DURHAM, N.C.– North Carolina Central University announced veteran athletics administrator and NCCU alumnus Dr. Louis “Skip” Perkins as the university’s next Director of Athletics during a press conference on Wednesday, concluding a competitive national search led by CarrSports Consulting. Perkins will begin at NCCU on June 1.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Following a national search, Marshall University today named Christian Spears its next athletic director. The school’s Board of Governors voted to approve the hire earlier today.Furman names Drew Ingraham Senior Associate AD for External Affairs
Furman names Drew Ingraham Senior Associate AD for External Affairs
GREENVILLE, SC. – Drew Ingraham has been named Furman’s new senior associate athletics director for external affairs, it was announced today by director of athletics Jason Donnelly.
Ingraham, who emerged from a field of high caliber candidates developed through the assistance of Carr Sports Consulting, comes to Furman following four years at Texas Tech University, where he served as associate athletics director for marketing, communications, and creative services.
“Furman Athletics is excited to introduce Drew Ingraham as our new senior associate athletics director for external affairs,” said Donnelly. “Drew brings a wealth of knowledge, experience with several collegiate athletics programs, and a vital skill set that will support the continued growth of our department. We are excited to hire a candidate of Drew’s caliber and appreciate the commitment of the university to continue to grow the Furman Athletics brand by investing in revenue generation, increased fan engagement, and a first class student-athlete experience.”
“I am truly grateful and honored for the opportunity to join Furman,” said Ingraham. “I would like to thank Jason and the staff at Furman for the opportunity to lead such a talented external team. I look forward to contributing to the enhanced growth of the Furman Athletics brand locally, regionally and nationally.”
A key member of the director of athletics’ executive leadership team, the senior associate athletics director for external affairs will assist the department in providing strong vision, leadership, management, coordination, and oversight of athletics external operations. These responsibilities will include oversight of athletics revenue generation, marketing, communications, promotions, game day experience, athletics ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, licensing, and branding with a focus on Greenville, Upstate South Carolina, and national growth and recognition.
A large of part of Ingraham’s role will be to build upon the success of Furman Athletics during the past few years. Athletics has demonstrated remarkable growth in external affairs with its Furman Family culture, connection to the community, and emphasis on engagement with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and fans.
During the past year, Furman Football experienced a 60 percent increase in pre-COVID attendance due to significant changes in the game day experience and facility upgrades at Paladin Stadium. Athletics has focused its strategy on being “Greenville’s Team” by returning men’s and women’s basketball games to downtown Greenville at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena for its “Weekends at the Well” series. Furman has increased corporate partnerships though Van Wagner Sports Properties and strategic partnerships throughout the Upstate with partners such as ESPN Upstate Radio, which broadcasts all Furman Football and Men’s Basketball via FM Radio. Furman Athletics, along with the Southern Conference, will also co-host the NCAA Basketball Tournament in Greenville in 2022, 2023, and 2026.
At Texas Tech Ingraham oversaw three operations within the Red Raider athletics department — communications, promotions & fan engagement, and recently created creative services — with a combined staff of 16 full-time employees.
He coordinated the planning and execution of Red Raider football and men’s basketball game day, as well as year-round promotional efforts for all 17 programs.
Ingraham directed marketing efforts in football that generated $16.7M in revenue for the 2018 & ’19 seasons and constructed and implemented marketing/ticket sales plans that added 8,837 new season ticket accounts over those two campaigns.
In 2020 he designed the implementation and education plans for Texas Tech’s transition to mobile ticketing.
For basketball, Ingraham led marketing and outreach that netted a 12 percent increase in student attendance and 16 percent increase in overall attendance for Red Raider hoops during the 2018-19 season, and a 2019-20 basketball campaign that averaged 14,057 fans. For the 2021-22 season, Texas Tech netted a program record 8,150 season ticket holders.
He also crafted marketing and sales strategies that played a vital role in a four-year, season ticket sellout for Red Raider baseball.
A member of Texas Tech’s senior athletics team, as well as the department’s “Beyond Verified” committee overseeing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), Ingraham has played a central role in the tremendous growth in Texas Tech’s social media accounts that recently topped 1.3 million combined followers, including the fifth highest TikTok college athletics account in the nation with over 100,000 followers.
