Scott Barnes was asked about using a search firm to hire Kevin Stallings. Included in the question was the premise that a search firm was not used to hire Pat Narduzzi; the reporter also asked Barnes to "come clean," which is why he uses that phrase in the answer.
"Number one, I was hired with a search firm. I believe Coach Narduzzi, there was a piece in that search with Coach Narduzzi. It is a standard in the industry today and what it does - I guess I would tell you, as you say, ‘Come clean,’ what it is, it gives you an opportunity with the timeliness of a search to extend the feelers, to put the piece together so you know who’s interested and where they sit.
"The use of a search firm, I would venture probably in the neighborhood of 80-90% of searches that are done now are by a search firm. So we were happy to have that process because it helps you to move things along. It gives you a pulse, particularly when coaches are in the field, when they’re still playing. So that was actually a very good opportunity for us to move forward quickly."
Barnes was also asked about hiring Collegiate Sports Associates, the search firm run by Todd Turner, who has connections to both Barnes and Kevin Stallings.
"Todd Turner’s connection, I worked for Todd Turner at Washington. I’ve used Todd Turner several times for searches. You get familiar with folks that you use and that do a great job that are excellent. That’s exactly what we did to move this forward."
"Number one, I was hired with a search firm. I believe Coach Narduzzi, there was a piece in that search with Coach Narduzzi. It is a standard in the industry today and what it does - I guess I would tell you, as you say, ‘Come clean,’ what it is, it gives you an opportunity with the timeliness of a search to extend the feelers, to put the piece together so you know who’s interested and where they sit.
"The use of a search firm, I would venture probably in the neighborhood of 80-90% of searches that are done now are by a search firm. So we were happy to have that process because it helps you to move things along. It gives you a pulse, particularly when coaches are in the field, when they’re still playing. So that was actually a very good opportunity for us to move forward quickly."
Barnes was also asked about hiring Collegiate Sports Associates, the search firm run by Todd Turner, who has connections to both Barnes and Kevin Stallings.
"Todd Turner’s connection, I worked for Todd Turner at Washington. I’ve used Todd Turner several times for searches. You get familiar with folks that you use and that do a great job that are excellent. That’s exactly what we did to move this forward."
