UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

The Illinois search committee’s process for identifying a new athletic director is turning off some prospective candidates and has some board of trustee members considering an independent search, sources told the Tribune. Since interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson announced Dec. 4 an eight-person search committee comprising campus leaders, the process to replace fired AD Mike Thomas has been atypical, and some say it’s a sign of the dysfunction surrounding the search. The uncertainty of the leadership at Illinois is another factor candidates are weighing, sources said. Some are uneasy about pursuing a job with an interim chancellor. The committee has sought candidates through untraditional methods that are ruffling some and considered inappropriate by others, sources said. Two potential candidates who are sitting athletic directors were contacted through their university email addresses, sources said, which is against the typical protocol of hiring searches and could jeopardize an AD’s current position. Sources also said the committee has vetted candidates first through peripheral associates rather than directly contacting the candidates or their inner circles, which also can cause friction for candidates under contract at other universities. One source called the process “backward.” -Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune, Read More