Kent State AD Search

[MaddogJack]

Re: Kent State AD Search

Wow, that surprised me. On the one hand, I'm very happy that Gene is staying at NDSU. On the other, I'm wondering why a school would select Joel over him. Joel might be a good guy, but has he accomplished half of what Gene has? Oh well, I'm just happy that we got the better end of this deal(IMHO).

You also might want to check out how Bisonville has found God today. Our interim president just got knocked out of the search and there are many shouts of praise going up from the faithful.

PLUS, now MAYBE we can FINALLY rekindle our rivalry with USD - cause we KNOW it was SDSU holding THAT up!

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: Kent State AD Search

Wow, that surprised me. On the one hand, I'm very happy that Gene is staying at NDSU. On the other, I'm wondering why a school would select Joel over him. Joel might be a good guy, but has he accomplished half of what Gene has?

Maybe Joel was better? Hmm?

[JackJD]

Re: Kent State AD Search

I am not acquainted with Nielsen...was introduced once but that's it. He made a good first impression on me and I think he's done okay at USD (some have questioned the U's interest in athletics and if those comments are accurate --I not convinced they are-- then Nielsen's tenure as AD has to get high marks if he faced such tough odds).

I hope he does well at Kent State. I'd be concerned if I was a 'Yote fan. I think they lost a good one and at this stage in transition, changing leaders may cause problems.

Nielsen story: A few summers ago USD had a golf outing in Watertown. Several SDSU fans attended.* If my memory is accurate, I think Nielsen was in a foursome with former Jackrabbit football player Scott Munger. During the dinner after golf, Nielsen had those in attendance laughing hard when he stood up and offered Scott a full ride for his first-born son to play football at USD (Scott is a great guy and a giant of a man--still looks like he could play in the line).

(*Many USD grads participate in the SDSU golf outings, too.)

[Nidaros]

Re: Kent State AD Search

Wow, that surprised me. On the one hand, I'm very happy that Gene is staying at NDSU. On the other, I'm wondering why a school would select Joel over him. Joel might be a good guy, but has he accomplished half of what Gene has? Oh well, I'm just happy that we got the better end of this deal(IMHO).

You also might want to check out how Bisonville has found God today. Our interim president just got knocked out of the search and there are many shouts of praise going up from the faithful.

Maybe Nielsen was the second choice, but when the first choice steps aside, it seems to follow the selection group of one or more individuals have to start looking at the second choice who apparently is Joel Neilsen. I have to agree with JackJD and I do think too that USD family of friends, alums and fans is not equal to SDSU. Participation on the Coyote fan board as opposed to this board supports my assertion. I suspect too that Nielsen no doubt ran into a lot of resistence in fund raising, and what ever he accompolished probably made a better impression than what Gene Taylor did at NDSU. When you got 8 NC banners in football, several banners from Women's bb, and a Teammaker organization in place that is second to none in this area, then you better look good. Maybe at Kent State, the selection committee knew more about NDSU than you might think. Also they no doubt researched USD, and could see the differences in enviroments and where looking for a guy who has some grit and can turn things around at Kent State. I think Nielsen is going to have his hands full at Kent State. He may not be in over his head, but with a long time AD and with a certain politcal enviroment, I suspect some aspects of athletics at Kent State have gone stale.

[89rabbit]

Re: Kent State AD Search

Keep in mind that any candidate for any job is being judged on the entirety of their work and not just their last stop.

Joel was the associate athletic director at Wake Forest University before he came to USD. Before that he was at Illinois State and Northern Illinois.

Gene was at Navy for 15 years before he came to NDSU.

I have no inside info on this hire, but have met and worked with Joel and he seems like a good guy and nice hire for Kent State. Best of luck to him.


Go State!

[Nidaros]

Re: Kent State AD Search

Keep in mind that any candidate for any job is being judged on the entirety of their work and not just their last stop.

Joel was the associate athletic director at Wake Forest University before he came to USD. Before that he was at Illinois State and Northern Illinois.

Gene was at Navy for 15 years before he came to NDSU.

I have no inside info on this hire, but have met and worked with Joel and he seems like a good guy and nice hire for Kent State. Best of luck to him.


Go State!

I am sure what you have said here is true, but like everyone else, I have no idea what specifically Kent State was looking for in an AD, but apparently Nielsen was their best fit and I do think he has out accompolished his two precessors in the seven years he was at USD.

