The University of Northern Iowa hired Troy Dannen, executive director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, to be the new athletic director.
Here's one of his first quotes, from today's Des Moines Register,
"There are two issues that need to be addressed quickly - they have some gender equity issues we need to be moving toward resolving, and funding is an issue."
The University of Northern Iowa hired Troy Dannen, executive director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, to be the new athletic director.
Here's one of his first quotes, from today's Des Moines Register,
"There are two issues that need to be addressed quickly - they have some gender equity issues we need to be moving toward resolving, and funding is an issue."
Does anyone else think this sounds ominous?
Was it you that posted the short list for this job awhile ago? This guy was the least qualified of the bunch! Geez, why are schools hiring amateurs to run Division I athletic programs?
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"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!”
The fact that he came from a female athletics background bodes well from expanding female sports. Funding problems infer there isn't enough money to hold the current status, never mind expanding. The fact that they also have Title IX compliance issues says it all. UNI wrestling better start mustering the attack. The program is on the bubble.
Was it you that posted the short list for this job awhile ago? This guy was the least qualified of the bunch! Geez, why are schools hiring amateurs to run Division I athletic programs?
I don't know what to believe. Yes, I know that UNI was issued a warning a few years back when they cut men's swimming and diving and tennis that they would be under review to get back into complicnae with Title IX.
However, someone on here also said that they can't cut anymore programs because of some other legal stipulation that would not allow that.
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My ignore list: Cyclone85; skipster; tight-waist; Ignatius J. Reilly.
This is exactly what I was talking about on my blog. We need to start working NOW - be proactive, not reactive. If you are a UNI fan, write a letter congratulating this guy, and also saying all the wonderful things wrestling has done at UNI. Make sure you go to a UNI meet this year if you're anywhere near Cedar Falls.
And yes, since this guy has a background in women's sports, hopefully he will be interested in EXPANDING opportunities, not cutting them.
At one point I'd heard the NCAA was going to change the criteria for being a Div I school.
But it is/was required to have 14 teams; either 7 men's and 7 women's or 6 men's and 8 women's. There is also a requirement to have "X" number of teams each competitive season (Fall, Winter, Spring).
Bluestater is spot on. Wrestling people need to get involved with their schools. Attending duals, etc., helps, but we need to go beyond that. There are alumni associations, booster groups, or in Maryland's case I became very involved in our letter winners group; the M Club.
This provides access to ADs and significant people on campus. It helps personalizes us by connecting real people and alumni to our sport. In my case I was a member of the athletic council, which gave me an insight into the issues the athletic department faced, which helped us steer a course for wrestling that was connected to the political and fiscal realities Maryland faced.
We can sit on the sideline, complain about the lack of respect wrestling receives, tear down the coaches and athletes or, like Bluestater said, we can be proactive and become involved while our programs are still alive.
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"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!”
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