Cohen to AD gaining some serious steam...

[msstate7]

They'll bolt? Where? In case you haven't noticed, we're one of the "haves" in college athletics now. We are a $100M annual budget SEC athletic department. There isn't much going "up" from there. Maybe you missed the reports that there are some serious "name" ADs who want our job. Name the last time that was the case for us. Ditch the MSU PTSD and understand we are a desirable destination now.

One of our own just left the job

[MarketingBully]

They'll bolt? Where? In case you haven't noticed, we're one of the "haves" in college athletics now. We are a $100M annual budget SEC athletic department. There isn't much going "up" from there. Maybe you missed the reports that there are some serious "name" ADs who want our job. Name the last time that was the case for us. Ditch the MSU PTSD and understand we are a desirable destination now.

Why did our own alumnus leave us high and dry in the middle of the school year? What kind of precedent does that set?

[basedog]

Moves like this are why our athletic department is near the bottom of the SEC historically speaking. Lazy hire if true.

So you are saying Cohen is not a good hire? How in the hell would you know, if Keenum approves of the hire are you saying he is lazy and he is crazy.

Damn, I suppose you and others sit in on the process and know whats best.

[Taog Redloh]

Do you all (not DeviousDawg) really think Mark Keenum does not know what he is doing?

The guy knows his stuff. If he says Cohen is the guy then Cohen is damn sure the guy, and all of you are still idiots for questioning it.

[DeviousDawg]

Is the "search firm" Larry Templeton? Cohen to AD is an LT quality decision. An athletic department is a business nowadays. We need someone with business experience. I'll give Cohen a fair chance to prove he's capable, but anyone with a functioning brain should be skeptical if this indeed happens. This just reeks of classic Em Ess Yoo inbreeding. And that's worked out SO well for us in our history.******

For the 10th time, Cohen will not be exclusively in charge of the business side of things. We will hire him as an ATHLETIC director, not a Business/marketing/fundraising director. Do you honestly think our $100 Million will be stashed behind Cohen's desk in a lock box that only he can open? He doesn't want to deal with the money or fundraising, he wants to be the boss and mentor for our athletic coaches.

Fundraising and marketing is not the exclusive job on the athletic director, the AD's Job is to OK the marketing and fundraising plans, while being a leader to our athletic coaches.

What's the best way to be successful in marketing and fundraising? To be successful and win games in our various sports, not coming up with gimmicks like #hailstate. Cohen will not accept mediocrity in any sports and will push our coaches to be winners or push them out of their job. That is what we need right now, a 17ing leader who wants to win and is not our football coaches little bitch. I'll take a true leader with actual athletic coaching experience over a glorified dufus marketing director any day.

An athletic department becomes successful when it's results sell itself, not the other way around.

[Taog Redloh]

They'll bolt? Where? In case you haven't noticed, we're one of the "haves" in college athletics now. We are a $100M annual budget SEC athletic department. There isn't much going "up" from there. Maybe you missed the reports that there are some serious "name" ADs who want our job. Name the last time that was the case for us. Ditch the MSU PTSD and understand we are a desirable destination now.

LOLZZZ

[MarketingBully]

So you are saying Cohen is not a good hire? How in the hell would you know, if Keenum approves of the hire are you saying he is lazy and he is crazy.

Damn, I suppose you and others sit in on the process and know whats best.

Yep, I agree. Also, how the hell would a Cohen hire be similar to Larry Templeton? Templeton had a lot more in common with Stricklin then he would Cohen. As the AD, you need to be really detail oriented and Cohen has that in spades. He should have a great repor with coaches since he is one. The more I think of it the more interesting it sounds.

[gtowndawg]

Cohen will not accept mediocrity in any sports and will push our coaches to be winners or push them out of their job. That is what we need right now, a 17ing leader who wants to win.

[DeviousDawg]

And I casually noticed that you said that Cohen's replacement would be a home run hire. And then you mention a coach who isn't as good as Cohen. And then you are trying to blow sunshine up everyone's skirts like this is the best thing ever. And yes I did notice that you said that he would be our fourth choice.

I'm calling a spade a spade. If we have AD candidates that are experienced there is no reason to take a chance on Cohen. If you think that's awesome your wrong. It's a big mistake. And it will hurts across the board in all sports.