Through his social media initiatives, the Red Raiders netted over eight million interactions and almost 30 million video views across Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
In addition, he managed Texas Tech’s Athletics strategic fundraising relationship with CaringCent College Athletics.
Prior to his tenure at Texas Tech, Ingraham served as associate athletics director of marketing & fan engagement at the University of New Mexico from 2014-17, where he was heavily involved in all aspects of ticket sales, marketing, and social media strategy development and execution.
He spent over six years (2007-13) as associate athletics director for marketing & operations at Montana State University, in Bozeman, his hometown.
He began his collegiate administrative career as an external athletics marketing manager at Colorado College in 2005.
Ingraham majored in English and secondary education at Boston College, from which he earned his bachelor’s degree in 2001. He added a Master of Science in physical education/sports administration from Springfield (Mass.) College in 2004, and is a 2017 graduate of the Sports Management Institute.
About CarrSports Consulting, LLC
Founded in 1997, CarrSports Consulting, LLC is recognized as a standard of excellence in executive search and management consulting services to intercollegiate athletics. CarrSports is well-respected and known for integrity, expertise and creativity. Our unique record of achievement includes the successful completion of over 130 leadership searches and 70 intensely-focused management consulting projects conducted from coast to coast, providing our clients with outstanding service and best options for meaningful solutions.
CarrSports remains dedicated to its deliberate, yet cutting-edge approach to excellence through professional objectivity, practical application and innovation. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
CarrSports Partners with St. Bonaventure in Hiring Joe Manhertz
St. Bonaventure names Joe Manhertz as Athletic Director
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Joe Manhertz, associate director of athletics at Duke University, has been appointed the new director of athletics at St. Bonaventure University, Dr. Joseph Zimmer, acting president, has announced.
“We are all very excited to have Joe Manhertz join our leadership team as director of athletics,” Zimmer said. “His extensive experience in some of the premier programs in the country positions him well to lead St. Bonaventure’s Department of Athletics to even greater glory in the years to come.”
Manhertz was selected after a process led by a search committee consisting of members of the St. Bonaventure Department of Athletics and University staff and assisted by CarrSports Consulting. Barb Questa, interim athletics director, and Dick Penna, ’68, university trustee, co-chaired the committee.
The leader of Duke Athletics’ Major Gifts development arm, Manhertz brings an elite resume to Western New York, including 20 years working for universities in Power Five conferences while gaining experience at some of the nation’s athletics powerhouses.
He has spent the past decade in Durham, securing primary funding for Duke’s building initiatives, major improvements and long-term endowments. During that time, he led the creation and direction of the Duke Athletic Major Gift office while serving as a member of the Blue Devils’ senior leadership team responsible for the execution of the department’s strategic plan.
Manhertz was responsible for planning and directing the comprehensive campaign that spearheaded upgrades to Cameron Indoor Stadium, as well as Duke’s football stadium, its soccer/lacrosse and track and field facilities while also creating scholarships and endowments. Along with his fundraising efforts, he also served in an administrative role, helping to oversee the Duke baseball, men’s and women’s track/cross country and fencing programs.
“I am a passionate person and St. Bonaventure represented passion, how people feel about that place, the deep connections anyone associated with Bona’s has to the University,” Manhertz said. “To be a part of that is special. I am humbled to be a Bonnie and to help our student-athletes be successful in athletics and in life.
“I want to thank Dr. Zimmer and the search committee for this amazing opportunity and also my wife and kids for their support and the faith they have in me,” Manhertz said. “I also thank my staff here at Duke who have been so supportive of me: Dr. Kevin White (former vice president and director of athletics), as well as Dr. Vincent Price (university president), Nina King (vice president and director of athletics) and Tom Coffman (deputy director of athletics). I’d like to also thank Stan Wilcox (NCAA executive vice president of regulatory affairs), Mark Murphy (former director of athletics at Colgate and Green Bay Packers current president and CEO), Gene Smith (director of athletics at Ohio State) and Jake Crouthamel (former director of athletics at Syracuse). I’ve learned so much from all of them.”
Prior to his time at Duke, Manhertz previously served as the director of development for athletics at Ohio State University for three years, directing major gift activities for the Buckeyes Athletics program. He also spent seven years at Syracuse University in a development role, greatly increasing gift donations to the Orange basketball and football programs. His career path also led him to Hamilton College as associate director of leadership gifts.
