Charlotte chancellor's goal: New AD hired by mid-March

UNC CHARLOTTE

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gaber says the school's goal is to hire a new athletics director by mid-March.

Progress is being made on the Charlotte 49ers’ athletic director search, according to Chancellor Sharon Gaber.

Charlotte is almost four months removed from the dismissal of Mike Hill. In the meantime, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity and General Counsel Jesh Humphrey is the interim athletics director. 

In a Q&A via email with The Post, Gaber said she wants the university to find a leader who has a firm understanding of the modern college landscape. The goal is to have the next AD hired by mid-March. 

Q: What does the timetable look like for hiring the next athletic director?

Gaber: Our goal is to name our next athletic director by mid-March. We are currently in an active phase of the search, working closely with our search firm and committee to identify and vet strong candidates. 

Q: What are a few key things you’re looking for in a candidate?

Gaber: We are looking for a leader who understands the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics and has the experience to navigate it successfully. That includes a demonstrated ability to generate revenue, build strong external partnerships and lead with vision and integrity. At the same time, this person must be deeply committed to student-athlete success, competitive excellence and alignment with the broader academic mission and values of the university.

Q: With the evolving landscape in college athletics, how important is it for Charlotte to get this hire right so that the university can best be positioned for the future?

Gaber: This is a pivotal moment for all of college athletics. Selecting our athletic director is critical not only to our competitive success, but for positioning our athletics program to grow sustainably, strengthen our national profile and remain aligned with the University’s long-term priorities.

Q: What is your message to alumni and donors who may feel blindfolded in a sense as to what or when the hire will be made, as well as any uncertainties they may have?

Gaber: I would assure our alumni and donors that this process is thoughtful, deliberate and moving forward with purpose. I have two alumni/donors participating on the search committee. I also want to thank those who filled out our input form to gather feedback on the qualities that are essential in our next AD. We are confident that this approach will serve the university and its supporters well.

Q: Will the next candidate bring staff members with them, or will the current staff remain in place?

Gaber: At this stage, it would be premature to speculate about staffing decisions. Our priority is hiring the right athletic director. Once that leader is in place, they will have the opportunity to assess the organization and determine how best to structure their team for success.

Comments