Potential New Athletic Director: John David Wicker from Georgia Tech

[ExtremeDog]

John David is a Mississippi State alumni. He has been at Southern Mississippi, Washington State, San Diego State, and is currently at Georgia Tech. I have heard nothing but great things about the guy. I would have to think that he would be someone that we interview. I know that he is a people person, he is big on fund raising, and he has been involved in coaching hires at every school in which he has worked.

Click the link below to read his biography.

Has anyone else ever heard of him, and if so, what are your thoughts?

http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/admin/mtt/john_david_wicker_970196.html

 

[bonedaddy401]

Heard about that scandal/lawsuit involving him and the firing of SDSU's woman's basketball coach.

Would he be a candidate if he wasn't a MSU alum?

 

[wtw2400]

Something to note is that Georgia Tech has the worst Athletic Department in the Power 5 Conferences. They are the only school to not have a contract with Under Armour, Adidas, or Nike. And they hired the Memphis HC who was terrible as their new basketball coach. Im not sure I would be happy with anyone affiliated with Georgia Tech to say the least. Of course I could start a whole thread on how terrible GT Athletics is but I digress

 

[HotMop]

[FONT=&quot]"He served as Director of Event and Facility Operations at Southern Miss from 1999-2001."

We know he can handle tens of fans![/FONT]

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Their athletic department blows. I wouldn't want this guy.

 

[coach66]

What about this guy?

http://www.latechsports.com/genrel/tommy_mcclelland_ii_853387.html

 

[Duke Humphrey]

Very disappointing hire. He wouldn't be a candidate anywhere else, no SEC experience and sounds like he has some legal (warranted or not) issues.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

what gives on still having Russell? Is Russell's main HQ in Atlanta or something?

 

[vandaldawg]

That is an interesting idea...

http://www.latechsports.com/genrel/tommy_mcclelland_ii_853387.html

He has done quite a bit at LA Tech in a pretty short span. I think he should be on the list.

A guy I work with who has direct knowledge of some pretty good potential candidates told me we should consider this guy:

http://www.liberty.edu/flames/?PID=15172

My immediate reaction to him was that after (sorry for any offense) the reign of Church of Christ in positions of power at MSU, it may be time to move away from the tee-totalers. At least a casually drinking Methodist. But I digress. He said the guy was definitely a fit for Liberty, but if we ever got to the point of deciding on stadium sales, would not stand in the way.

Now, this isn't a personal recommendation either, but should we not take a look at the South Alabama guy? I mean, the jump from having no football program to having one and then moving to Div. I and having success all along the way is pretty damn impressive. I have no idea if the guy is a rain maker or not. God knows they need a new on-campus stadium (which sounds like a possibiility). But if the Tulane dude is highly thought of, then I would think this guy's accomplishments would be right up there.

http://www.usajaguars.com/staff.aspx?staff=185

 

[8dog]

No thanks.

 

[HD6]

No, they are in Bowling Green Kentucky.

 

[AFDawg]

Who was "Church of Christ in positions of power at MSU"?

 

[vandaldawg]

Who was "Church of Christ in positions of power at MSU"?

Well, Scott Stricklin for one.

 

[AFDawg]

I thought he went to First Baptist.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

nope, COC

 

[AFDawg]

Sho nuff: http://www.christianchronicle.org/article/church-member-named-athletic-director-at-mississippi-state

Well, put me down for the Methodist.

 

[WayboDawg]

Sho nuff: http://www.christianchronicle.org/article/church-member-named-athletic-director-at-mississippi-state

Well, put me down for the Methodist.

Grilled Chicken for everyone! (It's ok, I'm Methodist)

 

[Xenomorph]

Has Sanky weighed in with his list of recommendations?

 

[Maroon Eagle]

I don't know him but was in some classes with his older sister at MSU.

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

I had a couple of classes with JDW during my first go round at State maybe Marketing and Accounting....Seemed like a good guy. Thinking he was involved in student government some.

 

[dawgoneyall]

He has done quite a bit at LA Tech in a pretty short span. I think he should be on the list.

A guy I work with who has direct knowledge of some pretty good potential candidates told me we should consider this guy:

http://www.liberty.edu/flames/?PID=15172

My immediate reaction to him was that after (sorry for any offense) the reign of Church of Christ in positions of power at MSU, it may be time to move away from the tee-totalers. At least a casually drinking Methodist. But I digress. He said the guy was definitely a fit for Liberty, but if we ever got to the point of deciding on stadium sales, would not stand in the way.

Now, this isn't a personal recommendation either, but should we not take a look at the South Alabama guy? I mean, the jump from having no football program to having one and then moving to Div. I and having success all along the way is pretty damn impressive. I have no idea if the guy is a rain maker or not. God knows they need a new on-campus stadium (which sounds like a possibiility). But if the Tulane dude is highly thought of, then I would think this guy's accomplishments would be right up there.

http://www.usajaguars.com/staff.aspx?staff=185

Well....that explains the video music.

 

[jxndawg]

I looked him up when he got mentioned as a candidate and thought he'd be a really good one. I say that b/c I want us to stick with somebody vaguely from the Byrne/Stricklin mold - young(ish), an MSU loyalist (Stricklin) who has experience with other programs in other parts of the country, good fund-raiser, understands modern PR and facilities needs but can also keep the cigar boys happy, etc.


After I read the comments about his stays at SDSU and GT, I Googled them . . . there was a lawsuit from the SDSU women's basketball coach demanding equal funding/treatment for her team, but I didn't find anything saying that Wicker was involved, other than being employed by the SDSU ath. dept. when it happened. And as for Ga. Tech . . . I agree that GT's ath. dept. is a mess, but it looks like Wicker's only been there about a year, so it's hardly fair to blame him for their problems. Hell, for all we know he's done everything he can to drag them into the 21st century. That's probably why they hired him.


I still think he's the kind of guy we need to stay on the path we've been on, as opposed to going back to the LT days. Just my $0.02.

 

[BiscuitEater]

A guy I work with who has direct knowledge of some pretty good potential candidates told me we should consider this guy:

http://www.liberty.edu/flames/?PID=15172

In it's relatively short existence, Liberty has built some solid facilities .. including it's 'own' ski slope .. Construction was completed in August 2009 on the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre, a synthetic ski slope featuring Snowflex; the Centre was designed by England’s Briton Engineering. It includes beginner, intermediate and advanced slopes, and is the first of its kind in the United States.