Dan Parker to Run UGA's Basketball Search

The AJC reports that Georgia will use Parker Executive Search to manage the placement of a new basketball coach in Athens. Parker Executive Search specializes in collegiate athletics and other higher education searches. They placed Tubby at Minnesota, Gillespie at Kentucky and Pelphrey at Arkansas among many, many other recent searches.

About a year ago Rivals.com talked to Parker about their search process and why companies...especially universities...need a search firm. It's a good read. It boils down to a question of expertise, relationships and speed.

Expertise
Look at the badly mangled searches of the past two years. Michigan's torturous search for a football coach was highlighted by the inability to land Les Miles because their AD was too busy yachting. Arkansas was humiliated publicly when Dana Altman rejected them at the altar (which is why ARK turned to Parker). And Auburn barely even had a process for their search that resulted in Chizik being hired. If Dan Parker is running a search, he gets a confirmed YES before things go public. And you don't change your mind and embarrass Parker, or you're not going to be involved in any more of his searches.

Relationships and Speed
Parker has managed dozens of searches over the past few years. His firm's relationships with agents and prior converations means that he knows who is really willing to relocate and to what parts of the country. Who is restless. What the "going rate" really is for coaches at different levels.

If you don't have that preexisting knowledge, you're starting from scratch on your search. And you might miss a quality candidate or limit your pool to only coaches that you know from prior connections.

Best of All
Dan Parker, president of the firm, is a Dawg. He has two degrees from Georgia, and his Atlanta-based firm is loaded with UGA grads. Our people are running our search.

Overall
I suspected about a year ago that Parker would be used for this process. We've used his firm in the past. If we hadn't announced a relationship with a search firm....Parker in particular....I would be very nervous. This is a good thing.


See Also:
-- Early deficits are the reason for the 10 game losing streak - AJC
-- Hermmann on Leslie and Price's benching last game - ABH
-- No Mass Exodus Expected by Players - AJC

PWD