Warde's long, strong ties to Parker Exec. Search

[ruskin]

I don't know if there is intelligence within Parker, but with regards to that stuff, they should know more than Warde.

This rounds back to the main discussion point. Warde earns $475K. is running a $63 million business, roughly the 40th-largest such entity in the country, and has to fill THE most important job on his staff. With the salary he's making, not to mention his highly-paid assistants, not to mention his naturally-occuring network of contacts within FBS football, how much more help has to be bought in (and paid for) for him to identify the right guy?

Obviously on this board the vast majority thinks he needs to pay somebody to help him fill it, the top reason being it's the 'norm' not just in college athletics but in business. I prefer the old-fashioned (and cheaper) Jurich & Jurich approach. Warde's UConn career hinges on how successful this hire is. For me it's tough to swallow the possibility that someone will profit in the wake of a bad hire as Neinas/Alden did two years ago (even if they didn't make the hire).

Maybe if these search/consultant/vetting deals were structured differently and tied to real performance they'd be easier to take. Let's go back to two years and the Alden $50K in-the-door fee. Structure it like this - $20-25K to put together binder. $15-$20K if you actually pick one of our recommendations - $20-$25K refund if any negative information post-hiring emerges (Hermann, Pitt guy), then $25-$50K bonus if hire hits specific set of goals in next 3 years (wins, bowl, attendance).

 

[sdhusky]

This rounds back to the main discussion point. Warde earns $475K. is running a $63 million business, roughly the 40th-largest such entity in the country, and has to fill THE most important job on his staff. With the salary he's making, not to mention his highly-paid assistants, not to mention his naturally-occuring network of contacts within FBS football, how much more help has to be bought in (and paid for) for him to identify the right guy?

Obviously on this board the vast majority thinks he needs to pay somebody to help him fill it, the top reason being it's the 'norm' not just in college athletics but in business. I prefer the old-fashioned (and cheaper) Jurich & Jurich approach. Warde's UConn career hinges on how successful this hire is. For me it's tough to swallow the possibility that someone will profit in the wake of a bad hire as Neinas/Alden did two years ago (even if they didn't make the hire).

Maybe if these search/consultant/vetting deals were structured differently and tied to real performance they'd be easier to take. Let's go back to two years and the Alden $50K in-the-door fee. Structure it like this - $20-25K to put together binder. $15-$20K if you actually pick one of our recommendations - $20-$25K refund if any negative information post-hiring emerges (Hermann, Pitt guy), then $25-$50K bonus if hire hits specific set of goals in next 3 years (wins, bowl, attendance).

Alabama used the same search firm as UCONN did. They got Saban. We got PP.

I don't think there are many Alabama fans asking for the money back.

 

[upstater]

I have accused an AD of doing a similar thing, of making decisions that are more career-based than of benefit to the school. Not saying Manuel is doing that. I was talking about a non-UConn AD. A lot of these guys are careerists, which leads to some bad decisions.

 

[Husky25]

This rounds back to the main discussion point. Warde earns $475K. is running a $63 million business, roughly the 40th-largest such entity in the country...

I stopped after this...After realizing that you are quibbling over 0.16% of gross revenue ($100,000/$63Mil = 0.00158730158)? Surely there are better things to expend calories on over the last 2 days. It's a rounding error!!!!

 

[ruskin]

I stopped after this...After realizing that you are quibbling over 0.16% of gross revenue ($100,000/$63Mil = 0.00158730158)? Surely there are better things to expend calories on over the last 2 days. It's a rounding error!!!!

One perspective. On the other hand, bet Warde wouldn't volunteer to take a $50-$100K pay cut.

 

[Fishy]

I always thought it was less about generating a list and more about quietly making contact with people (hidden from the FOI act) to gauge interest, arrange secret interviews and to also do background checks.

It is.

But we have an established black-helicopter set here and this is how their brains work. Or don't work, as the case may be.

 

[ZooCougar]

Clearly this is all about the plot to downgrade to FCS.

 

[ZooCougar]

If anyone thinks that search firms are about searching then they clearly don't get it.

 

[Husky25]

One perspective. On the other hand, bet Warde wouldn't volunteer to take a $50-$100K pay cut.

In the Corporate world, the consulting fee is often considered (if not actually reported) as an offset in salary for the position being filled and amortized over the life of the contract. For simplicity's sake, the new coach comes in at a contracted salary and benefits cost of $1 mil x 4 years. The school will consider S&B to be $1.025 million/year.

 

[J187Money]

This rounds back to the main discussion point. Warde earns $475K. is running a $63 million business, roughly the 40th-largest such entity in the country, and has to fill THE most important job on his staff. With the salary he's making, not to mention his highly-paid assistants, not to mention his naturally-occuring network of contacts within FBS football, how much more help has to be bought in (and paid for) for him to identify the right guy?