“Being on campus at St. Bonaventure sealed the deal,” Manhertz said. “The people at Bonaventure are hungry to take the next step. Hearing the passion of the students, coaches and staff, what Bona’s means to them and what they think it can be perfectly aligns with where I think it can be. I look forward to getting to work taking Bonaventure Athletics to the next level.”
He also worked as an adjunct professor of sports marketing for the SUNY Cortland Sport Management program (2001-07) and served as a representative of the inaugural class of the NCAA Leadership Institute for Minority Males. Prior to his professional career, he interned with the National Football League Players Association.
Manhertz brings regional connections with him to St. Bonaventure. A 1996 graduate of Colgate University, Manhertz played both basketball and football for the Raiders and later earned a master’s degree in sport management in 1998 from Ohio State University. He has deep ties to the area, growing up in Fairport, N.Y., outside Rochester, where his mother still resides.
“Growing up in the Rochester area, I understand the love the people in the community have for Bonaventure and for Western New York and seeing it first-hand emphasized that. The connection is truly special,” Manhertz said, adding, “I am also excited to be back with the Bills Mafia.”
He is married to Pamela Koehler, a practicing attorney in Indiana who is also a Fairport native. The couple has a blended family with four children: Benton, Mallory, Joseph III (Trey) and Trevor.
Manhertz takes over the leadership of St. Bonaventure’s 19 Division I athletics programs and will oversee the University’s nearly 380 student-athletes.
An introductory press conference will be held in the coming days.
Further discussion regarding the new hire can be found here.
About CarrSports Consulting, LLC
Founded in 1997, CarrSports Consulting, LLC is recognized as a standard of excellence in executive search and management consulting services to intercollegiate athletics. CarrSports is well-respected and known for integrity, expertise and creativity. Our unique record of achievement includes the successful completion of over 130 leadership searches and 70 intensely-focused management consulting projects conducted from coast to coast, providing our clients with outstanding service and best options for meaningful solutions.
CarrSports remains dedicated to its deliberate, yet cutting-edge approach to excellence through professional objectivity, practical application and innovation. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Director of Athletics - St. Bonaventure University
Director of Athletics
St. Bonaventure University is seeking a Director of Athletics
Founded in 1858, St. Bonaventure University is where heart meets mind. Shaped by its values of compassion, wisdom and integrity and lauded for its value, Bona is ranked No. 2 in New York and No. 3 in the North in 2020 by U.S. News & World Report — Bona is a transformative community committed to academic excellence and civic engagement.
Location
St. Bonaventure University is located in the scenic enchanted mountain region in Western New York, approximately 75 miles south of Buffalo, NY. Nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, the 500-acre University is comprised of a close-knit caring community and small-town living with easy access to major metropolitan areas.
The Position
Under the supervision of the President, the Director of Athletics (AD) leads the St. Bonaventure University’s (University) Department of Athletics to include the nineteen men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic programs and the various internal and external department units. The Director of Athletics will also ensure overall program compliance with NCAA requirements and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Department of Athletics
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at St. Bonaventure University is to complement and supplement the overall mission of the University with the utmost integrity through adherence to NCAA and conference bylaws. The intercollegiate program is committed to mentoring all student-athletes and enriching their intellectual, spiritual, and physical growth and development. The program strives to provide competitive opportunities to a diverse range of student-athletes at the conference, regional, and national levels while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The Department engenders support for the University among many constituents including students, faculty, alumni, friends, and local communities.
Vision Statement
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is nationally recognized for the academic and athletic excellence of its student-athletes and their collective commitment to fair play and sportsmanship embodied in the University’s Franciscan heritage. The sports programs are competitive in the Atlantic 10 Conference as evidenced by their ability to consistently compete for conference tournament play and championships. The Department is a source of pride on campus, in local communities, and among St. Bonaventure Alumni not only because of its storied traditions, but also as a result of its commitment to excellence, emphasis on the University’s core values, and its enhanced contribution to the University’s success and vision.
Application Statement
Bachelor’s degree is required, master’s degree preferred with seven (7) years of relevant experience. Compensation is competitive and will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Candidates should include a cover letter describing relevant experiences and interest in this position, curriculum vitae/resume; and names, titles and contact information for five (5) references. To assure full consideration, application materials should be received by July 16th, and the applicant portal will remain open until the hiring process is completed.
