FAMU has two finalists for its director of athletics post. An announcement on the new AD could come as soon as next week.Derrick Magee
Magee joined the University of Cincinnati department of athletics in October of 2008 as the chief business officer. He develops and monitors the budget performance and strategic planning for the department of athletics and Fifth Third Arena, which encompasses UC's 18 sports and 15 administrative and support areas.
In addition, he oversees and coordinates the department's business, personnel, and payroll operations, which has more than 120 employees. Magee is also responsible for preparing all University, BIG EAST Conference, NCAA, and public financial reports and surveys for the department.
Since graduating from college in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in physical education/sport management from Florida A&M, Magee has developed a diverse resume that includes experience as a coach, teacher, and administrator in varying areas of business, including the high school, college, and professional ranks.
Magee went Cincinnati from the University of the Pacific where he was the school's assistant director of athletics for finance and internal affairs since 2006. Prior to Pacific, he worked as a management financial training consultant with the Denny's Corporation and before that as a public school teacher and coach for the Ceres ( CA) Unified and the Jefferson County (FL) School Districts from 2002-05.
Out of college, Magee was the athletics business manager and an assistant men's basketball coach at Florida A&M from 1999-2001, before moving on to the NBA's Orlando Magic as a business development intern in 2002.
Magee is currently working on his doctorate in higher education administration through the University of the Pacific.
Mary McElroy
McElroy most recently served as Southern Methodist University's senior associate athletic director for compliance.
McElroy came to SMU from Georgia State University, where she served as director of athletics for three years. At GSU, McElroy successfully launched a football program which will begin play in 2010. McElroy also led Georgia State through a smooth transition to the Colonial Athletic Association in 2005.
In 2006, the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) named McElroy as the NCAA Division I-AAA Administrator of the Year.
McElroy's athletic management career began in 1992 at the Naval Academy, where she worked her way up to assistant athletic director and senior woman administrator. McElroy previously spent time working at Georgia Tech, first serving as director of compliance before being promoted to senior associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator.
She is a former Marine Corps Captain and holds a master's degree in management at Georgia Tech in 2000.
Both candidates seem very qualified. I think Derrick McGee will get the job though. I don't think FAMU is ready for a sister to take the reins of the athletic program. I would support either candidate.
ReplyDeleteI think McGee is the right person for this job. Not to take anything away from Ms. McElroy, but McGee seems to have everything that you'd look for in a college AD.
ReplyDeleteThey both look good to me. I would take either one.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny- I think that if you look closely, Ms. McElroy's record is far more outstanding. More than anything, I actually like the fact that she is a complete outsider- something that we really could benefit from. But like the previous commentators- I certainly think that either candidate would be a great asset to the university.
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for McElroy. Her resume is full of senior level administrative experience in athletics, compliance, and finance. Plus she's already led one program to the next level (ga state football), so I can just imagine what she can do for FAMU who already has a recognizable brand nationally. Her being an outsider is a definite positive, IMHO.
ReplyDeleteI will take the candidate who will keep us out of the Heritage Bowl! :)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I would prefer McElroy, because of her military background and the fact she has no history with FAMU.
I'll McElroy over someone who has only worked about five years ---two years as a P.E. teacher. Her experience, IMHO, trumps youth.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that the candidate with the weakest resume' will be the one chosen, because the 'good ol' boy' network on campus doesn't think that the coaches should report to a woman. Nevermind the fact that Mrs. McElroy has FCS level experience actually running an athletics program.
ReplyDeleteWe so-called educated intellectuals are our own worst enemies most times.
Big WHOOP, Goergia State! (No offense GSU)We aren't "launching" any football program here. She just got hired at SMU. I'm not impressed enough to accept some of your bashing of McGee. I mean, being an outsider is never really an asset worth bragging about. And most of you will really have your lips poked out when the young man gets things on point. The fact that McElroy is a woman was a pleasant and welcomed misnomer. Of course until you unbalanced, scorned ones get to spreading yor evil. Go FAMU. I welcome each if not BOTH of them to our department.
