The Verdict: Glass is the man for IU athletics

[Jon Bereman]

So the AD search is over, and with some big names being rumored for the vacant stop, it went to the dark horse Fred Glass. Not coming into the picture until late last week, Glass withstood the competitive competition to become the successor to Rick Greenspan. Greenspan announced his resignation last June, amidst the Sampson scandal, and the addition, “Failure to Monitor” charge from the NCAA.

So why Glass, with no experience in any AD position and a relative unknown to the common sporting fan?

First of all, he is an IU graduate, a 1981 graduate and a 1984 IU law school graduate. He comes from within and understands the traditions and what this University stands for. He understands the prestige of IU sports and the standard that is expected. He understands this more than the other potential candidates but still offers the outside perspective that was much needed in the administration.

Glass comes with a boatload of big time athletics-related credentials too. He has served from 2000-2007 as the President of the Marion County Capital Improvement Board of Managers which owns and oversees the Indiana Convention Center, RCA Dome, Victory Field and Conseco Fieldhouse- some of the top sporting venues in the state of Indiana. He has experience in dealing with major venues and overeeing the success of major sporting events.

With the state-of-the-art practice facility under way, Memorial Stadium finishing up a major expansion, the Athletics Department will be looking more like a big time Big Ten program in the coming years. It looks like they are in good hands.

Glass has also served on committees in 2000 and 2006 to organize the Final Four in Indianapolis and keep Indianapolis as one of the concrete sites for the rotation of the event. Being an attendee of the event in 2006, I can say that the event is a first class event. With a large congregation of people in a relatively small space in downtown Indianapolis, the ability to make things run smoothly is very impressive.

Glass is a current member of the Indianapolis organizing committee for the Big Ten Tournament and also is the president on the committee of the organization and construction of Lucas Oil Stadium as well as to secure the Super Bowl for Indianapolis. He has dealt with major building projects and headed the effort of landing the most watched sporting event of all-time.
He also served with as chief of staff for former governor Evan Bayh. Handling major issues, handling a state’s budget, and overseeing projects, Glass is definitely experienced and ready to take on the job needed to restore the program.

Glass will also have the task of keeping the budget at a surplus and keeping the athletic facilities in the elite class. He will also be expected to make sure that the athletic coaches are keeping in compliance with the NCAA. He will also be expected to help bring the football program back and oversee the basketball program back to promise. Some difficult tasks but not out of the reach for our new AD.

Glass may not have the experience in the position of an Athletic Director but it definitely ready for the task at hand. A proven record of leadership and handling the construction and budget of huge sporting venues, Glass should be a smashing success. It shouldn’t be long into the 2009 year before we start to see his stamp on things to be sprouting up around Bloomington.