Accepting with resignation that it could find no quality candidates for its top two vacancies, the UNM Board of Regents announced it has combined its search for a University president and men's basketball coach.
The regents and Athletics Director Rudy Davalos agreed to collaborate on the latest search, combining the salary and responsibilities of the two positions in search of a "super leader" who will fulfill all expectations.
"If we can find a winning coach, he will automatically be considered a great president because of his fine contributions to the University," Regent President Larry Willard said. "It just seemed like a natural opportunity to clearly place the future of the University in the hands of one person. Basketball always has been king here, and we're doing our part to sweeten the deal for whoever takes over."
By combining the University president and men's basketball coaching positions, UNM can offer its next "super leader" a $1 million salary, making that person the highest paid New Mexican who is not a member of the Maloof family.
The unprecedented move was expected to send shockwaves through academia but drew little response from faculty who said they were already resigned to the shift in priorities.
"We already knew sports was all that really mattered here anyway," embattled professor Richard Berthold said. "Maybe they can find someone who is a 49ers fan and we'll have something in common. Then I won't have to worry about my job security or academic freedom."
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Willard said he figured it was best for the University to combine the jobs when extended searches failed to yield any quality candidates.
"Let's face it, we're a strong University in a poor state, so we tend to get overlooked," he said.
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"I couldn't bankroll the job, no matter what anybody tells you, so I figured we ought to play to our strengths and shoot for better odds by forming this dual job. It's not crazy - if you really think about it, it's actually brilliant, if I do say so myself."
Davalos, who will lead the new search, seemed please with the latest development.
"That means I get to supervise my boss - doesn't get much better than that," Davalos said. "I think this will really help our search process. It means more money, more power and definitely will help draw more people to the great state of New Mexico."
The qualifications for the new "super leader," include:
l Winning record
l Strong history of fund-raising
l Good rapport with students and athletes
l Able to work well with fans, boosters, state legislators and area business leaders
l Preaches fast-break offense and strong defense
l Able to deal with "emotional" athletes
l Must have at least a bachelor's degree (because of the whole 'president' thing).
"I think this is a great move for the University of New Mexico," Davalos said. "It's just the type of forward thinking that is absent in so many other parts of the state and is just what we needed. I don't see it as a risk. It's a win-win situation."
Marlon Parmer, who quit in the middle of the final year of former coach Fran Fraschilla's term, was quick to weigh in on the school's latest coaching revelation.
"As long as the guy wants me back and is willing to give me the rock, I'll be back," he said. "I'd love to be a Lobo again, and I can't wait to get back in the driver's seat so that we can pick up the wins that will take me, er . I mean the team, to the next level."
Davalos could not provide a timeline for the search and said he planned to employ the same criteria already being used thus far in the coaching search.
"Let's just say the fans, the media, the NAACP, everyone - they don't control this search," he said. "I'll let them know what I've decided when I've found the right person. End of story."
