The Ralphie Report - The Search for the Next Athletic Director at ColoradoA Colorado Buffaloes Blog...Covering CU Sports Since 2008https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52670/trr_fav.png2013-07-17T13:00:33-06:00http://www.ralphiereport.com/rss/stream/41418112013-07-17T13:00:33-06:002013-07-17T13:00:33-06:00Rick George Named Next A.D. at Colorado
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<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The University of Colorado has finally found it's man to lead the Buffaloes. </p> <p>Well FINALLY. It will be official very shortly; the University of Colorado has an athletic director. In a message to Buff<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>Club members Associate Athletic Director Kurt J. Gulbrand invited members to attend a press conference introducing Rick George as the new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics for the University of Colorado. The press conference will be held in Byron R. White Stadium Club at Folsom Field at 2:00 pm.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Rick_george_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2926403/Rick_George_medium.jpg"></p>
<p>Even though it seems like forever that the athletic department has been operating in the interim, this announcement has come much more quickly than many were expecting. Even the projected timeline hinted that the process of finding a new "boss" would be a bit more drawn out than this.</p>
<p>This move certainly looks like Bruce Benson's promise of investing heavily in athletics was valid. Rick George was most recently President of Business Operations of the Texas Rangers and, according to his bio, has spent "nearly 30 years as a sports executive on the professional and collegiate level". George has a proven track record of success not only in business, which was a public emphasis for any candidate in this search, but also in the arena or athletics. He has been the president and CEO of non-profits, he has been an Associate Athletic Director at Vanderbilt and more importantly at CU from '87-'91 (read GLORY DAYS).</p>
<p>At first blush this is a homerun, A+ type of hire. There is no "we got the best guy available, considering we are rebuilding". George, by all accounts, is the real deal and this is a great day for the University. I genuinely believe that we got the guy at the top of our list. I am not the only one who is excited about the hire either. Former head coach Bill McCartney and Chancellor Phil DiStefano had <a href="http://www.buffzone.com/cu-news/ci_23677220/sources-cu-buffs-ready-name-texas-rangers-president" target="_blank">this to say</a>:</p>
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<p>"He's a dynamo," McCartney told the Camera earlier this summer. "He's a star. He's got a spirit about him. He doesn't have a bad day."</p>
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<p>"I am delighted that Rick has accepted our offer to lead our athletic department," Colorado chancellor Phillip P. DiStefano said in a statement. "Rick's financial and management acumen, his networking and relationship development skills, and his enthusiasm, work ethic and principled leadership all make him the ideal leader for CU athletics at this important and challenging moment in our history."</p>
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<p>Now to give you an idea of what Rick George has done:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">March 2013: promoted to President of the Texas Rangers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">October 2010: appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Texas Rangers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">2008-2010: Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations for the PGA Tour</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">January of 2003: First President of the Champions Tour</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Prior to the PGA Tour he was President/CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">1991-98: Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at Vanderbilt University</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">1897-91: Assistant Athletic Director, Football Operations at the University of Colorado</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">1983-87: Football Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Illinois</span></li>
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<p>According to ESPN George's first day at the University of Colorado will be August 12. CEO of the Texas Rangers, Nolan Ryan had this to say about our new AD:</p>
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<p>We wish Rick well as he pursues his passion of college athletics," Ryan said. "We appreciate his many contributions the past few years, particularly his efforts to help us increase revenues and attendance to record levels.</p>
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<p>In his own words:</p>
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<p>I am honored to be selected as director of intercollegiate athletics at CU-Boulder," George in a release posted on the athletic department's website. "CU is a special place for my family and me, and this is a marvelous opportunity at a great university in the best collegiate athletic conference in the country. I am looking forward to getting back to CU to begin working at this great institution.</p>
