MINNEAPOLIS — University of Minnesota wrestling coach J Robinson likely won't be a part of the search committee to find the school's next athletic director, and he's fine with that. But that didn't stop Robinson from giving his two cents on who Minnesota should hire as its next AD to replace Joel Maturi.
"One of the biggest mistakes I think people make is they don't understand the culture that's here and what needs to be changed here to be successful. Someone coming from the outside I don't think is the answer," Robinson said Thursday, shortly after Maturi announced he will retire when his contract ends June 30. "You have a search committee. Well, what does a search committee know? … What do they know about the culture? What do they know what's really needed here? What do they know that needs to be changed?"
Indeed, university president Eric Kaler said the school will use a search committee to help find its next AD. He added that the process to find Maturi's replacement will begin "as soon as possible," and Kaler is confident that person will be in place on July 1.
Robinson offered one name as a suggestion: John Anderson, who has coached the Gophers' baseball team since 1981.
"He's been here as an athlete, as a coach. He knows it," Robinson said. "He knows the university, he knows the problems, (and) he knows what needs to be fixed. You have all that knowledge. How can you get that knowledge somewhere else when someone walks in? You can't."
It's uncertain whether Anderson would be interested in the position, but he certainly has the pedigree to do the job. In his tenure as Minnesota's baseball coach, he has compiled more than 1,000 wins and led the Gophers to numerous Big Ten titles.
"He knows the athletic program as well as anyone," said Minnesota Twins pitcher Glen Perkins, who played for Anderson from 2003-04. "He understands the importance of both revenue and non-revenue sports. And he knows how to fundraise, as is evidenced by his ($7 million-plus) he raised in private."
Not all Gophers coaches were as outspoken as Robinson about the vacant AD position. Football coach Jerry Kill was one of the last hires of Maturi's tenure. Kill took over Minnesota's football team in December 2010 and finished with just three wins in his first year.
But just like the university has confidence in Kill to turn the program around, he also trusts the school's ability to find the next athletic director.
"I think I've got to worry about the job I do and coach football. I think that's the administration's job," Kill said. "I know if we're asked for input, I'll just let them know, 'Hey, I just want a good athletic director that's got a good vision,' and those kind of things. But I trust our president and trust our administration to do that, and Joel. I'm sure they'll all be a part that."
Men's basketball coach Tubby Smith was another of Maturi's coaching hires. Smith came to Minnesota prior to the 2007-08 season and has led the Gophers to the NCAA Tournament twice in the past three seasons.
Smith is currently in the fifth year of a seven-year contract. He said Thursday he's not concerned about the effect a new athletic director will have on his chances of signing a contract extension.
"I'll be back here," Smith said. "Dr. Kaler and I have visited some earlier in the year. Certainly, I think this is the right place for me and my family. … I think Dr. Kaler knows it's important, as he mentioned, that his next hire he makes for athletic director will be important for everyone, not just myself but for all the coaches and our athletes and the community as well."
Smith has worked with a number of athletic directors during his lengthy coaching career that includes stops at Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky and now Minnesota. Smith said he appreciated Maturi's previous experience as a coach; Maturi coached numerous sports, including basketball, at the high school level in Wisconsin for nearly two decades.
The new hire will be the second AD Smith will have in five years at Minnesota. What would he like to see from the new AD?
"I think most coaches want an AD that's going to be fair," Smith said. "They understand that there are certain things coaches can control and certain things you can't control. Joel had been a coach before for a number of years. He was someone you could relate to. He had those experiences. Some ADs don't have that, but he's a guy that I've always leaned on and valued the things that he's helped me with."
Whomever the university decides to hire, Robinson said he hopes the administration consults with current coaches before making a final decision.
As for what Kaler will be looking for, he made that clear Thursday.
"Integrity, first and foremost," Kaler said. "We have been blessed with Joel's service in an athletics program that is first-class. It's run with integrity, and that's absolutely essential to me. Obviously, we'll look for someone with experience in D1 athletics, and I'm looking for someone with good business acumen. This is a large sports business activity in lots of ways. …
"I also want someone who will engage well with the external community, boosters, alumni, other folks who need to be a bigger part of Gopher athletics."
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