AD Search

[Hilltopper]

 

[Captain Kangaroo]

The main thing I gleaned from the video is - we're looking for a new AD. Happy to hear it...with the Budget-cut-a-palooza we've recently endured I wondered if we'd just let an intern run the ship for a year or two.

 

 

[ZippyRulz]

I gleaned that

a) (13:40) the Akron community loves UA

b) (11:30) the new AD doesn't necessarily have to come from an AD position; it's more about the person (he or she)

 

 

Edited February 7 by ZippyRulz

[Captain Kangaroo]

2 hours ago, ZippyRulz said:

I gleaned that

a) (13:40) the Akron community loves UA

b) (11:30) the new AD doesn't necessarily have to come from an AD position; it's more about the person (he or she)

a.) They show it by not attending Zips games, and wearing OSU gear. I guess it's "tough love?"

[GP1]

On 2/7/2025 at 12:23 PM, ZippyRulz said:

 (11:30) the new AD doesn't necessarily have to come from an AD position; it's more about the person (he or she)

 

 

Ok. I'll do it on the cheap for as last they want me as long as I don't have to wear a tie to work. Im not kidding when I say I could do a better job than the past couple of ADs. 

Edited February 8 by GP1

[MDZip]

2 hours ago, GP1 said:

I'm not kidding when I say I couldn't do a better job than the past couple of ADs. 

Don't worry, I couldn't either. 😉

[zippy5]

https://gozips.com/news/2025/4/25/general-the-university-of-akron-names-dr-andrew-t-goodrich-as-AD

[akzipper]

39 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

https://gozips.com/news/2025/4/25/general-the-university-of-akron-names-dr-andrew-t-goodrich-as-AD

 

Well they picked a guy with the most Akron name ever. Can't be mad about that. 

 

Experience at Miami (FL) and South Florida is encouraging. 

Edited Friday at 09:58 PM by akzipper

[kreed5120]

Out of curiosity, not negativity, I wonder what qualities and/or qualifications we were looking for in a candidate and how exactly did he fit those criteria?

[NYC ZIP]

My two cents, quick read is that he has been instrumental in fund raising, marketing and sponsorships at ACC and Big South schools. Finding new, innovative ways to raise money and increase engagement on and off campus, would be very beneficial to Akron athletics. 

[NYC ZIP]

GW bio focuses a lot on revenue generating activities:

https://gwusports.com/staff-directory/andrew-goodrich/354
 

From his Miami bio

A member of the external leadership staff, his role he is responsible for the management of the marketing department’s promotional, advertising and budgeting strategies for the Hurricanes’ 17 varsity sports.  Additional responsibilities include supporting the efforts of UM communications, ticket sales, ticket operations, digital media, creative services and multimedia rights partners to increase and improve brand value, brand awareness, fan experience, customer satisfaction, attendance and revenues. 
 

USF

 

At South Florida, Goodrich was responsible for leading the Bulls' business strategy, revenue generation, ticket operations, ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, merchandising, and USF Athletics licensing (CLC) initiatives. Additionally, Goodrich supervised marketing and strategic communications which included digital and social media strategy, Bulls Vision audio/video production, branding, and in-game presentation/fan experience enterprises.

 

SU

 

His success in growing attendance in football and men's and women's basketball, and his expertise in marketing and fan experience will aid us in expanding the impact and reach of the Syracuse brand. 

[Slam_Hilliard22]

Just based off his GW bio, seems like a damn good hire.

 

Really good fundraiser and knows how to negotiate deals and get butts in seats

[NWAkron]

Home and Homes with Gardner Webb for the near future.

