Hexter can unite Aggie Nation by picking Gross

Just as you thought the drama surrounding the search for the next Athletics Director couldn’t get any bigger, it seems as though Days of our Lives is now filming on campus.  Chancellor Katehi promised that a new athletic director was going to be in place by early fall 2015.  That was later pushed back to spring 2016 and now, who knows? 

Katehi had formed a search committee consisting of alums, coaches, and former student-athletes with the assistance of Parker Executive Search to conduct a national search for anew athletic director.  As first reported by AggieSportsTalk.com, the field was narrowed down to three candidates.  Upon that report, Davis Enterprise reporter Bruce Gallaudet was forced to pound the pavement and start calling sources on Picnic Day and was provided with a statement from the chancellor’s office advising that there were five candidates.  Four days later, there were less than five candidates.

Enter UC President Janet Napolitano.  After Chancellor Katehi admitted to sitting on several corporate boards, including a for-profit university and Wiley, Inc., a company that sells textbooks, Napolitano stood bythe chancellor.  That sure didn’t last long.  

On April 27, President Napolitano placed Chancellor Katehi on “investigatory leave” for the next 90 days and has appointed Melinda Haag to investigate the chancellor’s actions. Napolitano named UCD Provost Ralph Hexter as interim chancellor.  He has vowed to press forward with the AD search.  Amid the swirling winds of change Hexter now wades into a situation that has left many alumni frustrated for the last several years.  No doubt, Hexter is now feeling that frustration.

Katehi had been under fire by many UCD alums, particularly football alums, after Daryl Gross was not selected as a final candidate. An intense letter writing campaign seemed to have changed the committee’s mind as Gross’ chance to become athletic director is still very much alive.

Hexter has the opportunity to assuage the anguish of many UC Davis alums by selecting Gross as the next AD.  Gross has the resume and experience needed to guide a department that is struggling to find its identity.  The move to Division I almost a decade ago forced the department to realize its champagne tastes can’t be satisfied on a beer budget.  Gross knows what Aggie Pride consists of, how the campus operates, and can build the bridges necessary to bring some semblance of normalcy back to this quiet college town. 

Gross had the opportunity to unite alumni last weekend, when the UC Davis football team held their annual golf fundraiser.  He was the only candidate to attend the fundraiser and was reportedly glad-handing as many donors and alums as he could.  Gross was also present at Coach Jim Sochor’s memorial held the following day.  Reports are that alums were impressed that the former UC Davis student-athlete went out of his way to introduce himself to so many people.

The time has come and gone where those who bleed Aggie Blue and Gold want an athletic director to sit behind a desk, email surveys asking for input that may or may not be implemented, and choose not to engage with the fan base.  Aggie Nation needs someone who is working the crowd, getting him or herself in front of as many people as they can, and selling the UC Davis experience. 

Gross wasn’t the only qualified candidate with an impressive resume to apply for the position, but he is the only one left standing.  Hexter should unite the UC Davis athletic community and hire Daryl Gross as the next athletic director.

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EDIT: Gross' first name has been corrected to "Daryl."