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<h4>More from The Ralphie Report:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/colorado-buffaloes-football/2013/7/16/4528620/quarterback-shane-dillon-transferring-from-colorado">Quarterback Shane Dillon Transferring from Colorado</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/colorado-buffaloes-football/2013/7/16/4528242/paul-richardson-biletnikoff-award-watch-list">Paul Richardson Named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/colorado-buffaloes-football/2013/7/16/4526436/the-ralphie-report-all-pac-12-team">The Ralphie Report All Pac-12 Team</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/colorado-buffaloes-football/2013/7/15/4524898/derrick-webb-named-to-butkus-award-watch-list">Derrick Webb Named to Butkus Award Watch List</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/2013/7/13/4520230/buff-bites-football-season-ticket-renewals-up-85">Buff Bites: Football Season Ticket Renewals Up To 85%</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.ralphiereport.com/2013/7/17/4532416/rick-george-named-next-athletic-director-at-coloradoDenny Majewski2013-07-11T07:52:43-06:002013-07-11T07:52:43-06:00Colorado AD Asks to Cut 10% From Each Program
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<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>"It's the peripheral sort of things," Barry said. "Who's traveling on trips? How are we doing searches? Little things. It may sound trivial, but it's more culture responsibility."</p>
<p>Nonsense - this is bad</p> <p><a href="http://www.denverpost.com/cu/ci_23638006/ceal-barry-asks-colorado-buffaloes-cut-sports-budget" target="_blank">The poor get poorer</a>:</p>
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<p>"It came from me," Barry said. "We operated at a deficit this last fiscal year. If nothing changes, we'll be at July 1, 2014, sitting in the same position. That's why we had to identify patterns on how we spend money."</p>
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<p>I equate this to grilling chicken. The best way to grill chicken is to toss some bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs on your grill with minimal seasoning. You pay little to no attention to them, wait until they get to temperature, toss them on the plate, and accept your friends' congratulations for cooking up the best chicken your guests have ever had. More delicate (worse) cooks buy up the boneless skinless chicked breasts, which have to be deeply marinated, carefully tended, and monitored closely lest they turn into inedible lumps of chicken based charcoal. For this analogy to work, we are the boneless, skinless breasts, and USC is the bone in, skin on thighs.</p>
<p>They literally have to do nothing to continue to be delicious, juicy, and desirable; just toss that shit on the grill, leave it alone, and you'll continue to be the most delicious, desirable program on the block. On the other hand, we're boneless skinless chicken breasts. Everything we do has to be managed carefully, spent on excessively, and even then we generally will receive lesser returns.</p>
<p>So here's the overly convoluted point; how do you cut 10% of the fat when there is no conceivable fat of which to discern? The answer is, you can't. You can call these "discretionary" funds all you want, but the bottom line is that we have no discretionary funds of which to speak, and all of these cuts will hurt every single athletic program we have. Every trip we can't afford to take will hurt, because we need those damn trips. When there is no fat to cut, you're cutting the meat, and that's the place at which we are currently operating. There is no fat, only meat.</p>
<p>And, as evidenced above in my analogy- the fat is the good part. It is what turns your gross, dry lump of sad dead flesh into a delicious, juicy masterpiece. It's what buys your football locker room a <a target="_blank" href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/06/alabama-crimson-tide-nick-saban-waterfalls/">freaking waterfall</a> or whatever new, shiny bauble Phil Knight is purchasing for Oregon. Probably a roller coaster or lazy river/ moat encircling Autzen. For us, "fat" is an indoor practice facility or a sound system in Folsom that doesn't sound like an old Discman funneled through those crummy Beats By Dre headphones that people inexplicably love. It's improvements to the tennis facility, an actual home for lacrosse, soccer, and track. It's a baseball program <i>(author's note- it will not be a baseball program, so shut up). </i>It's the ability to send our entire football coaching staff to work camps in California and Texas. In short- it is the ability to be creative and innovative in recruiting prospective scholar athletes to the University of Colorado. It is an unfortunate place where we now reside, and I sincerely hope that we have creative enough minds to work around, but if these cuts hold, it will inevitably be a horrible net negative for our already struggling athletic department.</p>
<p>- Phil</p>
<p><i>Ed. note: <br>I understand the need to get the budget right, but this seems like a tactic before a plan. If you're car isn't running you don't just take it in to the shop and ask them to change the oil. You ask them to give you a full estimate of what needs to be done and go from there. </i></p>
<p><i></i><i>My biggest problem with this is the decision to make it so public. Can you really not make some cuts without going to the media with this 10% crap? Perception is EVERYTHING, especially when it comes to recruiting. The only way to get back in the black is to put successful programs on the fields of play. The lifeblood of any strong program is high-character, highly skilled new athletes and this COULD be a big hit in that department. This isn't just something that other football coaches can use to recruit against Colorado, this is something that any staff, of any program, for any sport can use and use well. </i></p>