ReplyDeleteDid that say div 1-AAA?
ReplyDeleteMs. McGee is by far the best qualified candidate with better experiences and appears to have a higher degree than the other candiate. Good Luck Ms. McGee.
ReplyDeleteWhy are Rattlers so afraid of outsiders being administrators? For an organization to progress, there should be people with different experiences to bring new and innovative ideas to the table. This is 2010, for goodness sakes!
ReplyDeleteBoth or interesting canidates but the firing of McGee from Georgia State scares me. FAMU is too good for rejects. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteSorry, McElroy was fired from Georgia State.
ReplyDeleteThe firing of Mrs. McElroy from Ga. St. had nothing to do with anywrong doing or incompetence. The incoming president wanted to patronize his good ol' boy for that position under the guise of "wanting to take the department in a new direction". The course for a "new direction" had already been set by the then current AD at the time (Mrs. McElroy), in that she set in motion elements to elevate and make more profitable the athletics department.
ReplyDelete7:03AM, no one (that I can see) is bashing anyone here. There are alumni, (longtime financial) supporters, and fans that prefer one candidate as oppose to the other. That's their opinion and preference. It just may be that they see what others don't. Sorry that's a problem for some.
If those here can set aside their "it gotta be a Rattler or else" biases for the good and growth of the university for one minute, we just might see some amazing and innovative change and growth.
Again, we are our own worst enemies most times.
And, FYI: UF has one of the top athletic programs in the country. Their AD? Well, he graduated Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y. Well, I'll be. He's not a UF alumni. Imagine that. U of Texas, another top program? Their AD graduated from Kansas St. And, outgoing AD at Michigan Bill Martin? He graduated from Wittenberg University in Ohio.
Point is, outsider (remember Rudy Hubbard and Billy Joe) more times than not have a tremendous impact on athletics department, not to mention become lifetime supporters. But hey! Why should we catch a clue.
Let's respect Dr. Ammons decision, whomever he chooses. I'd personally prefer Derrick McGee, but feel Ms. McElroy will do just fine to. Lets cut out the outsider insider crap. What message are we sending when we tell FAMU graduates that they're good enough to graduate from here, but you're not good enough to work here. My vote is for Derrick McGee, a very talented young man who just happens to be a Rattler.
ReplyDeleteI'm open two either candidate after the 5 previous AD's including the disaster hire in Bill Hayes.
ReplyDeleteDo anybody remember the former rattler Dr. Castell Bryant...i rest my case
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody remember Dr. James Ammons? I rest my case.
ReplyDeleteLook at where Ms. McElroy has worked vs Navy and SMU. I think for where we are headed, Mr. McGee has what we need most. Dig a litttle deeper than gut feelings here. I don't give McGee extra credit for being a Rattler, it doesn't hurt though.
ReplyDeleteNatti Bearcats over SMU anyday! Talk about good 'ol boy network. Ask Broward county what happened when they hired from that area for a school district super.
ReplyDelete12:30, we didn't hire Castell. Get over that foolishness. It's the likes of you that we really have to move past. Come here to help FAMU. You're sayin' more than you and your friends are willing to say beyond your cloak of anonymity. But we know who you are, always have. but we're Rattlers and we don't mess with you until you less with us. Fair warning(rattle, rattle).
ReplyDelete^^^McGee has been Cincinnati's athletic department's CFO for less than 2 years. He basically does what Ms. Hardee was appointed by Dr. Ammons to do in FAMU athletics. Where is his expertise in compliance, fundraising, securing sponsorship, marketing?
ReplyDeleteWhile McElroy has been in the athletic admin business on both the FBS (Ga Tech, SMU) and FCS (Ga State) levels for over 10 years covering all bases (compliance, finance, fundraising, women's sports, marketing, sponsorships, facilities, conference and NCAA division affiliation). Ms. McElroy already has experience tapping a market (ATL) that is full of FAMU alumni, and that benefits from FAMU's athletic presence already. So she's in a position to transfer those connections to FAMU's advantage.