Butch Thompson = Pat McMahon 2.0

My point was, I am hearing that we will make a homerun hire as Cohen's replacement, BUT if for some reason we miss on the bigger names, we will be able to hire a current SEC west head coach, who is an elite recruiter and pitching coach with experience recruiting and coaching at MSU as well as experience working under our AD(Cohen).

Some of the other names being thrown around are much more impressive than Butch, but personally I would be pleased with Butch. Obviously we disagree on that.

[Todd4State]

So you are saying Cohen is not a good hire? How in the hell would you know, if Keenum approves of the hire are you saying he is lazy and he is crazy.

Damn, I suppose you and others sit in on the process and know whats best.

Hell yes I'm saying it wouldn't be a good hire. How do you know he would be good? He had zero experience and the other two former baseball coaches turned AD's didn't turn out well for LSU or South Carolina so based on that there is more evidence suggesting it won't work out than there is that it will.

[Todd4State]

My point was, I am hearing that we will make a homerun hire as Cohen's replacement, BUT if for some reason we miss on the bigger names, we will be able to hire a current SEC west head coach, who is an elite recruiter and pitching coach with experience recruiting and coaching at MSU as well as experience working under our AD(Cohen).

Some of the other names being thrown around are much more impressive than Butch, but personally I would be pleased with Butch. Obviously we disagree on that.

I'm displeased with the whole ****ing scenario. Let's take our best coach on campus who has no AD experience and "maybe" replace him with some unknown mystery hire that's a home run but if that doesn't work out we get Butch. Yay!

[basedog]

Hell yes I'm saying it wouldn't be a good hire. How do you know he would be good? He had zero experience and the other two former baseball coaches turned AD's didn't turn out well for LSU or South Carolina so based on that there is more evidence suggesting it won't work out than there is that it will.

That's just it, I don't know. You are already saying you know it's a bad thing. Geez get back to your play station game.

[Eric Nies Grind Time]

My point was, I am hearing that we will make a homerun hire as Cohen's replacement, BUT if for some reason we miss on the bigger names, we will be able to hire a current SEC west head coach, who is an elite recruiter and pitching coach with experience recruiting and coaching at MSU as well as experience working under our AD(Cohen).

Some of the other names being thrown around are much more impressive than Butch, but personally I would be pleased with Butch. Obviously we disagree on that.

Butch Thompson? That would be bad...big downgrade from Cohen.

[gtowndawg]

Hell yes I'm saying it wouldn't be a good hire. How do you know he would be good? He had zero experience and the other two former baseball coaches turned AD's didn't turn out well for LSU or South Carolina so based on that there is more evidence suggesting it won't work out than there is that it will.

In six years as LSU's director of athletics, Bertman added to his impressive list of on-the-field achievements. Under his direction, LSU enjoyed arguably the greatest athletics year in the history of the institution in 2003–04. Three teams won national championships, nine teams finished in the nation's top ten, and fourteen teams ranked in the top 25. LSU teams also enjoyed improved grade point averages across all sports, making the LSU student-athlete experience a success on and off the fields of competition.

Bertman oversaw a massive upgrade to LSU's athletics complex throughout his tenure. Working hand in hand with the Tiger Athletic Foundation, Bertman has already helped oversee the completion of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes while launching renovations to Tiger Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, the construction of a new Football Operations Center and in 2009, the opening of new stadiums for the baseball and softball teams. Construction is in progress on new practice facilities for the basketball and gymnastics teams.

Bertman also moved to implement a seat contribution program in Tiger Stadium to fund facility improvements and ensure the financial stability of the LSU Athletics Department for the next decade.

Bertman was named LSU's athletics director on January 19, 2001, responsible for an athletic budget of $52 million. He succeeded Joe Dean, a former Tiger basketball standout who held the position for 14 years.

On June 4, 2006, Bertman fired his successor as LSU's baseball coach, Raymond "Smoke" Laval, after the Tigers went 35–24 overall and 13–17 in the SEC, failing to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1988. Laval led the Tigers to the College World Series in 2003 and 2004, but tailed off in his final two seasons, losing the 2005 regional championship game at home to Rice before the disastrous 2006 campaign.

Bertman speculated that he would consider a return to the dugout if he could not find a suitable candidate to replace Laval, but the job was eventually given to former Notre Dame coach Paul Mainieri. Mainieri would lead the Tigers to the 2009 College World Series championship, the sixth baseball national championship in school history and the first not won with Bertman as head coach.