Obviously on this board the vast majority thinks he needs to pay somebody to help him fill it, the top reason being it's the 'norm' not just in college athletics but in business. I prefer the old-fashioned (and cheaper) Jurich & Jurich approach. Warde's UConn career hinges on how successful this hire is. For me it's tough to swallow the possibility that someone will profit in the wake of a bad hire as Neinas/Alden did two years ago (even if they didn't make the hire).

Maybe if these search/consultant/vetting deals were structured differently and tied to real performance they'd be easier to take. Let's go back to two years and the Alden $50K in-the-door fee. Structure it like this - $20-25K to put together binder. $15-$20K if you actually pick one of our recommendations - $20-$25K refund if any negative information post-hiring emerges (Hermann, Pitt guy), then $25-$50K bonus if hire hits specific set of goals in next 3 years (wins, bowl, attendance).

I wasn't talking about intelligence about who a good coach might be. It is intelligence about who might leave for what kind of job, what they might want to be paid, if they would even take a job in a non-BCS conference, etc., and getting it in a way where the school doesn't look foolish. I've been clear that I don't think the search firm will help determine who is on Warde's list. It will help him determine who is actually realistic ON that list, and then help with the process. Parker might offer up some ideas, but on that front I would doubt they would come up with a name that Warde (or the BY) hasn't thought of. I think the biggest disagreement is that you think we are paying for the list. I think we are paying for successful execution against a list that Warde already has in his pocket.

For example, maybe Warde would pay Smart $3M/year. Maybe Smart would take it. Warde calls Smart. Leaves a message. Smart ignores it, figuring (because he isn't going to actually do the research) that UCONN won't pay because it isn't a BCS job, and the meeting never takes place. Warde wouldn't just come out and say that to Smart's agent either. But with a search firm, you could say, We would pay between $1.5M/year and $2.8M a year depending on the pedigree of the coach. Name some examples of people that might be on the higher end. Parker does the dirty work, unearths some people that are now surprised that we might be a bigger payday than they thought. We get meetings we wouldn't get otherwise. I'm absolutely confident in that if Warde has 10 names in his pocket and runs solo with it v. running it through a firm, he ends up with less people from that list that actually come in for an interview.

I don't think ANYONE here is saying he needs to pay someone to help him fill the job or locate the coach.

 

[Nostical]

J187 has it exactly right. Let's stop with the analysis of whether search firms are worth it. We have hired one and Warde has some clout within its ranks. He is not new to the process of using a search firm. I'm also sure he's learned a few things along the way. And Warde will be choosing among some very credible and viable candidates given the salary range. Hathaway wanted to keep things on the low end-- even though the PP contract wasn't that bad. But he would never have walked into the Pres office and said to the Board "we need $2.5M to keep growing the program". He had neither the balls nor the credibility. WM appears to have both.

 

[ruskin]

Thanks JMoney - very refreshing to get a polite, thoughtful and well-reasoned post. I'm just not convinced Parker is that much more capable of persuading skeptical candidates or agents to listen than Warde or his unpaid network can on their own. In the end, Warde's list will probably be more limited by what UConn can pay -- would be very very surprised if it ends up over 2.25 million -- than an inability to connect. The coaches' agents, who I suspect have a very good idea of what UConn can pay and offer, might be better allies for UConn in this process than Parker, and you don't have to worry about paying them. It's the odd coach without an agent (wonder how many of those there are?) where Parker might be helpful.

 

[J187Money]

Thanks JMoney - very refreshing to get a polite, thoughtful and well-reasoned post. I'm just not convinced Parker is that much more capable of persuading skeptical candidates or agents to listen than Warde or his unpaid network can on their own. In the end, Warde's list will probably be more limited by what UConn can pay -- would be very very surprised if it ends up over 2.25 million -- than an inability to connect. The coaches' agents, who I suspect have a very good idea of what UConn can pay and offer, might be better allies for UConn in this process than Parker, and you don't have to worry about paying them. It's the odd coach without an agent (wonder how many of those there are?) where Parker might be helpful.

Could be. But I'm not sure about that. When you speak directly to candidates you can end up negotiating against yourself before it is even determined if there is an offer. It is a weird thing to call someone directly and then when you turn out not to want them to have to tell them directly you don't. And if you don't handle that correctly you can ruin your rep.

The layer of insulation usually helps. Unless Warde has a direct connection to someone I'd much rather there was an intermediary.

 

[J187Money]

And I don't know why people need to be nasty about it. We definitely disagree, but maybe I'm colored by the fact that I've been on both sides of retained, contingency and personal searches before (which probably gives me a unique perspective).

 

[ruskin]

J187 has it exactly right. Let's stop with the analysis of whether search firms are worth it. We have hired one and Warde has some clout within its ranks. He is not new to the process of using a search firm. I'm also sure he's learned a few things along the way. And Warde will be choosing among some very credible and viable candidates given the salary range. Hathaway wanted to keep things on the low end-- even though the PP contract wasn't that bad. But he would never have walked into the Pres office and said to the Board "we need $2.5M to keep growing the program". He had neither the balls nor the credibility. WM appears to have both.