Please send questions or nominations regarding this search to St.BonaventureSearch@CarrSportsConsulting.com
ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
St. Bonaventure is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity educational institution. It is guided by the principle that equal opportunity means more than equal employment opportunity, and that access to facilities and services shall be available to all people regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression. This principle is applicable to every member of the St. Bonaventure community, both students and employed personnel at every level, and to all facilities and services.
Department: St. Bonaventure University
This is a full time position
Kent State University chooses Randale Richmond as Athletic Director
IN THE NEWS
Kent State University chooses Randale Richmond as Athletic Director led by CarrSports Consulting Executive Search Team
"Randale Richmond embodies our Kent State commitment to graduating student-athletes and to winning championships, in that order. His enthusiasm for Kent State and for student-athlete success is infectious, and we welcome Randale and his family back into our Kent State community."
Todd Diacon
President, Kent State University
CarrSports Executive Search team assists Kent State University in hiring Randale Richmond as Athletic Director
KENT, OHIO- Kent State University President Todd Diacon and Vice President for Student Affairs Lamar R. Hylton formally introduced Randale L. Richmond as the university’s new director of athletics at a morning virtual press conference held Thursday, April 15. Richmond currently serves as senior associate athletic director at Old Dominion University. He was named Kent State’s 12th director of athletics on April 9, and he will begin at the university on May 1.
“Randale Richmond embodies our Kent State commitment to graduating student-athletes and to winning championships, in that order,” Diacon said. “His enthusiasm for Kent State and for student-athlete success is infectious, and we welcome Randale and his family back into our Kent State community.”
Richmond shared his reaction to being selected as Kent State’s new director of athletics.
“My family and I are beyond excited to return to Kent State and lead an outstanding athletics department,” Richmond said. “The university’s mission is to transform the lives of our students through access and education, a goal which is core to my beliefs. As a department and as a university, we will deliver on this mission.”
Since 2015, Richmond has held the position of senior associate athletic director at Old Dominion, where he is responsible for the oversight and supervision of student-athlete welfare initiatives, student-athlete academic services and NCAA compliance services and programming. He also serves as the sport administrator for men’s basketball, baseball, field hockey, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s soccer and wrestling. At Old Dominion, he is co-chair of the President’s Task Force on Inclusive Excellence and a member of the athletic director’s executive team.
Previously, Richmond served in various roles with Kent State’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics from 2004 until 2015. He started as a graduate assistant for compliance and eligibility, then served as assistant director for compliance and eligibility from 2006 to 2010, assistant athletic director for compliance and eligibility from 2010 to 2012 and associate athletic director for student-athlete services from 2012 to 2015. In his last position at Kent State, he was a member of the President’s Administrative Council and the athletic director’s executive committee.
Richmond is a current member of the National Association of Athletics Compliance (NAAC) Thought Leaders Group, co-chair of the NAAC Convention Committee and an active participant in the NAAC Athletics Compliance Elite (A.C.E.) Mentoring Program. He also is involved in Old Dominion’s First-Generation Faculty Mentoring Program and the Brother 2 Brother Faculty Steering Committee. Richmond is a graduate of the NCAA Leadership Institute, where he was selected as the graduation speaker for the 2015 graduating class.
Richmond earned his Bachelor of Arts in history with a minor in sociology from Baldwin-Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University) in 2004 and his Master of Education in higher education and student personnel from Kent State in 2006.
In February, Kent State launched a national search for the university’s new director of athletics. A 12-member search committee led by Hylton recruited and screened highly qualified candidates for the director of athletics position. Assisting in the search process was CarrSports Consulting LLC, a firm that has extensive experience in conducting national searches for athletic directors and has many Mid-American Conference (MAC) and NCAA Division I institutions as clients.
Richmond succeeds Joel Nielsen, who announced in January that he plans to seek new challenges when his contract with Kent State ends on June 30.
READ FULL RELEASE FROM KENT STATE ATHLETICS. click here
About CarrSports Consulting, LLC
Founded in 1997, CarrSports Consulting, LLC is recognized as a standard of excellence in executive search and management consulting services to intercollegiate athletics. CarrSports is well-respected and known for integrity, expertise and creativity. Our unique record of achievement includes the successful completion of over 130 leadership searches and 70 intensely-focused management consulting projects conducted from coast to coast, providing our clients with outstanding service and best options for meaningful solutions.
