Talked to Todd Stewart

[olblue]

They

just installed new field turf and are going to build a new indoor football facility as well. This was within the last few months.

You specifically referenced the football stadium renovations. And after it was pointed out those occurred before he got there, it's bbbbut, we're building a new practice facility. Too late on that one.

And kudos to Mr Stewart for spearheading the project to put fake grass on a baseball field. Hate to tell you but high schools are putting in filed turf.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

As many of you know I am in the Sport Management department at WKU and talked to the Athletics Director at WKU who is one of the best in the country in my opinion. I was able to get his thoughts on what it takes to make good football hires which he has done the last 3 times at WKU to build quite an impressive program at WKU.
The main thing that stood to me when I asked what it took to make a good hire is he said "sometimes you have to take calculated risks" (Bobby Petrino) and that he believes your background will help you find good candidates. In his case he worked in the NFL for 15 years which lead to him being around very intelligent football people for a long time which has lead to him knowing what it takes to hire a good football coach that's a great fit for each individual program.
I find this interesting because I don't believe Mitch has the right connections or background to make a great football hired at UK simply because he isn't a "football" guy. Just thought I would share this with you guys for some discussion.

Totally agree with him. Besides, Kentucky needs a football AD. That's what brings in the money, even at U.K.

Basketball will always be taken care of, as it should be.

 

[Comebakatz3]

As far as Brohm goes, he made the call on him as well and said that part of the reason he hired Petrino is because he knew he would hire elite coaches around him and knew Petrino wouldn't be at WKU long so maybe he could have a very good coach to take Bobby's place that was IN HOUSE. That my friend is thinking ahead and making smart moves.

I honestly cannot speak to the abilities of Stewart as an athletic director. However, I don't think the above proves that he is. When I read that it really just seemed extremely similar to the head coach in waiting type scenario, which has failed numerous times. You can call that thinking ahead and a smart move, but that's what many of us thought when Joker Phillips was named head coach in waiting. We thought it was thinking ahead and shoring up someone who could be a great coach. Instead it was a dumpster fire. Brohm has worked out for WKU, but I think it is hard to use that as an example of the AD making a smart move and thinking ahead.

 

[FiveStarBBN]

You specifically referenced the football stadium renovations. And after it was pointed out those occurred before he got there, it's bbbbut, we're building a new practice facility. Too late on that one.

And kudos to Mr Stewart for spearheading the project to put fake grass on a baseball field. Hate to tell you but high schools are putting in filed turf.

The AD that was at WKU at the time was talking to Todd while he was working at the SunBelt Conference regarding his input on the football program and then mentioned the media relations job in the process. If you think he had nothing to do with the oversight of the football renovations you're mistaken. And how does the indoor facility get overlooked? Too late? The fact is he is getting it done at WKU and you have something against the guy and it's fine but don't claim to know things when you can look up bio's profiles on the Internet.

 

[FiveStarBBN]

I honestly cannot speak to the abilities of Stewart as an athletic director. However, I don't think the above proves that he is. When I read that it really just seemed extremely similar to the head coach in waiting type scenario, which has failed numerous times. You can call that thinking ahead and a smart move, but that's what many of us thought when Joker Phillips was named head coach in waiting. We thought it was thinking ahead and shoring up someone who could be a great coach. Instead it was a dumpster fire. Brohm has worked out for WKU, but I think it is hard to use that as an example of the AD making a smart move and thinking ahead.

Facts is, WKU could've hired someone else instead of Brohm and when Petrino got here Stewart had no clue Brohm would be the HC afterwards. Also, WKU made 1.2 million dollars from Petrino and got a Bowl Win out of it as well. Not the 12 dollar disaster that Mitch has left UK with. We need someone that will take risks and not leave UK vulnerable with insane buyouts for unproven coaches.

 

[UKNothinButNet]

What facility upgrade did Stewart manage start to finish?

He "managed" to kiss our arse LOL

 

[EdNygma]

The two things I get from this thread are that one person really loved WKU's AD and another person really cannot stand him.

 

[jauk11]

The two things I get from this thread are that one person really loved WKU's AD and another person really cannot stand him.

Pretty good summary, and I was about to wonder why all this discussion about a new football coach when we already have one, one most likely to be here for AT LEAST a year and a half. But then I realized that it was about mitch, and my thought is why are you about 14 years too late as far as football is concerned. Brooks was hired because he couldn't find anyone else that wanted the job, and what did he pay him to start, about $700,000? And then he required him to give Joker part of his salary to keep him when Joker had interest from other power schools, teams like Alabama..

By the way, I think Brooks had an excellent eye for hiring very good assistants, just not very good at hiring ones that liked to recruit, he left most of that for Joker to run, with a recruiting budget about a third of Thug Us, but then that might be understandable when we had so many advantages over them in facilities, football tradition, in state talent, being a basketball school, etc etc, right mitch?..

