UNC athletic director search draws encouraging responses

Response to the University’s open athletic director position has been encouraging so far despite the NCAA investigation into the football program.

“I have to say from my perspective that things are going extremely well,” said Bill Carr of Carr Sports Associates Inc., whom the University signed Aug. 30 to assist the 13-member athletic director search committee in replacing current athletic director Dick Baddour.

Carr, who will receive $40,000 as compensation for his services, spoke via speakerphone at Tuesday’s committee meeting.

“I’m very encouraged by where we are in the process … Your position is one of the best in the country, and so some of the best in the country have responded with interest in the position.”

Lowry Caudill, chairman of the search committee, echoed that assessment.

“This position has only been opened twice in the last 30 years,” Caudill said. “And if you aspire to be at the top of your field, this is one of a handful of AD positions that are at the very, very top nationally … The interest that we’re seeing in candidates is just reflective of the fact that it’s a premier position.”

No deadline has been established for selecting a preferred candidate, Carr said, but his firm is “working as quickly as is practical” to sort through the candidate pool. The plan is to be able to present Chancellor Holden Thorp with several options.

Carr said he believes the quality of the University bodes well in its search for a new director, citing a visit he recently made to the campus in order to get a feel for its environment.

“I came away from that experience just literally intoxicated, if you will, by that ambience,” Carr said. “What a tremendous opportunity for leadership for the right person.”

Carr has worked as a collegiate consultant since 1997, and he has worked with 27 Football Bowl Subdivision schools during that time.

Of those schools, the ACC’s Duke, N.C. State, Maryland and Clemson Universities have all utilized Carr’s services.

Caudill said that Carr’s experience in the conference could be beneficial.

“Bill has worked with some of the very best institutions in the country,” Caudill said. “And it sure did (factor into our decision to hire Carr), as we looked at who the schools were and his background.”

A graduate of the University of Florida, Carr was a center for the Florida football team, earning All-American honors in his senior season in 1966. In 1979, Carr became Florida’s athletic director at the age of 33, which at the time made him the youngest AD in the country.

Norm Carlson, assistant athletics director and athletic association historian at Florida, started at the university just as Carr began his football career.

Carlson said he believes that Carr will be of great benefit to UNC and the search process.

“He’s good at assessing what’s going on and has the inner strength to deal with it, to make decisions,” Carlson said. “You have to respect him. He’s just a class guy, the kind of guy you can believe in and trust, and he will do the right thing.”

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