CarrSports remains dedicated to its deliberate, yet cutting-edge approach to excellence through professional objectivity, practical application and innovation. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
CarrSports Consulting reveals Social Justice program
IN THE NEWS
CarrSports Consulting, LLC (CarrSports) is ready to assist athletic departments looking to create change and lasting action when it comes to addressing social justice issues.
"In light of today’s media and intense public scrutiny, it is imperative student-athletes, coaches and staff establish and uphold the fight for social justice and stop systemic racism, hate and bias on campus. We must create an atmosphere for all student-athletes where they are included within the athletic departments and are seen as more than athletes across campuses."
Kevin Anderson
Vice President CarrSports Consulting
CarrSports Consulting reveals Social Justice Program
ODENTON, Md. (March 22, 2021) – CarrSports Consulting, LLC (CarrSports) is ready to assist athletic departments looking to create change and lasting action when it comes to addressing social justice issues.
CarrSports has established a Social Justice Team led by Vice President Kevin Anderson. Working closely with Anderson in an advisory role will be Dr. Leonard N. Moore the former Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin.
“In light of today’s media and intense public scrutiny, it is imperative student-athletes, coaches and staff establish and uphold the fight for social justice and stop systemic racism, hate and bias on campus. We must create an atmosphere for all student-athletes where they are included within the athletic departments and are seen as more than athletes across campuses,” said Anderson, who served on the NCAA Ad Hoc Committee to Promote Cultural Diversity and Inclusion as well as serving as the Director of Athletics at the United States Military Academy West Point. He championed the first LGBT Intercollegiate Summit while he was Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland. While at Stanford University, Coach Bill Walsh and Anderson led the development and management of the “Achieving Coaching Excellence Academy” that focused on recruitment and hiring of black head football coaches.
CarrSports Consulting has developed a Social Justice program that can assist athletic departments who are ready to begin the difficult but necessary conversations on their campuses, plus help those departments get to the next level to create long-term action.
“We applaud CarrSports in their efforts to advance opportunities for Black athletic administrators in our industry. They have proven to be true advocates of our “pipeline” mission and have been fervently committed to issues surrounding equality and justice. We look forward to collaborating with CarrSports in the years ahead,” said Kansas City Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Dr. Brandon E. Martin, member of the Black AD Alliance representing 50 black Division I Athletic Directors.
CarrSports will also be able to help develop a meaningful path to address and increase inclusion and diversity.
“Athletic Directors need to be honest with themselves and what they are bringing to their campus every day. I know it can be delicate to talk about race. I understand people have questions and want answers quickly and the CarrSports Social Justice Team can help address those needs in a quick and constructive fashion,” said Dr. Moore. “Athletic Departments need to value student-athlete activism and especially their black student-athletes now more than ever. We need Athletic Directors to step up and be bold and progressive at addressing systematic racism.”
The CarrSports Social Justice program will help athletic departments create an atmosphere where all student-athletes feel included, are seen more than just athletes across campuses, and have meaningful conversations where the student-athletes’ voices are heard and action is implemented through a collaborative effort.
“As athletic departments and campuses come back together there is going to be a greater need to tackle the social justice issues that are right in front of us and those issues that are below the surface that need to be addressed. Departments need to be proactive and open to change to create long-term success for the future of the athletic department,” said CarrSports Managing Partner Mike Thomas.
The CarrSports Social Justice program takes a three-tier approach where immediate, short-term, and long-term action is discussed, strategically designed, and implemented. The CarrSports Social Justice program can be tailored to meet your department’s needs.
“We aspire to help athletic departments embrace diversity, equity and inclusion so there is a welcoming, collaborating and understanding environment for every student-athlete, coach and staff member,” said CarrSports Managing Partner Jeff Hathaway.
The program will help athletic departments embrace social justice issues and be leaders on their campus, in their city, nationally and conference.
CarrSports is confident that if you invest time, thought, open conversation, and resources to addressing social justice issues the result will be an athletic department where all are included and thrive.
