Arizona AD- Desiree Reed-Francois

[arizonawildcats]

[azcat49]

Well let’s see how she does.

[Irish27]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQkW26t ... yofArizona

[84Cat]

Can we merge threads? http://www.beardownwildcats.com/viewtop ... f=8&t=7913

[Merkin]

Her success has been in fund raising, so a good get. Robbins can still make all the hiring decisions.

[Alieberman]

Yeah sorry Irish- but lets post about our AD in the other thread so we don't have multiple conversations going on the same things.

I have merged them

[arizonawildcats]

Reed-Francois is a California native who went to law school at Arizona and spent most of her career on the West Coast -- she was UNLV's AD from 2017-21 before taking the Mizzou job -- and so perhaps that's the appeal here. That's what Reed-Francois said herself Monday.

"There are very few institutions that would entice me to leave an SEC athletics department with strong momentum," she said. "The University of Arizona has tremendous potential and is an institution — and an athletics program — on the rise, and I want to be a part of shaping that future."

[Alieberman]

If I could do the same job in either Missouri or Arizona.... it's not even close...

[EastCoastCat]

Let’s not confuse Missouri with the big players in the SEC.

Not sure what to think of this hire.

[AzCatFan2]

She is a rising star that left a SEC school to come back home in the west. And her specialty seems to be fundraising. On paper, no complaints. Hope she lives up and surpasses expectations.

[Fishclamps]

Let’s not confuse Missouri with the big players in the SEC.

Not sure what to think of this hire.

She landed a single $62 mil donation for stadium renovations last year, Missouri is not some mid major.

Mizzou fans pissed that they're losing her should tell you enough.

[Chicat]

My only question is whether she’s Robbins’ puppet or will she have the authority to actually make decisions.

[Alieberman]

Keep in mind there is a very real possibility Robbins is not our president for long...

[prh]

Mizzou fans are in shambles so that makes me feel like it's a decent hire

[Fishclamps]

She took a pay cut to come here, I think between Missouri being stupid and us needing an AD this will work out nicely

[AZCatGirl]

Sounds like they chased her out, so good timing for us.

[EastCoastCat]

Let’s not confuse Missouri with the big players in the SEC.

Not sure what to think of this hire.

She landed a single $62 mil donation for stadium renovations last year, Missouri is not some mid major.

Mizzou fans pissed that they're losing her should tell you enough.

I’m glad she is skilled at raising money. That’s obviously important.

But they also ran her out of town. It’s either a power move or there were concerns for some reason on how she was running their athletic department.

I hope she kills it in Tucson.

[azcat49]

Fundraising and her coaches that she hired intrigue me. Mizzou is down the pecking order in the SEC and the football guy looks solid but haven’t seen much from basketball, baseball, softball or other sports. Any info on the hires she made while there?

[MrBug708]

When DG retired at UCLA, she was the favorite. Nobody really wanted her at UCLA and UNLV fans were pleading for us to take her. I have no idea if she worked out at Missouri or her path from UNLV to Missouri was successful or not, but UCLA's hiring of Jarmond during COVID didn't work out too well in hindsight. I have no idea if she is a good AD or not, but there was a lot of disdain from both UCLA and UNLV fans.

[Fishclamps]

Let’s not confuse Missouri with the big players in the SEC.

Not sure what to think of this hire.

She landed a single $62 mil donation for stadium renovations last year, Missouri is not some mid major.

Mizzou fans pissed that they're losing her should tell you enough.

I’m glad she is skilled at raising money. That’s obviously important.

But they also ran her out of town. It’s either a power move or there were concerns for some reason on how she was running their athletic department.

I hope she kills it in Tucson.

How is creating some oversight council so you can pretend you're the one running the athletic department as a board member the same as running her out of town? She didn't want to deal with that shit since it doesn't work anywhere else. An oversight committee turns an AD into a yes man and thats it.