What is scary to me, is that Nielsen leaves USD in better shape than he found it and that makes finding a replacement much easier for the search committee. There are probably a bunch of Justin Sell's out there that are looking for an opportunity such as the one at USD with Nielsen's departure.

[Nidaros]

Re: Kent State AD Search

I wonder if Tayler from NDSU wanted out before the anymore bad news hit the NDSU football program.

Alot of rumors flying around about a couple players who are caught up in a theft scheme at Best Buy where over 100,000 of merchandise was stolen. I guess we will find out fairly soon if it's true because they are starting their spring practice soon.

Tayler might be looking at what has happened to the once proud football program and might see the writing on the wall. If they have another spring/summer of kids getting DUI's and other off the field garbage, followed by another sup-par season, Tayler and Bohl might be shown the door.

There was on the news in Fargo, a story about the scheme involving a security person at Best Buy, who recruited about six individuals who came to the store and filled their carts when this person was manning the door at Best Buy. There was no mention of football players, but if I recall right, there were no names given of the helpers. I think this story is just starting to break and all the details may be yet to come. Interesting to say the least. At any rate Best Buy lost a great deal of merchandise and this has been on going for some time, but with inventory controls, the shortages soon become rather obvious to management.

The other part of the equation is that NDSU is in the middle of a search for a replacement for President Chapman. The interim president, Hansen an alum, was eliminated from the search, so they will soon have a brand new person in charge.

[mitchell]

Re: Kent State AD Search

NDSU AD Tayler might be wanting to get out of dodge with all the problems the NDSU football team has had the past couple years.

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/273450/

Rumor has it that couple FB players are mixed up in this 100,000 theft from Best Buy. I guess we'll find out sooner than later if the rumor is true. With all the drug posession, theft, & DUI's that have been going on, might be a good time to get out.

[JackJD]

Re: Kent State AD Search

Mitchell notes that there are rumors about who is involved in the BestBuy thefts under investigation in Fargo. Those rumors are noted on the Bison message board. Fortunately no names are being mentioned in the rumors.

I'm not going to lock this thread-- and I am not being critical of Mitchell for reporting what is being said on another source (it's actually kinda interesting stuff!) -- but it may be best for people to give this one a little time to see if the rumors evaporate into the ether or whether they gain substance based on factual reporting. If the later, then discuss away. Until then, just a waste of bandwith.

Edit: We tend to discourage rumors on this message board but no names are being mentioned, no SDSU athletes are involved etc....so that's why the comment about not locking the thread. Post away if you wish!

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Kent State AD Search

Well good I will be able to sleep tonight knowing this thread will not be locked.

[JackJD]

Re: Kent State AD Search

We don't want anyone to lose sleep around here!

[Nidaros]

Re: Kent State AD Search

Mitchell notes that there are rumors about who is involved in the BestBuy thefts under investigation in Fargo. Those rumors are noted on the Bison message board. Fortunately no names are being mentioned in the rumors.

I'm not going to lock this thread-- and I am not being critical of Mitchell for reporting what is being said on another source (it's actually kinda interesting stuff!) -- but it may be best for people to give this one a little time to see if the rumors evaporate into the ether or whether they gain substance based on factual reporting. If the later, then discuss away. Until then, just a waste of bandwith.

Edit: We tend to discourage rumors on this message board but no names are being mentioned, no SDSU athletes are involved etc....so that's why the comment about not locking the thread. Post away if you wish!

Thanks JackJD, I am sure you have read the Just Sayin thread over on Bisonville. Some of the posts are really funny especially the one of a movie actor with a disgusted look on his face and the poster say" Oh no not this sh*t again".

If these rumors have substance, they might explain Taylor's move on the Kent State AD job and with a new president coming in at NDSU, I would want to have my house in order if I were on the staff as a Animal Science Prof or as Director of Athletics.

[JackJD]

Re: Kent State AD Search

I see from another thread, Nidaros, two NDSU players suspended according to the Fargo Forum. No reason given. [Dots waiting to be connected?]

[Nidaros]

Re: Kent State AD Search

I see from another thread, Nidaros, two NDSU players suspended according to the Fargo Forum. No reason given. [Dots waiting to be connected?]

Good question. I see the folks over on Bisonville move "Just Saying" somewhere. I can not find where it went, not that really matters, but I do enjoy their sense of humor when its shown and not directed towards SDSU.