UM: Athletics

The New York Times takes a look at the increasing number of universities that are hiring athletic directors with business backgrounds, rather than ones who’ve made their careers in sports. The article’s prime example? David Brandon, the Domino’s CEO who was recently named athletic director at Michigan: “’That business experience is almost essential,’ said Mary Sue Coleman, the Michigan president, who said she also hired Brandon because he had strong ties to the university, having played football for the Wolverines and served as a university regent. Still, she said, ‘It’s hard for me to imagine a successful athletic director these days that doesn’t have a deep understanding and skills for the financial side of an athletic department.’” [Source]