Doesn't a thorough national AD search/vetting/interviewing/hiring process take about 6 months? And is not done secretly? If his contract is up this September we should be hearing something (one way or the other) soon, I would think. Unless they would appoint an interim AD while the search is ongoing. My guess would be he gets extended due to the short-leash conundrum...if an Akron is too quick to terminate someone, it discourages other potentially qualified candidates from applying. Then again, it's been what, 6 years? With the program being relatively stable/successful, perhaps he is being evaluated primarily on his progress on fundraising.