New AD

[JoseLind13]

I am excited to welcome Ms. Lyke as the new AD and to move forward to the next chapter at Pitt! She has some great opportunities in front of her and has my full support from Day 1.

To read some of the irrational reactions is disappointing and fortunately not likely representative of a vast majority of the fans, alumni, and supporters of the University.

H2P.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

There are definitely good points about the hire. Number one being that ... it didn't drag out to June! Or December! Or 2018!

The second plus being that she served at Ohio State. Top notch sports operating in a top notch university. She knows what great college sports are supposed to be.

Third plus being she then got quality time serving as the top person. In this case at the polar opposite of OSU, but at least she learned how to survive at a place that is surrounded by bigger fish and minimal funding. That is absolutely what she's coming into at Pitt. There should be no reality shock.

As Mr. Paco said, the AD honestly isn't really where the buck stops for the really big decisions anyway. The attitudes and objectives of the Chancellor and trustees for athletics are what really matter. The AD carries those out. When/ if she has really major duties, like a head coach hiring/firing or conference crises, etc, the school leadership has to ultimately dictate.

All the best to the new AD!

 

[giveitarest]

He didn't twist any words but you did. She has a lady's softball background and comes from a backwater school. She's not, as is the case with most Pitt hires, someone who inspires confidence. So quit trying to invent your own narrative.

Since Narduzzi was on the search committee I trust his input better than anyone especially since most (me included) on here have no clue. Lyke any hire in any industry some are great and others not so much.

 

[Delpanther]

Since Narduzzi was on the search committee I trust his input better than anyone especially since most (me included) on here have no clue. Lyke any hire in any industry some are great and others not so much.

While the committee may have been reluctant to hire an AD Narduzzi wouldn't have been comfortable working for, I'm not do sure all other things being equal how much influence he wielded on this committee. I have heard that Pitt is on this huge diversity initiative which, while to a degree is commendable, shouldn't take precedent over hiring the best candidate. This smacks of a diversity hire.

 

[Jpripper88]

She worked at Ohio State for most of her career. I'd imagine she learned a thing or two working in the largest athletic department in the country. But the bottom line is you don't know anything about her background or qualifications. No one does other than the search committee.

We don't? She has a biography she published for the EMU website. Do you know what a "biography" is? When Pitt announces the hire, they will also recount her background and qualifications and publish a biography of career for their website.

 

[giveitarest]

While the committee may have been reluctant to hire an AD Narduzzi wouldn't have been comfortable working for, I'm not do sure all other things being equal how much influence he wielded on this committee. I have heard that Pitt is on this huge diversity initiative which, while to a degree is commendable, shouldn't take precedent over hiring the best candidate. This smacks of a diversity hire.

She may also have been the best candidate. Something that will likely never be proven if she was or was not.

 

[Farnox]

After perusing the entire thread, there certainly seems to be a real lack of enthusiasm for this hire and I would have to fall into that category. The big question is, is the administration going to be serious about athletics or not? This hire does not inspire one to think so.
This was a perfect time to demonstrate this by hiring a prominent P5 AD or assistant that knows what it takes to run a P5 program. I would have liked to have seen someone from the general area hired as well.
No more of the jokers who won't stay because the wife doesn't like it here or mommy back in podunk Oregon has a hangnail. Time will tell on this hire but it sure looks like a gamble to me.

 

[VolPanther]

I just want to WIN, diversity MEANS NOTHING to me. I'd rather WIN with an old, white, Christian, heterosexual male neo Nazi, than lose with a disabled, bi trans, Hispanic, black lesbian cross dresser.

Me too and exactly what is wrong with society and the work force today. When I go into a project at work I want the best people on the project with me not 1 of every type imaginable just because they fill some application check mark. That's great they fill a quota but they can't do half the work of a qualified person so what do they bring to the project different ideas? No they bring morale down because more qualified individuals aren't on working on the project and then someone has to step up to make up for their incompetence. If its four blind people in wheel chairs that are the best give them to me rather than a diverse workforce any day.

