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Sunday, October 04, 2009
Law - Donna Shalala says she is not interested in the top NCCA post
My candidate for NCCA President, Donna Shalala, makes a pretty good case that she is not interested, in this story today in the NY Times, headed "A Call to Change the N.C.A.A.’s Direction." Some quotes:
The death of Myles Brand last month silenced a strong voice of academic reform in intercollegiate athletics. It also created a void and myriad questions about the direction of the N.C.A.A., which he served as its president for the past six years.The University of Georgia president, Michael Adams, top, and Tulane’s president, Scott Cowen, have been mentioned as possible candidates to be the N.C.A.A. president.
The N.C.A.A. faces ethical challenges like raging commercialism and escalating salaries for star coaches, and the subsequent tension between athletics and academia. And it must decide whether to recommit to Title IX, and roll back the length of playing seasons, especially in so-called minor sports.
“We have to do what Obama’s trying to do in health care reform,” Donna Shalala, the University of Miami president, said during a recent interview.
In fact, the task of reforming the N.C.A.A. bureaucracy, with all of its vested interests, may be more daunting than reforming health care because the emotions of alumni and boosters are involved. * * *
[Scott Cowen, the Tulane University president] has been mentioned as a possible successor to Brand, as have [Mary Sue Coleman, the University of Michigan president], Shalala and Michael Adams, the University of Georgia president. During separate phone interviews, each denied any interest in the position, now held on an interim basis by Jim Isch, an N.C.A.A. senior vice president.
“I am deeply engaged at the University of Michigan,” Coleman said.
Shalala said: “At the end of the day, the reason I’m in higher education is because I love the kids. Helping the kids from a distance is not what I want to do. I want to walk across campus, I want to teach a class. It’s just not me.”
Adams said: “I love the University of Georgia. It’s where I fit best. I feel pretty strongly this is where I’ll be.”
Cowen said, “I don’t have the temperament for that job.”
Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 4, 2009 03:39 PM
Posted to General Law Related