U of Minn. begins AD search with early May goal of hire

7:17 PM, Feb 21, 2012   |    comments
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MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's hunt for a new athletics director has formally begun with the selection of an outside firm and search and advisory committees to help steer the process.

President Eric Kaler's office announced Tuesday the school will use Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search to identify and screen candidates and arrange and conduct interviews. The firm was used by Minnesota previously for basketball and football coach hires. It will cost the school about $100,000.

Finalists are expected to be identified by late April. Kaler says his goal is to pick Joel Maturi's successor in early May.

The 21-member advisory committee will support the four-person search committee and include faculty, staff, coaches, current and former Gophers athletes as well as off-campus supporters of Minnesota sports.

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