 

[ThePanthers]

After perusing the entire thread, there certainly seems to be a real lack of enthusiasm for this hire and I would have to fall into that category. The big question is, is the administration going to be serious about athletics or not? This hire does not inspire one to think so.
This was a perfect time to demonstrate this by hiring a prominent P5 AD or assistant that knows what it takes to run a P5 program. I would have liked to have seen someone from the general area hired as well.
No more of the jokers who won't stay because the wife doesn't like it here or mommy back in podunk Oregon has a hangnail. Time will tell on this hire but it sure looks like a gamble to me.

Considering she was a long time assistant at one of the largest and most well run ADs in the country, I think that met your definition.

 

[Jpripper88]

That's your argument? Don't worry because she won't be involved in the really important decisions?

And wouldn't that be a bigger reason to hire someone who focuses (almost completely) on fundraising?

This might end up being a fine hire, but on the surface it sure is worrisome. She needs to prove to be a top notch fundraiser and focus on football and basketball, while finding a way to get and keep Olympic sports competitive. Pitt is not an easy job. Hopefully she is up to the task and spends her time on those things and not biography writing or academic focus for athletes.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

Considering she was a long time assistant at one of the largest and most well run ADs in the country, I think that met your definition.

This is definitely the biggest reason for hope for the hire.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Me too and exactly what is wrong with society and the work force today. When I go into a project at work I want the best people on the project with me not 1 of every type imaginable just because they fill some application check mark. That's great they fill a quota but they can't do half the work of a qualified person so what do they bring to the project different ideas? No they bring morale down because more qualified individuals aren't on working on the project and then someone has to step up to make up for their incompetence. If its four blind people in wheel chairs that are the best give them to me rather than a diverse workforce any day.

On the money post!
For others BINGO!
Most employers will hire the best person available regardless of race, gender or religion since priority #1 is to get the job completed as efficiently as possible.

When hiring is targeted to meet a quota the quality of employees hired will be compromised.

All of us Producers have had experience being saddled with diversity hires of all kinds, who turn out to be Non Producers, who cant be replaced easily like other hires, and have had to figure out a way to get a quality job / project/etc. done on time, on or below budget despite the snowflake quota check the box people!

 

[Piranha]

Nobody in their right mind would want this job and have to deal with this cheap fanbase that is filled with jerks.

 

[Pitt Law '04]

Nobody in their right mind would want this job and have to deal with this cheap fanbase that is filled with jerks.

Aren't you part of the fanbase?

 

[Piranha]

Aren't you part of the fanbase?

If my son or daughter was an AD at a good school, then I would advise him not to take this job. Just look at the actions of its fans and media. Pathetic!

 

[Pitt Law '04]

If my son or daughter was an AD at a good school, then I would advise him not to take this job. Just look at the actions of its fans and media. Pathetic!

When you make a bad hire, you can expect a bad reaction from fans and the media. It's that simple.

I don't remember a bad reaction when Pat Narduzzi was hired.

 

[Jpripper88]

If my son or daughter was an AD at a good school, then I would advise him not to take this job. Just look at the actions of its fans and media. Pathetic!

Pitt fans have a really, really narrow view of the workings of the rest of college ADs. BTW, Lyke wasn't an AD at a good school. She had one of the worst AD jobs in the entire country. Pitt isn't an easy job, but it is an unbelievable step up for her. If you told your son or daughter to stay as AD at EMU and not take the AD job at Pitt, hopefully they would never solicit or listen to your advice again.

 

[ThePanthers]

When you make a bad hire, you can expect a bad reaction from fans and the media. It's that simple.

I don't remember a bad reaction when Pat Narduzzi was hired.

Not sure if this is a bad hire.

And yes, some people did not like the Narduzzi hire because he was a DC and not an established P5 coach and that showed Pitt didn't care about football and wanting to win.

 

[Piranha]

Pitt fans have a really, really narrow view of the workings of the rest of college ADs. BTW, Lyke wasn't an AD at a good school. She had one of the worst AD jobs in the entire country. Pitt isn't an easy job, but it is an unbelievable step up for her. If you told your son or daughter to stay as AD at EMU and not take the AD job at Pitt, hopefully they would never solicit or listen to your advice again.

