Regents hire from current administrators. The question is will Dr Vizzini be willing to remain in his current position for another six years?

[Aargh]

I remember that thread very well.

Sexton appears now to have made a move to a position where he will have less of a necessity to deal with strong personalities under his command. That might be best for all concerned.

With the new division of powers, Sexton has been reported to have maintained control of hiring and firing. It is only my opinion based on my observation, but I expect that Boatwright will do the "heavy lifting" if there's ever another firing out of the athletic department. Sexton will just have the duty of informing the individual of their loss of employment.

If that's the case, that's a very awkward situation. Sexton seems to prefer avoiding confrontation with those under his command. If Boatwright is the guy who has to handle corrections or attitude adjustments among the athletic department staff, but only Sexton can pull the trigger, then WSU has a dysfunctional athletic department.

Sexton getting a "promotion" (???? - looks more like he got reassigned to something more fitting his skill set) right at the time there is a major internal investigation involving a highly visible coach might be a coincidence. Then again, it might not. Athletic Directors have pretty lofty pay scales. I doubt that Vice Presidents of Student Affairs salaries compare favorably with Athletic Directors pay scales.

Bardo has known about the WBB situation a long time before it became public knowledge. I think Sexton was given the opportunity to "ask for" a reassignment. Next, after an appropriate period of time, Sexton will ask to be relieved of all duties related to the athletic department. Then Bardo will hire an athletic director. I hope it's not Boatwright.

[SHOCKvalue]

I think it is pretty clear that - like others have said - ADES had some professional shortcomings that have come to a head via the current situation, and this shuffling is just the nicest way to handle it from a PR perspective, for a loyal, respected employee that still has a legitimate skill set. There's no reason why a university president would be out in the open handling something like this if he/she had a true athletic director - chain of command and all. Bardo is handling things in a de facto manner in light of the possible absence of true leadership in the AD position.

For all of the positives associated with Bardo, I hope this is not (another?) indication that his management MO is to micro-manage everything at every level of his University. When WSU hired Bardo, there were some undertones of this trait from those associated with him at his last stop. A strong leader has the potential to undermine himself/herself by ostracizing the foundation below him/her. Still an improvement over the staid, monarchy-like figureheads we've had in the president position for as long as I can remember prior.

[Kung Wu]

Or maybe ADES simply has done such an outstanding job that he deserved a raise?

He has raised the funds required to secure the best coach we have ever had -- and I am not convinced that Marshall wasn't about to get on that plane to Alabama. ADES was instrumental in placing our University in "uncharted terrority" (as someone else put it) for not being a P5. Keeping Marshall here supercharges Bardo's initiatives -- and Bardo knows that.

When the guy who keeps your cashcow and long-and-short-term-plan-turbocharger from leaving for a competitor's $4M job asks for "more responsibility" -- you probably give it to him with open arms.

It really could be, and probably is, that simple.

[SHOCKvalue]

Or maybe ADES simply has done such an outstanding job that he deserved a raise?

He has raised the funds required to secure the best coach we have ever had -- and I am not convinced that Marshall wasn't about to get on that plane to Alabama. ADES was instrumental in placing our University in "uncharted terrority" (as someone else put it) for not being a P5. Keeping Marshall here supercharges Bardo's initiatives -- and Bardo knows that.

When the guy who keeps your cashcow and long-and-short-term-plan-turbocharger from leaving for a competitor's $4M job asks for "more responsibility" -- you probably give it to him with open arms.

It really could be, and probably is, that simple.

I think you are figuratively sifting through a large pile of manure hoping to find a hidden diamond, KW.

ES is a fantastic fundraiser; I've said as much on this forum, several times. That however is not the only job description for an athletic director. Numero uno - even above fundraising - is personnel management and leadership, like essentially all other high level "corporate" jobs.

Besides, the only way an AD gets a promotion is to move to a bigger school with a larger budget and set of responsibilities. Can you provide an example - from anytime, anywhere - where an AD has been reassigned,... err, sorry,... "promoted" at the same school?

[Kung Wu]

I think you are figuratively sifting through a large pile of manure hoping to find a hidden diamond, KW.

ES is a fantastic fundraiser; I've said as much on this forum, several times. That however is not the only job description for an athletic director. Numero uno - even above fundraising - is personnel management and leadership, like essentially all other high level "corporate" jobs.

Besides, the only way an AD gets a promotion is to move to a bigger school with a larger budget and set of responsibilities. Can you provide an example - from anytime, anywhere - where an AD has been reassigned,... err, sorry,... "promoted" at the same school?

Maybe he doesn't want to be Athletic Director anymore, and this is his way of transitioning?

[SHOCKvalue]

Maybe he doesn't want to be Athletic Director anymore, and this is his way of transitioning?

Could be true. Could also be a way of trying to find a silver lining where there isn't one.

No one really knows, but the timing of everything here is really unusual if you are more right than I am wrong.

If Marshall and Sexton are close or otherwise have a good working relationship, and this is Bardo micro-managing a status quo that Marshall finds comfortable, then it is a concerning development.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Stunned about what?

1. Board of Regents will force Bardo to retire on his 72nd birthday? They did this to Phog Allen immediately after Wilt Chamberlain committed to play basketball at KU.

2. Bardo is laying plans for a successor who will work to complete his vision for WSU? Succession planning is/should be a standard/routine practice by University Presidents.

3. Bardo would consider ES as a viable successor who would commit himself to complete Bardo's vision for WSU?

There is zero way that AD/VP Sexton will ever be the President of WSU. A big, fat zero.

As ShockerRef would say,

"That is all."

[ShockerEngineer]

Maybe he doesn't want to be Athletic Director anymore, and this is his way of transitioning?

I know someone who has some inside information on all of this, and it sounded like someone of influence at the university didn't want Sexton being AD anymore. Also, they were searching for external people for his current position, but that search suddenly halted and Sexton ended up with that job.

[1972Shocker]

Maybe he doesn't want to be Athletic Director anymore, and this is his way of transitioning?

Apparently a significant part of Sexton's new job duties is to be in charge of the student experience on campus. If the situation in the WBB program blows up in his face I wonder if he will have the credibility to effectively take on that responsibility.

[wusphlash]

Maybe he doesn't want to be Athletic Director anymore, and this is his way of transitioning?

I think it's important to remember that Eric did not seek out the AD job. Dr. Beggs sought out Eric to fill that position.

[Ricardo del Rio]

I think it's important to remember that Eric did not seek out the AD job. Dr. Beggs sought out Eric to fill that position.

Very good point.

[Kung Wu]

I think it's important to remember that Eric did not seek out the AD job. Dr. Beggs sought out Eric to fill that position.

So that makes my guess even more plausible.

[Kung Wu]

I know someone who has some inside information on all of this, and it sounded like someone of influence at the university didn't want Sexton being AD anymore. Also, they were searching for external people for his current position, but that search suddenly halted and Sexton ended up with that job.

Perhaps that someone of influence was none other than ... Dr. Sexton. :)