This is a no brainer! McGee needs a few more mango seasons before he's ready for FAMU. McElroy brings more to the table.
I remember when the RN use to demand transparency in processes like this. FAMUans would be able to review copies of the candidates' applications. FAMUans would know the facts to why a candidate was dismissed or terminated from a position. Hopefully there will be future RN articles with this info. In the meanwhile, since the AD position is a state employment that should be publicly advertised, isnt there a place online where the candidate's info is open and accessible?
Div 1-AAA is a designation for athletic programs that are NCAA Div 1 level but do not offer football as a competitive sport.
ReplyDeleteWe've been asking for that for a long time. I don't have enough information to make a decision. I bet we can use both handily though.
ReplyDeleteIn all honetsty this is NOT the RN that SAVED FAMU! This is a post removing, no question asking, follow the leader blindly RN. No offence intended. If this were the old RN we would have known who, what, when, where and how by now. Read this fast because it will be removed soon.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I support the Ammons Admin. but that doesnt mean that they should be given a free pass...
Could not have said it better myself 5:39 p.m. Wake up RN
ReplyDeleteI have read all the posts and find it interesting to hear everyone's opinion about Magee and McElroy. I have had the opportunity to work and know both candidates and their management styles are totally different, but both effective.
ReplyDeleteMcElroy is a rough and brash marine that demands excellence and perfection, but sometimes comes across as angry or easily quick tempered.
Magee is a dominant presence in a room that commands attention and he also demands excellence, but at times comes across as too demanding of his staff in some cases and if they don't cut the mustard he gets rid of them.
They both have great backgrounds, but Magee is much younger and considered an up and comer in the athletic adminstration field. McElroy is well accomplished also and is regarded as a great advocate for women athletic administators. Both have fundraising as Magee has helped manage and fundraise for projects while at Pacific and you know that McElroy started a football program. The biggest issue is the business acumen piece. Magee negotiated a $30M deal with IMG for Cincy and has cut the deficit in half in just 2 years.
My vote is for Magee and should I point out that there are successful young alumni leading their schools (ex. Damon Evans - Georgia) and having great success. Get Magee not because he is a Rattler, but because he can right the ship financially and would care about the program and the student-athletes, because he was one here himself.
Hubba 11:59a
ReplyDeleteThanks 11:19 for putting better perspective on such a hot topic. Also I think RN is still RN at heart but the contributors during that period were amazing and it had to do with the University leadership too. Some of the things that we learned here came from students and or friends in hidden places across the globe actually. For that I am grateful. The issue here is, how do we re-engage those people? I had two classmates tell me yesterday that there were too many places to keep up with. Mentioning Facebook and RattlerRoundup and Rattlerwire etc.. I understood what he meant. It's seems to be too many because they don't work together and they don't have enough news and info to keep up. These tools keep us connected and they are mostly for us Rattlers and not the world at-large so, we should contribute and inquire more often too.
ReplyDelete**11:16a
ReplyDeleteWe need soccer, rugby, lacross and wrestling. asap
ReplyDeleteCrew and gymnastics would be nice too. See what happens.
ReplyDeleteWomen's Soccer, Lacrosse, golf and then maybe rugby.
ReplyDelete11:16. Can you please explain the role Mr. McGee played in obtaining the IMG contract? Sometimes deals are in the making when a person steps in and that person receives credit for a deal in which they played a tangential role.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any details on McGee's role in the negotiations? Did he solicit IMG, develop the negotiation strategy? Other than sit at the table, what did he contribute?
I would ask the same of Ms. McElroy. What part of GSU's football startup can be directly attributed to her?
We're not trying to give points to people for just being in the room. We need Details.
Also wrt Damon Evans....he was trained by Dooley and there is a fair amount of background noise that Dooley is still the one pulling the strings in Athens. We won't have that luxury of a phenomenal AD emeritus helping out our new AD.
5:52a, speak for yourself.