Bertman presided over two football national championship seasons as athletic director. The Tigers won the 2003 BCS championship under coach Nick Saban. When Saban left at the end of the 2004 season to coach the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League, Bertman moved quickly to hire Oklahoma State coach Les Miles. Miles led LSU to a consensus national championship in 2007 despite losing triple overtime games to Kentucky and Arkansas.

Other success in Bertman's tenure included five consecutive trips to the NCAA women's basketball Final Four (2004–08) under four different coaches, an appearance in the men's basketball Final Four in 2006, a trip to the Women's College World Series in softbal in 2004, and six NCAA outdoor track championships (three men, three women).

The LSU Board of Supervisors approved Bertman's three-year contract extension. Bertman's new extension, which was approved without discussion, called for the former coach to be paid $425,000 annually beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2010. Bertman, who served as Athletic Director since leaving his coaching position after the 2001 baseball season, stepped down in 2008 to become athletic director emeritus as dictated by his contract. As athletic director emeritus, Bertman's role primarily involved fundraising.[1]

[shoeless joe]

I'm intrigued by Cohen as AD.

I think he would do well as the face and leader of our athletic department. The man is msu thru and thru. With that said I would absolutely hate to see him leave the dugout. I love the hard nosed way he coaches baseball...the way it was meant to be coached. I do think that approach COULD be beneficial within our athletic department.

So I'd say the only thing disappointing to me about this hire would be Cohen no longer being the baseball coach.

[msstate7]

I'm intrigued by Cohen as AD.

I think he would do well as the face and leader of our athletic department. The man is msu thru and thru. With that said I would absolutely hate to see him leave the dugout. I love the hard nosed way he coaches baseball...the way it was meant to be coached. I do think that approach COULD be beneficial within our athletic department.

So I'd say the only thing disappointing to me about this hire would be Cohen no longer being the baseball coach.

Well couldn't cohen as AD bring that same approach to all msu sports, not just baseball?

[MarketingBully]

In six years as LSU's director of athletics, Bertman added to his impressive list of on-the-field achievements. Under his direction, LSU enjoyed arguably the greatest athletics year in the history of the institution in 2003–04. Three teams won national championships, nine teams finished in the nation's top ten, and fourteen teams ranked in the top 25. LSU teams also enjoyed improved grade point averages across all sports, making the LSU student-athlete experience a success on and off the fields of competition.

Bertman oversaw a massive upgrade to LSU's athletics complex throughout his tenure. Working hand in hand with the Tiger Athletic Foundation, Bertman has already helped oversee the completion of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes while launching renovations to Tiger Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, the construction of a new Football Operations Center and in 2009, the opening of new stadiums for the baseball and softball teams. Construction is in progress on new practice facilities for the basketball and gymnastics teams.

Bertman also moved to implement a seat contribution program in Tiger Stadium to fund facility improvements and ensure the financial stability of the LSU Athletics Department for the next decade.

Bertman was named LSU's athletics director on January 19, 2001, responsible for an athletic budget of $52 million. He succeeded Joe Dean, a former Tiger basketball standout who held the position for 14 years.

On June 4, 2006, Bertman fired his successor as LSU's baseball coach, Raymond "Smoke" Laval, after the Tigers went 35–24 overall and 13–17 in the SEC, failing to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1988. Laval led the Tigers to the College World Series in 2003 and 2004, but tailed off in his final two seasons, losing the 2005 regional championship game at home to Rice before the disastrous 2006 campaign.

Bertman speculated that he would consider a return to the dugout if he could not find a suitable candidate to replace Laval, but the job was eventually given to former Notre Dame coach Paul Mainieri. Mainieri would lead the Tigers to the 2009 College World Series championship, the sixth baseball national championship in school history and the first not won with Bertman as head coach.

Bertman presided over two football national championship seasons as athletic director. The Tigers won the 2003 BCS championship under coach Nick Saban. When Saban left at the end of the 2004 season to coach the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League, Bertman moved quickly to hire Oklahoma State coach Les Miles. Miles led LSU to a consensus national championship in 2007 despite losing triple overtime games to Kentucky and Arkansas.

Other success in Bertman's tenure included five consecutive trips to the NCAA women's basketball Final Four (2004–08) under four different coaches, an appearance in the men's basketball Final Four in 2006, a trip to the Women's College World Series in softbal in 2004, and six NCAA outdoor track championships (three men, three women).