<p><i>Sigh. We have a long way to go. Stay the course, be patient, and make the right decisions. </i></p>
<p><i>- Jon </i></p>
<h4>More from The Ralphie Report:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/colorado-buffaloes-football/2013/7/10/4510578/darragh-oneill-named-to-ray-guy-award-watch-list">Darragh O'Neill Named to Ray Guy Award Watch List</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/colorado-buffaloes-football/2013/7/8/4503650/chidera-uzo-diribe-bednarik-award-watch-list">Chidera Uzo-Diribe Named to Bednarik Award Watch List</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/buffaloes-football-recruiting/2013/7/7/4502118/buffaloes-land-commit-from-colorado-safety-evan-white">Buffaloes Land Commit From Colorado Safety Evan White</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/colorado-buffaloes-football/2013/7/5/4496248/colorado-buffaloes-ncaa-2014-player-ratings">Colorado Buffaloes NCAA 2014 Player Ratings</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/buffaloes-football-recruiting/2013/7/1/4484956/buffs-get-second-commit-of-the-day-with-dylan-keeney-verbal">Buffs Get Second Commit of the Day With Dylan Keeney Verbal</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.ralphiereport.com/2013/7/11/4513224/cu-ad-asks-to-cut-10-from-each-programPhil Fraser2013-06-21T17:10:53-06:002013-06-21T17:10:53-06:00Colorado Athletic Director Search Committee Named
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<figcaption>Doug Pensinger</figcaption>
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<p>I mean, come on</p> <p>You know, there isn't a whole lot I want to say about this except that it happened. Just now. Moving at the speed of light here people...</p>
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<p>University of Colorado Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano today announced the formation of a search committee to find a new director of intercollegiate athletics.<br><br>CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn resigned from the post as AD effective June 3, 2013.<br><br>"I am delighted to announce the formation of the committee that will seek new leadership for CU athletics," said DiStefano. "These individuals have graciously agreed to serve on the committee, and each represents a key constituency with a strong stake in the success of our athletic programs. I am grateful for their service."<br><br>Members of the search committee include:<br><br>- Ceal Barry, CU-Boulder interim director of intercollegiate athletics and chair of the search</p>
<p>- Kelly Fox, CU-Boulder senior vice chancellor and chief financial officer</p>
<p>- Doug Looney, alumni representative, former Sports Illustrated writer</p>
<p>- Joe Jupille, CU-Boulder faculty representative, BFA Intercollegiate Athletics Committee</p>
<p>- David Clough, CU-Boulder Pac-12 faculty representative</p>
<p>- Kurt Gulbrand, CU Foundation</p>
<p>- Brittany Lewis, CU-Boulder student-athlete (track)</p>
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https://www.ralphiereport.com/2013/6/21/4453528/colorado-athletic-director-search-committee-named-yes-just-nowJon Woods2013-06-03T08:54:19-06:002013-06-03T08:54:19-06:00Meet Me at the Crossroads: Where to Go After Bohn
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<figcaption>do you want In-N-Out or Roscoes? | Marc Piscotty</figcaption>
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<p>Where does the Colorado Athletic Department go after Mike Bohn?</p> <div>In what was possibly the most perfect CU moment in recent history, Mike Bohn was let go by the university as the athletic director. What made it so perfect is that on it's face it appears to be poorly thought out, ill timed, and unexplained. If Bohn was on thin ice, then he should've been shown the door at the same time Embree was. Instead, he was allowed to fire a coach, hire a new coach, announce an extremely aggressive facilities project that will require an unprecedent donations drive, restructure the fundraising arm of the university so that he has more control of it, embark on a state wide caravan of coaches designed to garner goodwill of alumni, fans, and prospective donors... and then unceremoniously fired. Good job, good effort you guys.</div>
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<div>Obviously, there is a sound argument to be made for removing Bohn. That argument is called the performance of the football program. That's why virtually no one would've batted an eye had Embree and Bohn shared the same awkward exit press conference. But that didn't happen, so therefore cannot be an excuse. The official company line appears to be that CU wants a leader who will run the athletic department like a business and do better in fundraising effort. Sounds fair.</div>
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<div>Or it did until Bohn held his own press conference and claimed that he had met all of his incentive bonuses. Fundraising? Bohn has brought in more $1 million plus donations than everyone else at CU combined, and it's not close. There's also been more outreach to alumni on his watch than I ever remember previously. Run as a business? Bohn claimed that he balanced the budget in his first 6 years, and the last 2 were expected and signed off on by the university. A leader? Well things get trickier there.</div>
