I am a big fan of University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler, who I believe wants a winning program in all men's and women's sports more than any previous president I can recall.
There is no doubt in my mind that Kaler will make sure that, in time, the Gophers athletic department will compare with any in the Big Ten.
However, at the present time, Kaler has to be a little uncomfortable with the media on his back because of several things that have occurred, starting in August with athletic director Norwood Teague resigning amid allegations of sexual harassment. It didn't help that Kaler hired Teague.
There were the investigations regarding the handling of the women's track and field team. Then there are a number of big boosters unhappy that a place wasn't found on the athletic department staff for retiring football coach Jerry Kill, and many of those same boosters can't understand how a $7 million buyout was a part of men's basketball coach Richard Pitino's contract. There also is the current situation in which three basketball players were suspended, and last but not least is the basketball team's 8-23 record.
Because of all of this, I am not as sure as I once was that interim athletic director Beth Goetz will be named the permanent athletic director if and when a search firm is hired and a university committee is named to recommend a hire.
Kaler is visiting with members of the athletic department to get their ideas on what abilities the next athletic director should have, and how one can be hired who will build a winning program and not get the school in trouble.
This week, Kaler appeared before the Gophers football coaching staff and asked how it would describe the next athletic director and what abilities he or she should have to run a successful program.
It's not going to be easy to hire an athletic director who currently has a solid job, considering the issues the university had in hiring a football coach and the previous athletic director. Successful athletic directors aren't ready to move to Minnesota even though it is the only Division I school in the state.