I never said Eastern Michigan was a good job. It is probably the most difficult job in D1. The football team made their first bowl game in 30 years, and fundraising increased by 40% under her. This is about the best Pitt could do, but some fans are too dumb to realize this.

 

[Pitt Law '04]

Not sure if this is a bad hire.

And yes, some people did not like the Narduzzi hire because he was a DC and not an established P5 coach and that showed Pitt didn't care about football and wanting to win.

I guess we remember the Narduzzi hire differently. I remember it being virtually universally praised. And he has done very well. I hope he's ok with this hire.

 

[Pitt Law '04]

I never said Eastern Michigan was a good job. It is probably the most difficult job in D1. The football team made their first bowl game in 30 years, and fundraising increased by 40% under her. Pitt fans are too dumb to realize this.

She raised 800K last year. That's it. To say she set a record on fundraising is kind of misleading when the amount of fund raising is that low.

The school subsidizes the athletic department at a rate of 80%.

Each student runs up around $900 in debt in tuition payments each year to fund EMU sports.

The football program and the coach she hired went 7-6 and made a bowl game this year. The same coach went 2-10 and 1-11 in the two prior years and EMU had the worst attendance in the country in 2015.

So, this Pitt fan realizes the issues involved.

 

[ThePanthers]

Pitt fans have a really, really narrow view of the workings of the rest of college ADs. BTW, Lyke wasn't an AD at a good school. She had one of the worst AD jobs in the entire country. Pitt isn't an easy job, but it is an unbelievable step up for her. If you told your son or daughter to stay as AD at EMU and not take the AD job at Pitt, hopefully they would never solicit or listen to your advice again.

Doing well and setting records at EMU, along with improving the FB team and having numeruous coaches win the MAC coach of the year award in their respective sports during her tenure his a good sign for Pitt IMO. Shows she can handle the difficulty.

And again, she wasn't an AD, but she was a Senior Associate AD at tOSU, having the responsibility of overseeing numerous sports on her own.

And her stating that football should be the main focus and an improved football program will assist in raising the other programs shows to me she gets it.

Time will tell though. But I like her background.

We weren't getting anyone from any other P5 schools.

 

[Jpripper88]

I never said Eastern Michigan was a good job. It is probably the most difficult job in D1. The football team made their first bowl game in 30 years, and fundraising increased by 40% under her. This is about the best Pitt could do, but some fans are too dumb to realize this.

I don't know how you could think this is the best Pitt could do, but to each their own. The spin on the fundraising here is pretty unbelievable to me, but some folks don't really ever operate without the blue and gold glasses.

 

[ThePanthers]

She raised 800K last year. That's it. To say she set a record on fundraising is kind of misleading when the amount of fund raising is that low.

The school subsidizes the athletic department at a rate of 80%.

Each student runs up around $900 in debt in tuition payments each year to fund EMU sports.

The football program and the coach she hired went 7-6 and made a bowl game this year. The same coach went 2-10 and 1-11 in the two prior years and EMU had the worst attendance in the country in 2015.

So, this Pitt fan realizes the issues involved.

That she was able to improve the program and increase fundraising during her tenure? I didn't know that was an issue.

 

[Pitt Law '04]

I don't know how you could think this is the best Pitt could do, but to each their own. The spin on the fundraising here is pretty unbelievable to me, but some folks don't really ever operate without the blue and gold glasses.

The spin on the fund raising is remarkable, I agree.

Do they teach any critical thinking at Pitt?

Pitt shills throw out a headline--she set a record!--and there's no thinking about what the total fund raising was, how she did compared to MAC peer institutions, etc.--all of which would show how misleading the headline is. Really unbelievable.

 

[ThePanthers]

I don't know how you could think this is the best Pitt could do, but to each their own. The spin on the fundraising here is pretty unbelievable to me, but some folks don't really ever operate without the blue and gold glasses.

There are definitely some viewing this through blue and gold glasses. But the same could be said about the negative side and going out of their way to totally bash this. Goes both ways.