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<div>I've always liked Bohn. I've met him once, and had email correspondence multiple times, and I've always found him to be passionate about the sports programs he oversees. He was never a stiff autocratic business guy who only had time for the guys with fat wallets. But I never saw him as a particularly strong leader. I doubt that's entirely his fault, seeing as that he has bosses, but a strong manager has the will, vision, and license to drive his department in the way he sees fit, knowing that his superiors have the trust in him to succeed. Wether he didn't have that because Benson or DiStefano are micromanaging nightmare or because Bohn simply didn't engender himself to that trust is up for debate and likely only known to Benson and DiStefano. That said, the latter parties have hardly earned the benefit of the doubt.</div>
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<div>But Bohn used a search firm to hire Dan Hawkins, and wasn't allowed to fire him when he wanted. He had Jon Embree forced upon him. We saw George Solich leading the tour of Folsom with Butch Jones, which was poor optics at best, and a complete debacle at worst. The roll out of the new facilities project seemed muddled and directionless at best. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of his leadership. He did hire Tad Boyle when the popular choices were either Steve McClain or Mike Dunlap, and for that he deserves major credit. He also hired Linda Lappe, ushered in the new women's lacrosse program, and spearheaded the fantastic practice facility for basketball and volleyball. So "leadership" is... muddled at best. He did get results- just not football related results. Personally, my theory (and it's a tangentially sourced and extremely flimsy theory) is that Bohn never wanted Embree, and said he could not fundraise with Embree as coach. He was allowed to fire Embree and then... still couldn't fundraise at a level acceptable to his bosses. That's all I've got.</div>
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<div>So that leads us to the crossroads- where do we go from here? First and foremost, we've got to hire a new athletic director. What does that mean? What are we really looking for? Whoever we hire will no doubt have difficult decisions to make in the future, but for now, his or her job is to implement the vision of Mike Bohn. All of Bohn's coaches are in place. The facilities plan is in place. A new athletic director's job at present is simply to raise funds based on the fact that he (or she) is not Mike Bohn, and can do a better job of being Mike Bohn than Mike Bohn, whatever that means. I've worked in sales, and you're only as good as the product you have to sell. The next AD has to sell Mike Bohn. How is that remotely plausible? And who would want such a job? I love that Mike was such a passionate proponent of CU athletics, but that does not a great AD make. If it was, I would be crowned king of the athletic department and Benjamin Burrows would be my assistant AD in charge of basketball and lacrosse (suck it up, Burrows!).</div>
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<div>But that's not the case. We need a guy who can raise money, basically. He has to sell what is already available to be sold. We're not adding any new sports. If you like baseball- shut up. You're an idiot. When it comes time to add sports, I expect that baseball (and softball) will be behind swimming and diving, which would benefit from being cheap and gaining the same edge from training at altitude that track and cross country have. After that would be gymnastics, and other cheap ass sports that are sponsored by the Pac 12. Baseball is expensive and men's lacrosse isn't sponsored by the Pac 12, so please please please just forget about them. Also hockey.</div>
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<div>The new AD will have to sell what we have, and be better at it than Mike Bohn. We've got a marketing guy. We've got a football coach. We've got a basketball coach. As for Mike Bohn? His termination agreement included over $900K and 8 season tickets for football, men's basketball, and women's basketball for the remainder of his lifetime. Tell me he isn't passionate about CU sports. If Mike gets a new AD job, I volunteer to use his seats for the Kansas game. I also wouldn't be surprised to see him find a job with Chuck Neinas's search firm, which would earn him a healthy salary, stay involved in college athletics, and maintain a base in Boulder. We could all wish for such a fate.</div>
https://www.ralphiereport.com/2013/6/3/4385528/meet-me-at-the-crossroadsPhil Fraser2013-05-30T16:16:20-06:002013-05-30T16:16:20-06:00Mike Bohn's Legacy Has Yet to Be Written
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<figcaption>Marc Piscotty</figcaption>