The LSU Board of Supervisors approved Bertman's three-year contract extension. Bertman's new extension, which was approved without discussion, called for the former coach to be paid $425,000 annually beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2010. Bertman, who served as Athletic Director since leaving his coaching position after the 2001 baseball season, stepped down in 2008 to become athletic director emeritus as dictated by his contract. As athletic director emeritus, Bertman's role primarily involved fundraising.[1]

Saying Bertman was a failure as an AD Todd basically disqualifies you from this discussion. I like your commentary and usually agree with most of your points but you're just plain wrong here. You could argue that Bertman was LSU's best AD they ever had.

[DeviousDawg]

I'm displeased with the whole ****ing scenario. Let's take our best coach on campus who has no AD experience and "maybe" replace him with some unknown mystery hire that's a home run but if that doesn't work out we get Butch. Yay!

Why don't you just let it play out? If you haven't noticed, we have some problems in the athletic department and something needs to change. Our great country has had politically focused presidents, as well as military focused presidents, and both sides have seen successes and failures. There isn't just one type of Athletic Director, and I think right now we need a coaching focused Athletic Director, who can be their leader rather than their little bitch that signs their pay raises and allows selfish coaches to run our main sport into the ground.

[shoeless joe]

Well couldn't cohen as AD bring that same approach to all msu sports, not just baseball?

Yes. Which is why I said exactly that in the post.

[Coursesuper]

In six years as LSU's director of athletics, Bertman added to his impressive list of on-the-field achievements. Under his direction, LSU enjoyed arguably the greatest athletics year in the history of the institution in 2003–04. Three teams won national championships, nine teams finished in the nation's top ten, and fourteen teams ranked in the top 25. LSU teams also enjoyed improved grade point averages across all sports, making the LSU student-athlete experience a success on and off the fields of competition.

Bertman oversaw a massive upgrade to LSU's athletics complex throughout his tenure. Working hand in hand with the Tiger Athletic Foundation, Bertman has already helped oversee the completion of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes while launching renovations to Tiger Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, the construction of a new Football Operations Center and in 2009, the opening of new stadiums for the baseball and softball teams. Construction is in progress on new practice facilities for the basketball and gymnastics teams.

Bertman also moved to implement a seat contribution program in Tiger Stadium to fund facility improvements and ensure the financial stability of the LSU Athletics Department for the next decade.

Bertman was named LSU's athletics director on January 19, 2001, responsible for an athletic budget of $52 million. He succeeded Joe Dean, a former Tiger basketball standout who held the position for 14 years.

On June 4, 2006, Bertman fired his successor as LSU's baseball coach, Raymond "Smoke" Laval, after the Tigers went 35–24 overall and 13–17 in the SEC, failing to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1988. Laval led the Tigers to the College World Series in 2003 and 2004, but tailed off in his final two seasons, losing the 2005 regional championship game at home to Rice before the disastrous 2006 campaign.

Bertman speculated that he would consider a return to the dugout if he could not find a suitable candidate to replace Laval, but the job was eventually given to former Notre Dame coach Paul Mainieri. Mainieri would lead the Tigers to the 2009 College World Series championship, the sixth baseball national championship in school history and the first not won with Bertman as head coach.

Bertman presided over two football national championship seasons as athletic director. The Tigers won the 2003 BCS championship under coach Nick Saban. When Saban left at the end of the 2004 season to coach the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League, Bertman moved quickly to hire Oklahoma State coach Les Miles. Miles led LSU to a consensus national championship in 2007 despite losing triple overtime games to Kentucky and Arkansas.

Other success in Bertman's tenure included five consecutive trips to the NCAA women's basketball Final Four (2004–08) under four different coaches, an appearance in the men's basketball Final Four in 2006, a trip to the Women's College World Series in softbal in 2004, and six NCAA outdoor track championships (three men, three women).

The LSU Board of Supervisors approved Bertman's three-year contract extension. Bertman's new extension, which was approved without discussion, called for the former coach to be paid $425,000 annually beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2010. Bertman, who served as Athletic Director since leaving his coaching position after the 2001 baseball season, stepped down in 2008 to become athletic director emeritus as dictated by his contract. As athletic director emeritus, Bertman's role primarily involved fundraising.[1]

The only things similar to LSU and MSU are we are in the SEC.