[72 Roo]

Just a few thoughts on our new AD:

• He was brought in to find new or untapped sources of revenue
• He is a strong marketer, he is innovative and he sees potential here
• He has no history in hiring good coaches; I wonder what kind of network he has going for him
• He will be here 3-4 years, bet on that. He has had a taste of the big time and he has built a career designed to get back there
• He is the first AD I have ever seen that seems to have the career path focused on becoming a conference commissioner. He will be a good one too.
• If he can solve some of our problems I will be thrilled with his 3-4 year stay

[Captain Kangaroo]

On 2/8/2025 at 11:55 AM, MDZip said:

Don't worry, I couldn't either. 😉

You sell yourself WAY short.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Time will tell.

 

Guthrie was a joke that did nothing at UA but place an Arby’s blight on it that probably can’t be scrubbed away for a decade. And he bamboozled many into believing he was better than the sack of garbage he was. Even after he shirked his promises made to UA and bolted for Fordham some still make excuses for his profoundly forgettable tenure. The only positive from Guthrie is Fordham basketball’s probation. Karma is a bitch.

 

Go Goodrich. If you focus on getting the football program to respectability instead of joining the “I wouldn’t have built that stadium” unimaginative losers, you will have piqued my interest. We’ll build off of that. 

[akzipper]

59 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

Time will tell.

 

Guthrie was a joke that did nothing at UA but place an Arby’s blight on it that probably can’t be scrubbed away for a decade. And he bamboozled many into believing he was better than the sack of garbage he was. Even after he shirked his promises made to UA and bolted for Fordham some still make excuses for his profoundly forgettable tenure. The only positive from Guthrie is Fordham basketball’s probation. Karma is a bitch.

 

Go Goodrich. If you focus on getting the football program to respectability instead of joining the “I wouldn’t have built that stadium” unimaginative losers, you will have piqued my interest. We’ll build off of that. 

 

Guthrie kept Groce happy and brought in Morehead which I still think is a solid move. He switched us over from Adidas to Nike, which is a huge upgrade and personally I love the new A logo. It's a massive upgrade from the script Akron it replaced. The new A is classic, timeless and feels like it fits Akron. I would however bring back Zippy in the branding as a secondary mark and do something about the fonts/wordmarks we use now. Just too bland for me. But overall I think we'll be in a better place now with Goodrich. 

 

I wonder how long it will take before Fordham gets rid of it's ram logo and is just uses the "F"? 

Edited Sunday at 04:42 AM by akzipper

[kreed5120]

10 hours ago, akzipper said:

 

I wonder how long it will take before Fordham gets rid of it's ram logo and is just uses the "F"? 

 

The "F" logo would be fitting for them considering they haven't made the Big Dance since 1992.

[ZipsBBjunkie]

12 hours ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

Time will tell.

 

Guthrie was a joke that did nothing at UA but place an Arby’s blight on it that probably can’t be scrubbed away for a decade. And he bamboozled many into believing he was better than the sack of garbage he was. Even after he shirked his promises made to UA and bolted for Fordham some still make excuses for his profoundly forgettable tenure. The only positive from Guthrie is Fordham basketball’s probation. Karma is a bitch.

 

Go Goodrich. If you focus on getting the football program to respectability instead of joining the “I wouldn’t have built that stadium” unimaginative losers, you will have piqued my interest. We’ll build off of that. 

I would argue Guthrie moved the football program to respectability. He was also the architect behind soccer getting in the Big East (despite many unsubstantiated claims he didn’t support soccer). And while baseball isn’t trending where I thought it would in wins under Faulds, he cared and brought in a coach who cares. Softball is trending well. Lacrosse just made their first ever tournament. 

 

Genuinely curious about what you think about Larry Williams and where he ranks on your AD scale if Guthrie ranks as a joke? 
 

In my opinion, and based on the majority of comments on this board - an incredibly small subset - it’s pretty far fetched to call his overall tenure at Akron or him as a human being (if you’re saying it’s both?) a joke. I guess reading between the lines, it’s primarily because of the Arby’s logo. 

