Who will be Auburn's next athletic director?
The impending departure of Jay Jacobs has Auburn with an opening at athletic director for the first time since 2004.
In the wake of numerous scandals, internal investigations, fundraising difficulties and an athletic department in need of an overhaul, Auburn has a chance to make a needed cultural change with its new hire. There does not appear to be a viable internal candidate for the position, though several of the potential candidates do have connections to Auburn.
Athletic directors have increasingly shifted towards those with greater business acumen compared to former coaches and most of these these potential candidates have executive experience.
On Nov. 20, Auburn announced a six-person advisory committee and Parker Executive Search would assist in finding a new athletic director.
Here's a look at eight potential candidates AL.com has compiled (listed alphabetically):
By James Crepea | jcrepea@al.com
Virginia Tech athletics
Whit Babcock, athletic director at Virginia Tech
Babcock has been the athletic director at Va. Tech since Jan. 2014 and has previously worked at Auburn as well as Cincinnati, Missouri and West Virginia. A source told AL.com Babcock is not pursuing the position.
He was among five finalists for 2016-17 AD of the Year by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily.
In his time in Blacksburg, Babcock hired Buzz Williams as men's basketball coach and he's taken the Hokies to the NCAA Tournament, hired Justin Fuente as football coach, and made hires in baseball, women's basketball and women's lacrosse.
Whether the Harrisonburg, Va. native would want to leave is unclear. Prior to Va. Tech, Babcock was the athletic director at Cincinnati for two and a half years, was executive associate AD at Missouri for five years and also worked at WVU, Auburn and James Madison.
UConn athletics
David Benedict, athletic director at UConn
Benedict has been the athletic director at UConn since March 2016, prior to which he was the chief operating officer at Auburn. His name initially surfaced from multiple sources as a potential leading candidate for the position and he has support of key members of Auburn's board of trustees, but he is no longer be in the running after signing a restructured contract at UConn.
Benedict signed a restructured contract at UConn on Dec. 4 that increases his base salary from $450,000 to $550,000, lowers his potential bonus compensation from $100,000 to $50,000 and provides $500,000 in deferred compensation should be remain in with the Huskies through the end of his deal in 2021, up from $250,000, according to the Hartford Courant.
In his short time in Storrs, Benedict brought back football coach Randy Edsall, who in turn hired Rhett Lashlee as offensive coordinator and former Auburn assistant J.B. Grimes as offensive line coach. UConn added non-conference football games with Boston College at Fenway Park this season and Clemson in 2021. He also negotiated an extension of the program's deal with Nike through 2022-23.
At Auburn, Benedict directed the day-to-day operations of the athletic department and led long-term plans for the budget, facilities, staffing and strategic goals. He led a feasibility study to make renovations to Jordan-Hare Stadium, including the proposed $150-$180 million North end zone project, which was all but scrapped since his departure. He also was a key figure in negotiating the school's nine-year extension with Under Armour, was the men's basketball sport administrator and helped support the administrative staff of the football program.
He previously served as deputy athletic director at Minnesota (2012-14) and at Virginia Commonwealth (2010-12), Long Beach State (2007-10) and Arizona State (1996-2006).
File photo via Bloomberg News
Mac Crawford, former CEO and chairman of Caremark Rx Inc.
Former Auburn fullback and 1971 graduate, Mac Crawford is the former CEO and chairman of Caremark Rx. He served on the search committee that hired Gus Malzahn in 2012.
Crawford is considered a long shot at best for the AD position.
Scott Etheridge, former Auburn kicker and chief operating officer at Arise Virtual Solutions
Etheridge, a former Auburn kicker, was a candidate for the athletic director position back in 2004 and could be considered again.
He's served in an executive capacity at Arise Virtual Solutions since 2009, prior to which he was at Liz Claiborne and NBCUniversal.
Former Troy University athletic director John Hartwell addresses the fans and alumni during the Trojan Tour 13 stop Thursday, June 27, 2013 at the Bluegill Restaurant on the U.S. 90 Causeway in Spanish Fort, Ala.
Bill Starling/bstarling@al.com)
John Hartwell, athletic director at Utah State and former AD at Troy
A Mobile native, Hartwell has been the athletic director at Utah State since June 2. 2015, prior to which he was the athletic director at Troy for three years and over nine years as senior executive associate athletic director at Ole Miss.
He confirmed interest in the position to AL.com.
During his time at USU, Hartwell rebranded the fundraising arm of Utah State Athletics with the creation of Aggies Unlimited, which puts all donations under one umbrella. He’s overseen the completion of the $36 million, 85,000-square foot West Stadium Center on the west side of Maverik Stadium and other renovations.
At Troy, Hartwell led efforts to upgrade several athletics facilities, unveiled a $25 million North end zone project for Veterans Memorial Stadium and hired football coach Neal Brown. He also negotiated a new apparel deal with Adidas and home-and-home football games with Duke and N.C. State.
Hartwell was the No. 2 athletics administrator at Ole Miss from 2003-12, serving as the treasurer and Chief Operating Officer of the Mississippi Athletic Association Foundation. He had day-to-day administrative oversight of the football, men’s basketball and baseball program and oversaw the Rebels’ business office, ticket office, equipment room, merchandise sales, concessions and football scheduling, including scheduling a home-and-home series with Texas.
Prior to his time working in college athletics, Hartwell was a CPA with Ernest & Young and he played basketball while at The Citadel.
Michelle McKenna-Doyle, Auburn Alum, Chief Information Officer for the NFL
Jeffrey D Etheridge via Auburn University Flickr
Michelle McKenna-Doyle, chief information officer at NFL
McKenna-Doyle is an Auburn alumnus and was interested in the position at her alma mater, but pulled out of the search process on Jan. 5.
The Enterprise native has served as a senior vice president and chief information officer of the NFL since Sept. 2012. Prior to her time with the NFL, McKenna-Doyle worked with Constellation Energy, The Walt Disney Co., MetLife and Coopers & Lybrand.
Iowa State athletics
Jamie Pollard, athletic director at Iowa State
Pollard could be a candidate due to his connection to Auburn president Steven Leath, who he worked with at Iowa State.
Pollard has been the AD for the Cyclones since 2005 and been a driving force for numerous facilities projects and fundraising initiatives. He's served as chair of the Big 12 athletics directors committee and as president of the Division 1A athletics directors association.
Prior to ISU, Pollard worked at Wisconsin, Maryland and St. Louis.
Former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville in Auburn, Ala on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.
Mark Almond/AL.com
Tommy Tuberville, former Auburn coach and ESPN analyst
After considering a run for governor, Tuberville instead went into the broadcast booth but he's absolutely interested in the athletic director job.
"I would love to help Auburn's athletic program," Tuberville said during a Nov. 9 interview on WNSP. "I don't think there's anyone more qualified than me. I know it. I know the people. I know the boosters, the alumni. I know the city, the community. I would love to talk to the president, whether I am a candidate or whether I can help."
While he's an accomplished coach and revered by Auburn fans, Tuberville's lack of experience in an administrative capacity seemingly makes his candidacy for the position a long shot at best.
"They are way underachieving in that athletic program, as we speak," Tuberville said. "There are a lot of great things and a lot of good people."
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