ReplyDelete6:00p, thanks for your valuable insight. Anything more would be great. I thought about how McGee may have been under scrutiny.I look forward to McGee returning home to put us among the Cincy Bearcats. Go Rattlers.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks that our first HOME game is in OCTOBER! Its always harder to get the students involved and the community associated. We'll see how this works out.
ReplyDeleteOur first home game isnt until October? That is outrageous! That is the result of taking the show on the road, and not taking care of home FIRST! FAMU dont mess around and disenfranchise your own home base. Wait a minute! I spoke too late! There will be more Rattlers and students travelling to Miami, Atlanta, and Orlando than there will be in Bragg because there is no interest in coming to Tally. Especially when the party is willing to come to you.
ReplyDeleteI heard we are playing Savannah State as well. I dont know why we would do such a dumb thing, but if true, then we need some new athletic leadership up in Gaither BADLY!
Well it worked out this way, this time. To be fair. Unlike when Cas&co. had us in that pattern. It'll be ok. We'll work our way into our winning streaks .
ReplyDeleteMr. McGee
ReplyDeleteMy bet is that FAMU does the "good Old Boy Thing' and hires the kid over the better qualified woamn candate.
ReplyDelete8:21 - why does Mr. Magee's potential appointment represent the "good ole boy thing" as you put it. I feel that his resume and qualifications would be the merit of his appointment "IF" he gets it.
ReplyDeleteMagee is no "kid" to the industry as you have put it. He has all of the necessary educational backgrounds that a normal Director/VP of a university might have (BS, MBA, Ed.D) and the years of experience (10 yrs). But if it is his age that you want to knock lets look at young AD's in Division 1 at their appointment times:
John Currie, 38 - Kansas St.
Tim Pernetti, 38 - Rutgers
Damon Evans, 34 - Georgia
Warde Manuel, 37 - Buffalo
Kirby Holcutt, 33 - Ohio University
Kirby Holcutt, 37 - U. Miami (Da U)
Rick Hart, 34 - UT, Chattanooga
Bernard Muir 35, Georgetown
Tommy McClelland, 28 - McNeese St.
Greg Byrne, 38 - Mississippi St.
So I guess I am asking what is a "kid" in this industry and these are but a few names and they all have had success at very young ages. I just ask RN to not jump to conclusions in Magee's hiring and lets all just help the athletic department succeed.
Magee does seem to have a problem staying with one job for more than a couple of years. From reading the artical it appears he held 6 positions in less than 9 years. is that a track record we need at FAMU?
ReplyDeleteLooks like he has been fast tracked, which is different from job hopping. Went from business mgr, intern with Orlando Magic, Asst AD, then Assoc AD. Sounds like he is just making his way up the ladder quickly.
ReplyDelete11:40 AM, you forgot to add "...only managing money...", not people. Don't get me wrong. I like the young man, and think he'll do a good job IF he surrounds himself with competent energetic personnel, and if he's open-minded to his constituency. If what I've seen of his writing is translated into action, he'll do even better. I plan to support him fully when he's seated.
ReplyDeleteRight now, we have a fleeting opportunity to potentially bring in a lot of money for the department from a global sponsor, but the way things are set up there, they're not about to bring it in via the foundation.
2:01 Magee had over 20 people directly report to him at Cincy and 18 at Pacific. He ran the ticket office, facilities, personnel and payroll. He also did a lot of marketing and external work at Pacific, but that came out in the interview process. Once you meet him you will realize he is the real deal.
ReplyDelete10:32AM,
ReplyDeleteWhere does the article state that Magee earned an MBA? When and from which institution?
He earned his M.B.A. from CSU- Stanislaus in 2005.
ReplyDeleteno new news on this - what is the holdup?
ReplyDeleteMagee has withdrawn his name from the FAMU AD search. This explains why Dr. Ammons has re-opened it up!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFrom my understanding some well known Alums have reached out to A.C. Tellison a former Unv. of Miami standout on and off the field to apply for the post. He was an Asc A.D. and FIU for 5 years and now the CEO of an international sports firm. I had a chance to hear him speak to a group of school kids and he was Super. I think he will be a great fit for our Rattlers.
ReplyDelete