 

Also, not sure ‘he bolted for Fordham’ is the accurate take on why he’s gone. The guy signed a 4-year extension in May of last year.  Doesn’t seem like someone who had an intention of bolting. The facts are the facts. Hilltopper shared details previously and the reality is - Miller was ousted and a new President came in with his own vision. Happens all the time!
 

‘Bamboozled’ ‘Sack of garbage’ ’Joke’ Wow! Is it really just the logo bothering you? The guy ran a clean, well managed program with no scandals or issues like what you’re seeing seep out of the walls at our favorite joke of a program down the road. I think what is obvious as you hijack a thread about the new AD to slam Guthrie yet again is he must have really hurt your feelings at some point?

 

Regardless, I’m excited to see what our new leader can do with what is a now very solid foundation left by Guthrie. 

[72 Roo]

I like our new AD and hope he does well. I'll also chime in about our former AD Charles Guthrie to give another perspective. When Guthrie first arrived I wanted to get a personal measure of the man so I scheduled a meeting with him. I came away enthused that he had the right vision and experience to help us reach our potential. 

 

His hires for the administrative staff were the best we have ever had. On the coaching side I felt he was right to set performance standards and hold coaches to that. He cleaned house in several sports. Jared did most of the heavy lifting in getting soccer into the Big East, but Guthrie helped by showing more support than Williams ever did. Guthrie's retention of Michell, Engle, Peresie, Groce, and Embick were critical. Adding Moorhead, Faulds, Softball (?) and LAX are great in my eyes. The rest are TBD. 

 

Marketing did not seem to be a strength of his, but I supported his rebranding. UA needed it. The new A is fine with me, but it wasn't my first choice (the Z was) and I told him so when he asked alumni for opinions. I do not understand the vehemence regarding the A by a few on this board. I get you don't like it. Get over it. The change has been made. Don't hate on it with every post. That detracts from some of your really good posts. 

 

My position on Guthrie changed when I learned he had lied to some coaches, especially football. Why? I don't know. Yet when that was made known I welcomed his departure. I had high hopes for his leadership. It was never to be. Now we move on and I wish Goodrich all the best. He brings a hell of a background.

[zippy5]

All that to not tell us what he lied about?

[ZipsBBjunkie]

So he lied to some coaches (other than football, but not all coaches), especially football (more frequent lying or more substantial lies)? He lied to Coach Moorehead specifically? Were these all the same lies? About what exactly, at least broad strokes or a ‘for example’?

 

I’m just fascinated with the desire by some on this board to skewer Guthrie any chance they get with a level of harshness that seems to be only matched by below the belt insults (sack of garbage, clown etc) slung at PCCC which rightly deserves all of those taunts given the actual state of their program, especially football, and our complete domination of them in MBB. 
 

I’m not saying he walked on water, none of us do. But as someone who loathed the Larry Williams tenure I just can’t put my finger on the obsessive level of dislike for one and not the other if you’re comparing ADs using the same criteria. 
 

I’ve shared my opinion and it’s mine alone. I’m not in contact with the football staff but if he lied to them that’s obviously shitty. Seems out of character with what I know, but I’m not dialed in enough to know anything close to it all. Excited to turn my attention to what this thread was supposedly about, the new AD, and putting my support behind him and as always the program above all. 

[ZipsBBjunkie]

20 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

The "F" logo would be fitting for them considering they haven't made the Big Dance since 1992.

Duquesne hadn’t been since 1977 before KD took them last year. Incredible! We are definitely spoiled to be Zips MBB fans! 

[GP1]

On 4/27/2025 at 12:38 AM, akzipper said:

The new A is classic, timeless and feels like it fits Akron.

I'm sure the marketing department at Arby's agrees wholeheartedly. 

[Hilltopper]

Unless someone can show some type of written proof of what these alleged promises were, it never happened. Guthrie bent over backwards to support Moorhead. This year's schedule is proof. Powers that be, wanted him to schedule another pay game but he resisted. Big improvements to facilities were made. At some point, it's up to the coach to deliver.