 

[Cats78]

Wasn't there some massive scandal involving the WKU basketball team that was supposed to come out but never did?

Something happened down there when Harper left.

 

[Beatle Bum]

Did he hire Ken McDonald and Ray Harper?

I had the same question.

 

[BluffaloSlim]

Thanks for sharing OP

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

As many of you know I am in the Sport Management department at WKU and talked to the Athletics Director at WKU who is one of the best in the country in my opinion. I was able to get his thoughts on what it takes to make good football hires which he has done the last 3 times at WKU to build quite an impressive program at WKU.
The main thing that stood to me when I asked what it took to make a good hire is he said "sometimes you have to take calculated risks" (Bobby Petrino) and that he believes your background will help you find good candidates. In his case he worked in the NFL for 15 years which lead to him being around very intelligent football people for a long time which has lead to him knowing what it takes to hire a good football coach that's a great fit for each individual program.
I find this interesting because I don't believe Mitch has the right connections or background to make a great football hired at UK simply because he isn't a "football" guy. Just thought I would share this with you guys for some discussion.

That's funny, considering when we hired Mitch we were told it was because he was "a football guy."

 

[FiveStarBBN]

That's funny, considering when we hired Mitch we were told it was because he was "a football guy."

What is Mitch's credentials as far as football goes before UK?

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

I distinctly remember hearing we were hiring a "Football guy" from Oregon State when we hired Barnfart.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

What is Mitch's credentials as far as football goes before UK?

Oregon State had a history as bad or worse as UK. The year after he got there he hired Dennis Erickson, and OSU went to a bowl game for the first time in 34 years. The next year it was in a BSC bowl. And kicked the crap out of Notre Dame once they got there, 41-9 IIRC. IOW, didn't get lucky and draw Wake Forest.

I'd start there.

 

[Sawyer_rivals136976]

As many of you know I am in the Sport Management department at WKU and talked to the Athletics Director at WKU who is one of the best in the country in my opinion. I was able to get his thoughts on what it takes to make good football hires which he has done the last 3 times at WKU to build quite an impressive program at WKU.
The main thing that stood to me when I asked what it took to make a good hire is he said "sometimes you have to take calculated risks" (Bobby Petrino) and that he believes your background will help you find good candidates. In his case he worked in the NFL for 15 years which lead to him being around very intelligent football people for a long time which has lead to him knowing what it takes to hire a good football coach that's a great fit for each individual program.
I find this interesting because I don't believe Mitch has the right connections or background to make a great football hired at UK simply because he isn't a "football" guy. Just thought I would share this with you guys for some discussion.

Seems like a sportswriter in Tallahassee shares that view...see attached http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sp...clark-louisville-exactly-acc-needed/90328052/

 

[Deeeefense]

For those that were clamoring for Petrino, we have the opportunity to go after Petrino 201 AKA Art Briles.
We all know Briles was embroiled in a cover up of sexual assault and rape cases at Baylor but he still claims his innocent and say he was used as a scapegoat by Baylor. He has refused to the settle the matter with plaintiffs and is lawyered up and ready to fight. I'm not saying we should or should not hire Briles, just that he's out there and probably available.

Here's an article that give a little bit ab out his side of the story.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

For those that were clamoring for Petrino, we have the opportunity to go after Petrino 201 AKA Art Briles.
We all know Briles was embroiled in a cover up of sexual assault and rape cases at Baylor but he still claims his innocent and say he was used as a scapegoat by Baylor. He has refused to the settle the matter with plaintiffs and is lawyered up and ready to fight. I'm not saying we should or should not hire Briles, just that he's out there and probably available.

Here's an article that give a little bit ab out his side of the story.

Putting aside for a moment Barnhart's perceived reluctance to take a chance on a baggage guy - maybe his hand could be forced, and after all he did sign Dennis Erickson once - I'd love for this guy to turn out to be clean, or at least clean enough to hire. but the optics are bad. It's one of those deals where perception has crystalized - the truth doesn't really matter, by now people have an idea of what "he did" at Baylor and he's tainted.

• what is the real story, what did he do or not do?
• would he coach outside of Texas?
• could he coach outside of Texas - better said, can he recruit in a different state?
• if he came and did well, would he bail first chance for a better job or a job in Texas?

Plenty of questions. Bottom line, as others have said, it's likely the only way we get a standout coach is if he has something going on that makes him unattractive to others......

 

[law1127]

Petrino is from Montana,how's that working?

 

[TeoJ]

He hired Bobby which was a good gamble,Brohm fell into lap because of this. I would really look at the next hire to kind of judge him.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

No. Those two gems where on Bjork's watch. As for Stansbury, it was clear from the moment that Harper was let go, that he would be a fit. Stewart didn't figure that out until later.

You make it sound like everything has just fallen into this guys lap with no skill of his own. If thats the case then hes a lucky sob. UK needs someone who is lucky like this guy is.
Thank you! You have sold me on this guy.