I think on paper she's qualified. Whether it translates to success at the P5 level and at Pitt, time will tell. She was able to show she could handle a difficult situation at EMU. I think that is a huge plus for a program like Pitt.

Not praising the hire, but I'm not going to bash it either.

 

[Piranha]

I don't know how you could think this is the best Pitt could do, but to each their own. The spin on the fundraising here is pretty unbelievable to me, but some folks don't really ever operate without the blue and gold glasses.

Pitt is the equivalent of BC, GT, Vandy, etc. AD's talk to each other and realize how difficult this job is.

 

[Pitt Law '04]

That she was able to improve the program and increase fundraising during her tenure? I didn't know that was an issue.

You think raising 800K for an athletic department in your 4th year as AD and hiring a head football coach whose career record at the school is 10-27 and 5-19 in conference are the types of qualifications an ACC school should seek?

That's "improvement"?

Give me a break.

If my school raised 50K in sports and 4 years later I raised 100K, I could say, "I doubled fundraising!" Does that mean I did a good job? How about if my peer institutions were routinely raising 200K or 400K?

 

[Piranha]

The spin on the fund raising is remarkable, I agree.

Do they teach any critical thinking at Pitt?

Pitt shills throw out a headline--she set a record!--and there's no thinking about what the total fund raising was, how she did compared to MAC peer institutions, etc.--all of which would show how misleading the headline is. Really unbelievable.

Pitt's Olympic Program is a bottom feeder in D1 sports, and people turn on the TV and see globs of empty seats for football and basketball. Why would a good established AD want this job? Barnes left Pitt for Oregon St for crying out loud.

 

[Pitt Law '04]

Pitt's Olympic Program is a bottom feeder in D1 sports, and people turn on the TV and see globs of empty seats for football and basketball. Why would a good established AD want this job? Barnes left here for Oregon St for crying out loud.

Is that a concession that our new hire is not a "good established AD"?

 

[happjack]

I live in the Detroit area and EMU shouldn't be a D1 school, they should be D2 or NAIA. That she raised $800,000 there is a miracle since most of their alumni is loaded with student loan debt and never went to or cared about the sports teams when they went to their. The football team making a bowl game is also a huge achievement.

That Lyke made lemonade out of the giant lemon that is Eastern Michigan University is an achievement plus she was Associate AD at Ohio State, who do you people want? A scumbag like Jim Tressel who has more baggage than the cargo hold of a 747? Another AD from out west who's only qualification is that they have a twig and berries between their legs?

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

There are definitely some viewing this through blue and gold glasses. But the same could be said about the negative side and going out of their way to totally bash this. Goes both ways.

I think on paper she's qualified. Whether it translates to success at the P5 level and at Pitt, time will tell. She was able to show she could handle a difficult situation at EMU. I think that is a huge plus for a program like Pitt.

Not praising the hire, but I'm not going to bash it either.

This is about right. I think if they possibly had some shot at Tressel that would have been fabulous. But for one I can't fathom he was interested. And even if so, Pitt administration simply would have been too timid.

Other "big names"or "Pitt people" were even less plausible.

So amid standard, conventional candidates they seem to have gotten someone with legit credentials. Solid time spent at a sports blue blood (Ohio state). Solid time spent as the lead AD at a D1 school that has some things in common with Pitt.

On paper it's fine. What happens at the higher levels at Pitt means the most. It's a mixed bag there. They say nice things about sports being important, seem to value Narduzzi ... but then again, they allowed the basketball fiasco (no nicer word than that possible) to happen. So what will we get going forward? Hard to guess.

 

[ThePanthers]

You think raising 800K for an athletic department in your 4th year as AD and hiring a head football coach whose career record at the school is 10-27 and 5-19 in conference are the types of qualifications an ACC school should seek?

That's "improvement"?

Give me a break.

If my school raised 50K in sports and 4 years later I raised 100K, I could say, "I doubled fundraising!" Does that mean I did a good job? How about if my peer institutions were routinely raising 200K or 400K?

