AD Thomas leaving for Illinois - Page 2

Binturong05 · 08-14-2011, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackattack

It's easy to be critical of coaches and AD's that move on to "greener pastures" cause so many of them don't make it at the next level (i.e. RichRod, Weis, Brewster, Stewart, Shannon, Callahan, etc). But I think this is probably a smart move by Thomas. Illinois has an excellent academic reputation, and if Thomas hires the right guy to replace Zook they can make some noise in the Big Mac Conference.

The main question I have is, does Illinois really represent greener pastures? It seems UC and Illinois are two athletic departments headed in opposite directions. UC is on the up while Illinois is on the decline. Sure Illinois might have a bigger budget and more to offer in the near term but I'm wondering who will be saying this is the case 5 or 6 years from now assuming the trajectories of both athletic departments stay on their present course.

But what do I know? I'm a homer. Maybe someone else can shed some light on the matter with respect to Illinois.

PS: I would have fully expected him to choose Tennessee over both Illinois and UC.

oldcat48 · 08-14-2011, 05:33 AM

I heard from a very reliable source that Thomas wasn't going to interview at Tennessee until the Illinois search played out. So clearly Illinois must have been his first choice.

I think the Big Ten is just ahead of the Big East in stability, resources, media, etc. He probably believes he can get Illinois to the top of the conference in football and men's basketball, just like he did here and at Akron. Maybe he likes a challenge.

The gripe on him from inside the athletic department was only that he had really high expectations. Of course, if some of them were on thinner ice, they're probably happy to see him go. At any rate, Illinois probably needs someone with expectations like his if they're ever going to become a "name."

UCEE73 · 08-15-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binturong05

The main question I have is, does Illinois really represent greener pastures?

My info is that Illinois doubled his salary. Did you mean that kind of green?

CincyBeercat · 03-22-2012, 09:08 AM

Illinois AD Mike Thomas Programmed to Fail

After getting rejected repeatedly in their search for a football coach and now by Shaka Smart, I wonder how ol' MT is feeling about Illinois. Hope the money was worth it...

BearCatMarcher · 03-22-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CincyBeercat

Illinois AD Mike Thomas Programmed to Fail

After getting rejected repeatedly in their search for a football coach and now by Shaka Smart, I wonder how ol' MT is feeling about Illinois. Hope the money was worth it...

He started, then left, a premier up and coming national college power. That's gotta sting.

Binturong05 · 03-22-2012, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CincyBeercat

Illinois AD Mike Thomas Programmed to Fail

After getting rejected repeatedly in their search for a football coach and now by Shaka Smart, I wonder how ol' MT is feeling about Illinois. Hope the money was worth it...

I'm sure it does. In most cases ADs aren't the face of the program the way a head basketball coach or head football coach can be. Therefore I doubt that it's the glory that drives them so much as it is the paychecks.

Heck, take a look at Kerry Coombs. My sources say he was making 160k as a UC assistant coach. Now that he's at Ohio State I heard he's making 360k a year. So even for coaches, money can be a huge motivator.

Bearcat_DF · 03-28-2012, 12:16 PM

I think we ended up the better program. Addition by subtraction. Certainly, Thomas deserves credit for hiring Kelly, Cronin, and Jones.

Still, I think there were a lot of other shortcomings in the AD department. The better communication over the past few months is one indication.

Thomas takes a body blow from Chicago Tribune:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...-illinois-fans

Bearcat1996 · 03-29-2012, 08:48 AM

To me, Thomas was a lazy AD. He wasn't in the media. He didn't interact with fans. He scheduled a lot of games at PBS. He did hire BK, which now knowing BK, he probably interviewed very well. Jones was an easy hire from the same school as BK (BK probably told MT it was a no-brainer). Cronin was an easy hire as well, everyone here knows him. Also, it wasn't as if Calipari was knocking on the door.

In my opinion, he didn't make a lot of risky decisions. A bit of an emtpy suit.

03-28-2012, 12:16 PM	#27
Bearcat_DF Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007	I think we ended up the better program. Addition by subtraction. Certainly, Thomas deserves credit for hiring Kelly, Cronin, and Jones. Still, I think there were a lot of other shortcomings in the AD department. The better communication over the past few months is one indication. Thomas takes a body blow from Chicago Tribune: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...-illinois-fans __________________ Go Cats! df

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08-14-2011, 05:33 AM	#22
oldcat48 Member Join Date: Dec 2007	I heard from a very reliable source that Thomas wasn't going to interview at Tennessee until the Illinois search played out. So clearly Illinois must have been his first choice. I think the Big Ten is just ahead of the Big East in stability, resources, media, etc. He probably believes he can get Illinois to the top of the conference in football and men's basketball, just like he did here and at Akron. Maybe he likes a challenge. The gripe on him from inside the athletic department was only that he had really high expectations. Of course, if some of them were on thinner ice, they're probably happy to see him go. At any rate, Illinois probably needs someone with expectations like his if they're ever going to become a "name."

03-22-2012, 09:08 AM	#24
CincyBeercat Member Join Date: Apr 2007	Illinois AD Mike Thomas Programmed to Fail After getting rejected repeatedly in their search for a football coach and now by Shaka Smart, I wonder how ol' MT is feeling about Illinois. Hope the money was worth it...

03-29-2012, 08:48 AM	#28
Bearcat1996 Distinguished Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cincinnati OH	To me, Thomas was a lazy AD. He wasn't in the media. He didn't interact with fans. He scheduled a lot of games at PBS. He did hire BK, which now knowing BK, he probably interviewed very well. Jones was an easy hire from the same school as BK (BK probably told MT it was a no-brainer). Cronin was an easy hire as well, everyone here knows him. Also, it wasn't as if Calipari was knocking on the door. In my opinion, he didn't make a lot of risky decisions. A bit of an emtpy suit.