For more information about CarrSports’ Social Justice program please visit https://www.carrsportsconsulting.com/Social-Justice.
About CarrSports Consulting, LLC
Founded in 1997, CarrSports Consulting, LLC is recognized as a standard of excellence in executive search and management consulting services to intercollegiate athletics. CarrSports is well-respected and known for integrity, expertise and creativity. Our unique record of achievement includes the successful completion of over 130 leadership searches and 70 intensely-focused management consulting projects conducted from coast to coast, providing our clients with outstanding service and best options for meaningful solutions.
CarrSports remains dedicated to its deliberate, yet cutting-edge approach to excellence through professional objectivity, practical application and innovation. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
What others are saying about the CarrSports Social Justice Program led by Kevin Anderson:
“Kevin Anderson has always been a leader and forward thinker who has put comprehensive student-athlete activism, racial equality and success at the forefront while balancing the needs of the athletic department, the University, conference, and NCAA. He brings a wealth of experience to the table having successfully served at some of the top institutions across the country and being one of the leaders in equity and inclusion throughout intercollegiate athletics.” – Warde Manuel, University of Michigan’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics and 2020-21 National Association of Collegiate Directors of America (NACDA) President
“Kevin Anderson is one of the most student-athlete-centric Athletic Directors in the country. He is not someone who is a boardroom Athletic Director. That’s really his passion. That’s one of his distinguishing features.” – The Honorable Tom McMillen, President and CEO of LEAD1 Association
“Since Kevin Anderson’s presidency of NACDA in 2015-16, he has been very active in a myriad of NACDA activities. Kevin chaired the McLendon Minority Scholarship Subcommittee, chaired McLendon Board of Directors meetings and represented the McLendon Board in creative marketing sessions with Intersport, our consulting company. In addition, Kevin is still very active as a past president of NACDA.” – Bob Vecchione, Chief Executive Officer of NACDA
I have enjoyed working with Kevin Anderson. As NACDA Past President and a McLendon Foundation board member, Kevin has been instrumental in advancing minority hiring, social justice and student-athlete activism. In addition, Kevin was one of the first to organize efforts to advance black football coaches for head coaching positions as he worked with Bill Walsh at Stanford University creating “Achieving Coaching Excellence (ACE).” The inaugural class had 25 participants and five, including Tyrone Willingham, obtained head coaching jobs that year.” – Adrien Harraway, Vice President of NACDA
Kent State University partners with CarrSports in Search for Athletic Director
IN THE NEWS
Kent State and CarrSports launch a national search for the university’s next leader of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
I am confident that with the search committee's leadership, and with the leadership of search chair Vice President Hylton, we will hire an outstanding leader to continue the Golden Flashes’ tradition of academic and competitive success.
Todd Diacon, President, Kent State University
February 1, 2021
Subject: Search for Director of Athletics Position
Dear Members of the Kent State University Community:
Kent State today is launching a national search for the university’s next leader of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
A 12-member search committee led by Lamar R. Hylton, Ph.D., vice president for student affairs, has been appointed to recruit and screen highly qualified candidates for the director of athletics position.
Kent State is blessed with talented student-athletes, coaches, employees, alumni and supporters who embrace our athletics philosophy of graduating student-athletes and winning championships. We are pleased that stellar individuals have agreed to serve on the search committee. I am confident that with their leadership, and with the leadership of search chair Vice President Hylton, we will hire an outstanding leader to continue the Golden Flashes’ tradition of academic and competitive success.
The search committee will begin its work this week by crafting a position profile, including qualifications and characteristics desired in the next athletic director. A search website has been created and can be accessed by the Kent State community for updates. CarrSports Consulting LLC will assist in the search process. The firm has extensive experience in conducting national searches for athletic directors for more than 20 years, and its client list includes many Mid-American Conference (MAC) and NCAA Division I institutions.
The search committee seeks feedback from the university community and the public regarding the qualifications, characteristics and experiences we should seek in our next athletic director. Faculty, staff, students and the public are invited to offer suggestions and perspectives by completing an online survey, and nominations, expressions of interest and information requests may be submitted to KentStateSearch@CarrSportsConsulting.com.
Please join me in thanking Vice President Hylton and all the members of the search committee for their willingness to lead in recruiting an outstanding individual for this important role. We expect the selected individual will be in place no later than July 1, 2021.