 

[Soupbean]

At least Todd Stewart had the balls to hire a proven winner. To downplay what he has done at WKU is ignorance. Also, It's well noted that I don't even like Bobby Petrino as a person however he is one hell of a football coach and goes to show that schools and AD's sometimes must make risky hires to build a football program. Mitch will never do that because he is a morals guy. Morals guys don't win football games in the SEC.

You swung and missed the whole point here. The point is it didnt' take near as much "balls" as you want to think for Stewart to make that hire. It would have taken coconuts for Barnhart or any othe big 5 school to do so. It wasn't risky for Stewart it was an easy pick that pretty much fell in his lap.

 

[fuzz77]

Totally agree with him. Besides, Kentucky needs a football AD. That's what brings in the money, even at U.K.

Basketball will always be taken care of, as it should be.

What does this mean? You realize that before he was at UK that Mitch had been at "football schools". It's not like he was Harry Lancaster (Rupp assistant), Cliff Hagan (former Rupp player), C.M Newton (former Rupp player)... 3 of the 4 ADs that preceded Mitch. The other, Larry Ivy (an Alabama alum) was only AD 2 years before resigning due to finding with the Mumme/Claude Bassett fiasco.

But what does a "football AD" do when the basketball program has to be fed on par $-wise with the football program? When it requires more that double that of any of your competitors?

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

What does this mean? You realize that before he was at UK that Mitch had been at "football schools". It's not like he was Harry Lancaster (Rupp assistant), Cliff Hagan (former Rupp player), C.M Newton (former Rupp player)... 3 of the 4 ADs that preceded Mitch. The other, Larry Ivy (an Alabama alum) was only AD 2 years before resigning due to finding with the Mumme/Claude Bassett fiasco.

But what does a "football AD" do when the basketball program has to be fed on par $-wise with the football program? When it requires more that double that of any of your competitors?

First, Mitch sucks and should've been fired YEARS ago. Mitch isn't even involved with basketball, contrary to popular belief on here. I'm talking he doesn't even know what their jerseys are going to look like until right before we do type of involvement. Second, Football makes FAR more money than basketball, even at U.K.

 

[fuzz77]

First, Mitch sucks and should've been fired YEARS ago. Mitch isn't even involved with basketball, contrary to popular belief on here. I'm talking he doesn't even know what their jerseys are going to look like until right before we do type of involvement. Second, Football makes FAR more money than basketball, even at U.K.

Your second point first....Yes and no. Yes, football makes more in direct revenue for UK but basketball derives more in donations and prestige for the school. UK has the second biggest media rights contract in the country...they aren't paying all of that money for football. Revenue from athletic apparel sales (again, one of the top in the country) isn't driven from football.
I really doubt that the football, basketball or any other team runs game day uniform selections by the AD. Why would they?
And contrary to what you want to believe, Mitch is as involved with basketball as any other AD in the country.

 

[UK_ Alum_02]

Pretty clear that this Todd Stewart guy has had relations with Mrs. cobbpacker.

 

[FieldstoneWarrior]

Did he hire Ken McDonald and Ray Harper?

Not much long term but both had WKU in the tournament. Harper, at least, won a couple of conference championships despite poor regular seasons.

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

You swung and missed the whole point here. The point is it didnt' take near as much "balls" as you want to think for Stewart to make that hire. It would have taken coconuts for Barnhart or any othe big 5 school to do so. It wasn't risky for Stewart it was an easy pick that pretty much fell in his lap.

Exactly. If Petrino messed up at WKU it would be an afterthought nationwide. If he messed up at a P5 school it would have been huge. Petrino put in a good word for his OC brohm and that would keep continuity in the program. With Petrino it's not like they were battling big time schools for his services. I don't know if he's a great AD or not but the Petrino hire was low risk high reward for a program like western.

 

[morgousky]

Id venture to say, just looking at his record of hires, that the guy prefers winning. If you dispute that, you're just a Mitch dingleberry.

I bet if a poll was ran across western Kentucky he'd have a 95% approval rating. Try running that same poll across the state with UK fans. Mitch wouldn't pull 20%.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

Your second point first....Yes and no. Yes, football makes more in direct revenue for UK but basketball derives more in donations and prestige for the school. UK has the second biggest media rights contract in the country...they aren't paying all of that money for football. Revenue from athletic apparel sales (again, one of the top in the country) isn't driven from football.
I really doubt that the football, basketball or any other team runs game day uniform selections by the AD. Why would they?
And contrary to what you want to believe, Mitch is as involved with basketball as any other AD in the country.

I believe U.K. is 1st with their media rights deal, unless someone got a better one in the past few months. I've been busy and haven't kept up with it.

Fuzz, I'm not going to argue with you about Mitch. Just so we're clear, I am probably more connected than just about anybody on here. That's all I'll say about that. However, I never break anything on here because I don't want to ruin any of those connections. Mitch being totally isolated from basketball is common knowledge, so I have no problem agreeing with it.