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<p>Mike Bohn spoke to the media for the first time since his forced resignation Thursday in Broomfield. </p> <p>After a week of soul searching and a passionate public defense of his record during a press conference on Thursday at Broomfield's Omni Interlocken Hotel, Mike Bohn summed up his ouster as Colorado athletic director in three words as he exited stage left:<br><br>"This (expletive) hurts."<br><br>No matter how you feel about Bohn's shepherding of the Buffaloes over the last eight years, there is no question the Boulder High School graduate loves CU and made decisions based on what he felt was in the best interest of the long-term success of the athletic department and university.<br><br>The final time I personally experienced Bohn's, um, "devotion" to the place was during halftime of the key CU-Oregon basketball game at the Coors Events Center this March. That's when he was screaming at me like a madman for breaking the story that Andre Roberson was out indefinitely with mononucleosis.<br><br>Some stunned fans and peers who witnessed the heated and one-sided exchange wanted to know what Bohn's "problem" was. Maybe he cared too much.<br><br>CU's now former athletic director would do anything to protect a student-athlete or fight for one of his programs.<br><br>I would also like to note that Bohn - who I suggested in print should be fired after the debacle that was Jon Embree's farewell press conference and not allowed to hire a third football coach at CU - was one of the very first people to reach out to me when I was unceremoniously resigned from the newspaper business.<br><br>Unfortunately, as standup a guy as Bohn is, I doubt he's interested trading severance packages.<br><br>So why was Bohn safe after the disastrous 2012 football season and handed a pink slip by Phil DiStefano now?<br><br>"I don't know why," Bohn said.<br><br>The chancellor said during his less quotable press conference this week that he "made the decision that now is the time to bring in a strong leader to set the strategy that will step the department up to a new level of performance in fundraising and overall management."<br><br>Bohn pointed out that when he was hired the CU athletic department was facing a significant financial deficit in the neighborhood of $8 million. The decision to part ways with Gary Barnett after the 2005 Big 12 championship game added about $3 million to the problem.<br><br>There is no defense for the Buffs' 25-61 record over the past seven seasons under Dan Hawkins and Embree, but Bohn did his best to explain the .290 winning percentage of the program that is relied upon to pay the bills.<br><br>"Just think back when Gary talked to me and said, ‘Mike, I can't get out of this hole, I've basically got to go.' And I negotiated a separation with Gary. We owed him a lot more. My hat's off to Gary for meeting us at a happy place," Bohn said. "At that time we went out and recruited what many people in the nation thought was the No. 1 (coaching) prospect to come in and pull it together. That didn't work out for obviously lots of different reasons. I think the stain on the football program associated with the challenge is one that has been a bearcat to put together. ...<br><br>"Then there was a huge push to want a Buff. We felt excited about bringing in some Buffs that had some wonderful coaching experience and connections and we quickly saw that wasn't going to work. We made the tough decision; I made the recommendation to move there. I get that. A.D.'s are judged by the coaches they hire."<br><br>Bohn believes his final football decision, hiring Mike MacIntyre, will eventually prove to be as savvy as his decision to take a chance on a uncelebrated coach from Northern Colorado three years ago when the players were demanding Steve McClain and most "experts" were lobbying for Mike Dunlap.<br><br>Let's not forget Bohn was the athletic director who finally made a commitment to basketball at CU. He agreed to put language in Jeff Bzdelik's contract that led to the construction of the new practice facility and other long overdue upgrades at the Coors Events Center.<br><br>While moving from the Big 12 to the Pac-12 was a no-brainer that CU administrators and supporters had dreamed of for decades, it actually became a reality on Bohn's watch.<br><br>Trust me, Tad Boyle and Larry Scott are not pleased with DiStefano's decision to fire Bohn.<br><br>"I never had a negative evaluation," Bohn said. "I met virtually every expectation and all my incentives for eight years straight. I gave it my all, I carried the ball forward, and the program is positioned for a bright future. ... I have no regrets about that."<br><br>According to the CU Foundation, the athletic department raised $7.6 million in private donations in 2011 and $11.8 million in 2012. The department's overall budget almost doubled over the last eight years. Men's basketball season tickets went up 69 percent last season.<br><br>Bohn also believes his grandiose plans for "transformational" facilities upgrades would have been realized if not for this week's blindside sack. He said questioning his ability to run the athletic department as a business and to fundraise is "offensive."<br><br>But due to the penalties associated with changing conferences, a $2.6 million drop off in football ticket revenue, contract buyouts from yet another coaching change, and the fact that the revenue from the lucrative Pac-12 media deal has not started kicking in yet, CU's athletic department is seeing red again this year and will be again next year.<br><br>DiStefano wants a new athletic director to get CU out of this hole.<br><br>"We knew it was going to be a tough two-year window. And campus knew that," Bohn said. "This is my hometown and I'm proud of that. I will never, ever believe that we didn't put out whole heart, soul, mind and key resources into it to pull that all together. I let my record stand for what it is."<br><br>Perhaps CU's next athletic director will do a better job than Bohn. But it will be difficult to find one that cares about the Buffs as much.</p>
https://www.ralphiereport.com/ryan-thorburn-buffaloes-stories/2013/5/30/4381228/mike-bohn-legacy-colorado-buffaloesRyan Thorburn2013-05-28T19:58:40-06:002013-05-28T19:58:40-06:00Ceal Barry Named Interim Athletic Director at CU