Again, we extend our gratitude to Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen for his dedication to Kent State since 2010 and for sharing his plans to conclude his service at the end of this year, enabling this smooth transition. Director Nielsen has been a steady hand in leading and growing Kent State Athletics, and our student-athletes have benefited from his tireless service. His is a powerful legacy of student success both on and off the field.
Sincerely,
Todd Diacon
President
CarrSports Consulting, LLC announces transfer of ownership
IN THE NEWS
CarrSports Consulting, LLC (CarrSports) is pleased to announce the successful transfer of ownership from founder and former President Bill Carr to Managing Partners Mike Thomas and Jeff Hathaway.
“The entire CarrSports Team
looks forward to enhancing and expanding our work while providing high quality solutions to intercollegiate athletics across the country.”
Mike Thomas, Managing Partner
CarrSports Consulting, LLC
Mike Thomas and Jeff Hathaway are successful and accomplished veterans in collegiate athletics and campus leaders who served on numerous NCAA and conference committees over the years. Thomas is the former Athletic Director (AD) at University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), University of Cincinnati, University of Akron and Cleveland State University while Hathaway served as AD at University of Connecticut, Colorado State University and Hofstra University.
Founded in 1997, CarrSports is recognized as the go to partner for intercollegiate athletics that require best in class executive search and management consulting services. CarrSports has completed projects for colleges and universities that required the best of the best in leadership and transformational growth. Vice President/Management Consulting Gerald O’Dell (former AD at University of Cincinnati, Northern Illinois University), a valued colleague for 22 years, will be continuing his important contributions to CarrSports and our clients.
“Jeff and I are grateful for this opportunity to take ownership of CarrSports. Over the years Bill Carr has built, and CarrSports continues to be, a preeminent executive search and management consulting firm,” said Thomas, who previously held the position of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer within CarrSports. “The entire CarrSports Team looks forward to enhancing and expanding our work while providing high quality solutions to intercollegiate athletics across the country.”
CarrSports is “Where Practitioners Practice” as its staff has over 135 years of Director of Athletics experience, which is the most in the industry. CarrSports Consulting Associates include; Kevin Anderson (former AD at University of Maryland, United States Military Academy West Point), Jack McDonald (former AD at Quinnipiac University, University of Denver and University of New England), Judy Rose (former AD at University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Doug Woolard (former AD at University of South Florida, Saint Louis University), and Karl Benson (former Commissioner at Sun Belt Conference, Western Athletic Conference, Mid-American Conference).
“I have always appreciated Bill Carr for his integrity and what he stands for personally and professionally,” said Hathaway, who has been a consultant with CarrSports and previously held his own consulting firm. “Mike and I, along with our CarrSports Team, look forward to bringing great energy and focused expertise to our executive search and management consulting engagements. We are grateful to our past and current CarrSports clients, and look forward to serving them and many other universities and conferences in the future.”
Going forward, CarrSports will continue to focus on executive searches (Athletic Director, Head Coach, Conference Commissioner, Executive Staff) and management consulting (operations review, Title IX assessment, business planning and fiscal management, revenue generation, fundraising, feasibility study and strategic planning). CarrSports clients and prospects recognized that having access to the Team 24/7 is perhaps the most important factor to have in the midst of change and transformation.
“This is a bittersweet moment for me and my family. For over two decades, CarrSports Consulting has been my life as we started off small and transformed into one of the leading executive search and management consulting firms in the country,” said Carr, who will remain on as Senior Counsel with CarrSports for the upcoming year. “I know CarrSports is in great hands with Mike and Jeff at the helm. I look forward to seeing the future successes CarrSports will achieve.”
For more information and bios please visit www.CarrSportsConsulting.com.
About CarrSports Consulting, LLC
Founded in 1997, CarrSports Consulting, LLC is recognized as a standard of excellence in executive search and management consulting services to intercollegiate athletics. CarrSports is well-respected and known for integrity, expertise and creativity. Our unique record of achievement includes the successful completion of over 130 leadership searches and 70 intensely-focused management consulting projects conducted from coast to coast, providing our clients with outstanding service and best options for meaningful solutions.
CarrSports remains dedicated to its deliberate, yet cutting-edge approach to excellence through professional objectivity, practical application and innovation. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