Always thought JH set the P price based on Edsall's contract with Md. alone. ... . as for WM, at least I hope he gets the Parker 'family' discount

According to the terms of the contract, Parker Executive Search lowered its standard fee of $90,000 to $70,000, including out-of-pocket expenses, "due to ongoing business" with Rutgers. Rutgers was required to pay $35,000 once the contract was executed and $35,000 30 days after "the hiring of a successful candidate."

According to the contract, Parker Executive Search agreed to assist Rutgers in identifying candidates through a "comprehensive search process." It says the firm "uses both original research as well as a careful review of its database" through throughout the search.

 

[whaler11]

If Warde had the balls referenced in this thread... this thread would have happened last December.

 

[Dooley]

Personally, I have no problem with hiring a consulting firm and its expense. To add what JMoney said a few posts earlier, I like the added layer of security that they provide in doing the background checks and resume confirmations. While the hire is ultimately Warde's/UCONN's, there is at least someone to blame if our hire didn't graduate from Yale like he said he did or hid a history of assault. While I have no idea if Notre Dame, Pitt, or RU went through a firm to find their embarrassing hires, it's definitely something that UCONN can't afford after this woodshed of a season.

 

[whaler11]

Personally, I have to problem with hiring a consulting firm and its expense. To add what JMoney said a few posts earlier, I like the added layer of security that they provide in doing the background checks and resume confirmations. While the hire is ultimately Warde's/UCONN's, there is at least someone to blame if our hire didn't graduate from Yale like he said he did or hid a history of assault. While I have no idea if Notre Dame, Pitt, or RU went through a firm to find their embarrassing hires, it's definitely something that UCONN can't afford after this woodshed of a season.

So why not check if those schools used a firm to make those embarrassing hires... And when you find out some did... maybe the 'security' they add is a figment of people's imagination.

This specific firm did a bang up job for Rutgers.

 

[whaler11]

Parker has also been involved in some
other tremendous hires:

Kelvin Sampson at Indiana
Billy Gillespie at Kentucky
Mike Haywood at Pitt
Derek Dooley at Tennessee

Hey if everyone thinks it's a great idea for the University of Connecticut to spend 100k+ to further Warde Manuel's relationship with Parker - who am I to argue. Based on what I've seen to date the sooner they get him to another school the better off we'll be.

 

[Dooley]

Serious question: why is hiring a search firm so heavily debated?

 

[huskymedic]

So why not check if those schools used a firm to make those embarrassing hires... And when you find out some did... maybe the 'security' they add is a figment of people's imagination.

This specific firm did a bang up job for Rutgers.

They found and notified Rutgers of the two lawsuits Hermann was involved in... Rutgers still did what Rutgers did.

They own Gillespie - they were absolved of the Haywood mess.

The successes outnumber the few misfires all said and done across the board.

 

[whaler11]

Serious question: why is hiring a search firm so heavily debated?

Because it funnels money away from public institutions to a handful of power brokers who have obvious conflicts of interest.

 

[whaler11]

They found and notified Rutgers of the two lawsuits Hermann was involved in... Rutgers still did what Rutgers did.

The successes outnumber the few misfires all said and done across the board.

Please - they add absolutely no value to anyone but the people who benefit financially from the transactions.

UConn is arguably the best head coaching job in the non Power 5 conferences. The school has the ability to pay as much if not more than any non Power 5 school.

Is someone not going to interview because their MAC or Sun Belt employer might find out? The job only pays 3 or 4 times more than those schools can afford.

I get all the stated reasons why they use the firms. There are two winners in UConn using Parker: Parker and Warde.

 

[Dooley]

Because it funnels money away from public institutions to a handful of power brokers who have obvious conflicts of interest.

Okay thanks, I was just asking to understand the argument. At the end of the day, I just want UCONN to make a good hire. I don't have strong enough feelings one way or the other to fervently debate this topic and was curious what reasons there were to debate it.

Collegiate sports are very shady and secretive, as a whole. Conference realignment, coaching carousels, recruiting promises, empowered boosters, and governing entities that pick and choose who to punish (UCONN) and who to ignore (UNC). I've never really given it much thought before but it seems like these firms follow those same shady methods that all of the NCAA follows. I guess it's a larger sphere argument: keep up with the Jonses or take a stand?

Give me Pat Narduzzi, Dan Mullen or Pete Lembo on December 6 and I'll be a happy man regardless of how he got here.

 

[huskymedic]

Is someone not going to interview because their MAC or Sun Belt employer might find out? The job only pays 3 or 4 times more than those schools can afford.

Would you agree that those type of coaches still need to exercise discretion so they end up remaining employed if they don't get the job and that is where a outside firm comes into play?

I have found that most head hunters/consulting firms are incestuous in nature...