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<figcaption>CUBuffs.com</figcaption>
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<p>The University moved quickly to find someone to temporarily fill the open role. </p> <p>The University of Colorado moved quickly today to name Ceal Barry the interim athletic director after announcing that former AD <a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/2013/5/28/4373666/mike-bohn-fired-as-colorado-athletic-director" target="_blank">Mike Bohn had resigned</a> earlier today.</p>
<p>Barry is a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=207983460">legend and a leader</a> at the University and is a good choice to keep things running smoothly until a permanent decision has been made. The pressure remains squarely on the administration to find a replacement for Bohn that can take this athletic department to new heights and fix the string of wrong turns that have plagued this organization for the last decade plus.</p>
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<p>University of Colorado Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano has named Adele Cecilia "Ceal" Barry interim director of intercollegiate athletics for the university, effective Monday, June 3.<br><br>Barry currently serves as associate athletic director for student services and senior woman administrator (an NCAA designation) in the department. She replaces Mike Bohn, who submitted his resignation today.<br><br>Hired as the women's head basketball coach in 1983 by then-athletic director Eddie Crowder, she has a 30-year history of involvement in CU athletics. She retired from coaching in 2005 as CU's winningest coach ever in all sports (427 victories), leading her teams to 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including six Sweet 16 and three Elite Eight appearances. Over 95 percent of her student-athletes graduated and 85 of her players earned Academic All-Conference honors.<br><br>"Ceal's experience, leadership and credibility with our athletic staff and stakeholders make her an ideal person to assume this important role as we search for new leadership," said DiStefano.</p>
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https://www.ralphiereport.com/2013/5/28/4374606/ceal-barry-named-interim-athletic-director-at-coloradoJon Woods2013-05-28T14:10:54-06:002013-05-28T14:10:54-06:00Mike Bohn Done as Colorado Athletic Director
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<p>The news that Bohn has been unceremoniously let go from CU came out of left field. </p> <p>Well, this is something I didn't expect to have to write today. Originating with Mark Johnson and now being confirmed by multiple sources, Mike Bohn has resigned (been fired) as the University of Colorado athletic director. At this point, Twitter tells the story better than I can.</p>
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<p>Mike Bohn has been let go as @<a href="https://twitter.com/cubuffs">cubuffs</a> AD! @<a href="https://twitter.com/850koa">850koa</a></p>
— Mark Johnson (@MJohnson850KOA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MJohnson850KOA/status/339466136380928000">May 28, 2013</a>
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<p>Trying to pay attention to Roy amid story that Mike Bohn has been let go by CU. Just received a text from Bohn:"I am floored".</p>
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) <a href="https://twitter.com/VicLombardi/status/339467882238988288">May 28, 2013</a>
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<p>"Hire a new football coach? check. Announce major new athletic facility plans? check. Reorganize your fundraising arm? check. Great- GTFO</p>
— Phil (@Phyltopia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Phyltopia/status/339470020461621249">May 28, 2013</a>
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<p>Interesting to watch CU AD search. Current Memphis AD Tom Bowen hired Mike MacIntyre at SJSU (they remain close) and is from Denver.</p>
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) <a href="https://twitter.com/wilnerhotline/status/339470963890593792">May 28, 2013</a>
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<p>The man hired Tad Boyle, but he also hired Dan Hawkins and Jon Embree. We don't know how the Mike MacIntyre hire will turn out, but either way it won't help Bohn to keep his job. Lots to discuss in the coming days and more to come...</p>
<p><b>Update: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=207971761">More from CU</a></p>
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<p><b></b>"Mike Bohn led CU-Boulder athletics in a time of great transition and change," said DiStefano. "We are grateful to him for his vision, passion and commitment, and for his key role in revitalizing men's and women's basketball, helping us to join the Pac-12 Conference, and in taking important steps to upgrade athletic facilities at CU-Boulder. We wish him well."</p>
<p>DiStefano said he will in the coming days appoint a search committee to conduct a national search for Bohn's successor.</p>
<p>DiStefano said the university will be seeking "a dynamic leader" as athletic director - someone who, he said, "can focus on our key goals of fundraising, building a dynamic organization, and creating long-term sustainability in the athletics mission."</p>
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https://www.ralphiereport.com/2013/5/28/4373666/mike-bohn-fired-as-colorado-athletic-directorJon Woods