Do comparables. And look at the overall history of their athletic programs. You talk about critical thinking. You really don't practice it.

During her time EMU hired 10 coaches, winning 17 MAC of the year coaching awards, one national coach of the year award, 15 team MAC championships, 79 MAC individual championships.

The football program only ever made on bowl game in 41 years at the D1 level before she got there. Hired the coach that turned the program around. It doesn't happen over night.

And the basketball team has won at least 17 games a year since she got there, after having 12 straight losing seasons.

While increasing donations at usually one of the poorest schools.

If she only raised donations 100K over a 20 year span, I'd be worried. In a period of 4 years, she took one of the worst D1 departments and have it on a path to improving. Something that needs done for Pitt at the P5 level.

 

[Jpripper88]

Pitt's Olympic Program is a bottom feeder in D1 sports, and people turn on the TV and see globs of empty seats for football and basketball. Why would a good established AD want this job? Barnes left Pitt for Oregon St for crying out loud.

I don't think anyone expected a "good established AD" from a P5 school. I think of the names rumored as candidates, she was the least inspiring or qualified. Certainly of the names mentioned Sean Frazier seemed to be the best option IMO.

 

[pittmeister]

Some of you that are upset with this hire are delusional (Pitt Law ’04). Am I excited about it? No, but I didn’t expect to be… Step back and look at the big picture:

- How many current P5 AD’s would leave their current positions to come to Pitt? Not many.

- P5 schools like Pitt have built in challenges that cannot be over come easily. If you’re a successful P5 AD, why would you want to come to Pitt and take on those headaches? You would probably wait until an even bigger job comes along with more money and less headache...

- If you are an unsuccessful P5 AD, why would Pitt be interested in hiring you?

- Even if a successful P5 AD were interested in the Pitt job, how long would they stay? Face reality, there are bigger schools with a lot more money than Pitt. We need stability in the athletics department.

Having said that, the pool of candidates becomes smaller… So what are we looking for?

- Experience with a top notch P5 School - Need someone who knows what it takes to be a big time program. Lyke has had the experience for 15 years.

- Someone who likes to take on the challenges of a P5 school with built in obstacles – I’d say taking on the Eastern Michigan job proves that point.

- Someone who can fund raise. She improved fund raising at EMU. Let’s see what she can do here at Pitt.

You snowflakes need to get a grip...

 

[CorsosRevenge]

He didn't twist any words but you did. She has a lady's softball background and comes from a backwater school. She's not, as is the case with most Pitt hires, someone who inspires confidence. So quit trying to invent your own narrative.

Another one of our MENSA candidates chimes in. Her resume is actually more impressive than Steve Pederson's, who spent the majority of his time at Tennessee as a recruiting coordinator. Yet everyone thought he was God's gift in his first tenure and had all kinds of stories written about "ROCKET MAAAANNNNNN."

Secondly, when are some of you going to understand the fact that we are near the bottom in fundraising from our ham and egger alumni. Everyone screams that they want a Lexus when the budget and credit score says used Buick. So they searched and found the best used Buick they could and everyone's bitching it's not what they wanted. Well, what Pitt wants and what Pitt can conceivably afford are two totally different things.

Think about it: We sat here stroking ourselves because we sold out a 7,000 ticket allotment to a bowl game. Big whoop. 40 schools do that annually. Pitt people think they should get a trophy for this. Meanwhile we couldn't even get 40,000 to a home game against Duke coming off of beating Clemson.

This is also a school where we had an uprising among the cheap asses when they attempted to move from $99 upper endzone seats to seats that were $149. Fifty shitty dollars and you'd think it was the silent ticket auction days again.

This fanbase is demonstrably cheap and getting worse, so why would anyone from a P5 wanna come here? We're lucky we have the commitment to football that we do.

 

[pittiswhereiamfrom2]

EMU went 7-6, 4-4, in MAC, before that 1-11, 2-10, 2-10? Calling that Champions and then leaving is not winning over and over, just one year?????....And Heather's Bio is an attempt of over compensation she need not make, her Credentials are good on their own.

