[UPDATE (8/12/15 @ 9:27am): Sources have informed College AD that Tony Hernandez has withdrawn from the Akron AD search.]
Over the past few weeks, multiple sources have detailed the twists and turns surrounding the University of Akron Athletic Director search. On August 4th, we learned the university left the application for athletic director open 48 hours after the posting closed on the NCAA Jobs Market.
On August 5th, internal sources indicated to College AD that University of Akron President, Scott L. Scarborough saw ULM Director of Athletics, Brian Wickstrom as the frontrunner for the position. However, with Wickstrom withdrawing his name from consideration, citing “uncertainty with changes on the Akron campus and its impact on athletes”, we were told today that three finalists have emerged.
Two of the three finalists were early applicants from applicant list we procured July 24th and disseminated July 27th. The final candidate was one of the four significant additions we detailed August 4th.
The three finalists for the position are: George Van Horne, University of Akron, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development & Marketing, Tony Hernandez, University of Miami, Deputy Athletic Director, and Larry Williams, Former Marquette University Athletic Director. Sources tell College AD that Larry Williams is now the frontrunner for the position.
George Van Horne, University of Akron, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development & Marketing
George Van Horne was appointed Associate Athletics Director for Development in June 2010, after serving Director of Development for Major Gifts at his alma mater The University of Akron. In October 2014, he was promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development and Marketing. In his role Van Horne oversees the Athletics Development Office which includes the Z-Fund, Varsity “A” Association, and special events. Additionally, he is a sports administrator for the men’s and women’s golf programs. He also serves on the senior management team for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Under his leadership, Athletics Development has increased the number of members in the Z-Fund from 873 in 2009 to 3,091 at the end of the 2014 fiscal year, a 254% increase in membership. Athletics giving has increased by 65% and dollars raised by 72%.
Tony Hernandez, University of Miami, Deputy Athletic Director
Hernandez joined the University of Miami Athletic Department in February of 1998 as a Graduate Assistant in Academic Services. He was hired full-time in 1999 as a Compliance Coordinator, subsequently being promoted to Director of Compliance in 2002, Assistant AD for Compliance in 2004, Associate AD for Compliance in 2005 and Senior Associate Athletic Director in 2007. In 2005, he also served as the Interim Associate AD for Development and has served as the Interim Associate AD for External Affairs on two separate occasions. During his term as Interim Associate AD for Development, the Hurricane Club exceeded its annual giving budgetary goal by nearly ten percent. By request of President Shalala, Hernandez served as Miami’s Acting Athletic Director for almost two months, following Kirby Hocutt’s departure to take the position of Director of Athletics at Texas Tech in February 2011.
Larry Williams, Former Marquette University Athletic Director
Larry Williams served as vice president and director of athletics, at Marquette University from 2012-2013. Williams was the director of athletics and recreation at the University of Portland since 2004-2012 . At Marquette, he was instrumental in MU getting a piece of the $500 million Fox television pie that came with the new Big East. Williams was known to be at odds with former Marquette and Current Virginia Tech men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams over the running of the school’s revenue sport. Larry Williams is also a former NFL player and lawyer.
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