Да

 

[pittmeister]

Another one of our MENSA candidates chimes in. Her resume is actually more impressive than Steve Pederson's, who spent the majority of his time at Tennessee as a recruiting coordinator. Yet everyone thought he was God's gift in his first tenure and had all kinds of stories written about "ROCKET MAAAANNNNNN."

Secondly, when are some of you going to understand the fact that we are near the bottom in fundraising from our ham and egger alumni. Everyone screams that they want a Lexus when the budget and credit score says used Buick. So they searched and found the best used Buick they could and everyone's bitching it's not what they wanted. Well, what Pitt wants and what Pitt can conceivably afford are two totally different things.

Think about it: We sat here stroking ourselves because we sold out a 7,000 ticket allotment to a bowl game. Big whoop. 40 schools do that annually. Pitt people think they should get a trophy for this. Meanwhile we couldn't even get 40,000 to a home game against Duke coming off of beating Clemson.

This is also a school where we had an uprising among the cheap asses when they attempted to move from $99 upper endzone seats to seats that were $149. Fifty shitty dollars and you'd think it was the silent ticket auction days again.

This fanbase is demonstrably cheap and getting worse, so why would anyone from a P5 wanna come here? We're lucky we have the commitment to football that we do.

CorsosRevenge = Get's it

 

[whirlybird optio]

While the committee may have been reluctant to hire an AD Narduzzi wouldn't have been comfortable working for, I'm not do sure all other things being equal how much influence he wielded on this committee. I have heard that Pitt is on this huge diversity initiative which, while to a degree is commendable, shouldn't take precedent over hiring the best candidate. This smacks of a diversity hire.

Other than our new AD being a woman, what about this hire "smacks of being a diversity hire"? She seems qualified, beat out other candidates, has an impressive record at Eastern Michigan in a short time there. Were there similar complaints when Barnes was hired..because I think her resume is every bit as good.

Be honest..you said the same thing when Tomlin was hired, right?

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Another one of our MENSA candidates chimes in. Her resume is actually more impressive than Steve Pederson's, who spent the majority of his time at Tennessee as a recruiting coordinator. Yet everyone thought he was God's gift in his first tenure and had all kinds of stories written about "ROCKET MAAAANNNNNN."

Secondly, when are some of you going to understand the fact that we are near the bottom in fundraising from our ham and egger alumni. Everyone screams that they want a Lexus when the budget and credit score says used Buick. So they searched and found the best used Buick they could and everyone's bitching it's not what they wanted. Well, what Pitt wants and what Pitt can conceivably afford are two totally different things.

Think about it: We sat here stroking ourselves because we sold out a 7,000 ticket allotment to a bowl game. Big whoop. 40 schools do that annually. Pitt people think they should get a trophy for this. Meanwhile we couldn't even get 40,000 to a home game against Duke coming off of beating Clemson.

This is also a school where we had an uprising among the cheap asses when they attempted to move from $99 upper endzone seats to seats that were $149. Fifty shitty dollars and you'd think it was the silent ticket auction days again.

This fanbase is demonstrably cheap and getting worse, so why would anyone from a P5 wanna come here? We're lucky we have the commitment to football that we do.

Better than SP's resume so what!!!!!!! Who cares! He was as worthless an AD as they come. Her's better be an improvement over SP's.
This is a time for PITT to hire an AD who has a proven track record of developing and implementing new innovative programs, and fundraising activities. This individual will be working with single minded male coaches KS, and Narduzzi not to mention the experienced Southern AD's of the ACC schools.
It doesn't matter how you slice it experience at Eastern Michigan isn't going to cut it!
This was a large committee bad hiring decision which I predicted months ago which does allow PITT to check a diversity box!
This hire will fail ! Gallagher will organize another large commitee and fire this AD and KS at the same time! Once hired its difficult to undo/fire a diversity hire. Just wait and see!

When it does happen I doubt PITT has a future in D1 athletics with 5 football coaches, 2 and probably a third basketball coach after KS is fired, 4 AD's once this one is canned over what the past 6-7 years????
Not good performance! Nice job there Gallagher when is it your turn in the barrel!