[RichardCranium]

She took a pay cut to come here, I think between Missouri being stupid and us needing an AD this will work out nicely

Does she have kids? Getting away from the current climate for education in Missouri could be a motivator. Though I'm not sure that Az is in a much better position these days.

[Postmaster]

Did Livengood bring her to UNLV?

[Postmaster]

I’m surprised ABOR let Robbins hire anybody at this time.

I figured they would roll with Candrea through at least the current school year.
Now they are paying her and Heeke.

[EastCoastCat]

Let’s not confuse Missouri with the big players in the SEC.

Not sure what to think of this hire.

She landed a single $62 mil donation for stadium renovations last year, Missouri is not some mid major.

Mizzou fans pissed that they're losing her should tell you enough.

I’m glad she is skilled at raising money. That’s obviously important.

But they also ran her out of town. It’s either a power move or there were concerns for some reason on how she was running their athletic department.

I hope she kills it in Tucson.

How is creating some oversight council so you can pretend you're the one running the athletic department as a board member the same as running her out of town? She didn't want to deal with that shit since it doesn't work anywhere else. An oversight committee turns an AD into a yes man and thats it.

I’m an educated man, but I’m afraid I can’t speak intelligently about the inner workings of the Missouri Athletic Department and I bet you can’t either.

They created an oversight council for some reason but to think they didn’t understand what the repercussions might be for that action is naive.

They took an overt step to reduce her decision making power. Was it for pure ego reasons? Maybe. Or were some people not happy with how she was running the department so they made a move knowing she would either have to accept a more watered down role or get out of Dodge.

That’s my point.

[arizonawildcats]

Here's the livestream:
https://www.kvoa.com/livestream/

[TheCatInTheHat]

Anybody who reaches any level of accomplishment in this world will have detractors, for age-old reasons. If you take any action, somebody won't like some aspect of it. Missouri may not be the highest of the high in the SEC, but we haven't exactly historically been in football, either. (And they beat us last time we played, as well as beating Ohio St in the last Cotton Bowl.) We could fold our arms and "expect" to attract somebody from a bigger school, or maybe somebody's crony from an assistant job. Don't know who would have been a better choice among those who were interested, but she has the requisite background and she solves the problem. Considering Arizona's history and various current circumstances, there is cause to celebrate (at least for people who do that kind of thing.) Reed-Francois and Brennan/Babers/Akina will do fine.

[Irish27]

I’m surprised ABOR let Robbins hire anybody at this time.

I figured they would roll with Candrea through at least the current school year.
Now they are paying her and Heeke.

Heeke has been paid by donor money. He is no longer on the books.

[84Cat]

[EastCoastCat]

Tell you what, I’m impressed.

BTFD DRF!

[azgreg]

[Postmaster]

I’m surprised ABOR let Robbins hire anybody at this time.

I figured they would roll with Candrea through at least the current school year.
Now they are paying her and Heeke.

Heeke has been paid by donor money. He is no longer on the books.

I did not hear about that. I heard CTL was getting donor money in his new deal.
Thanks for letting me know.

[AZCatGirl]

Pretty nice bonuses considering how consistent our various sports teams are.

[azcat49]

And considering she didn’t hire one of those coaches

[AZCatGirl]

Interview with the GOAT.

[wyo-cat]

She implemented some really cool NIL strategies at Missoura.

One was changing the state law so they handed recruits their first check when they sign.

I can’t wait to see what she can come up with here

[84Cat]

She implemented some really cool NIL strategies at Missoura.

One was changing the state law so they handed recruits their first check when they sign.

I can’t wait to see what she can come up with here

We're going to see a lot of legislation to help schools compete on the national level. AZ will need to do the same to help our schools keep up

It also would allow NIL compensation to be contingent on an athlete attending a specific school, plus provide colleges and universities in the state and their employees with liability protections related to NIL activity.

[GlobalCat]

When DG retired at UCLA, she was the favorite. Nobody really wanted her at UCLA and UNLV fans were pleading for us to take her. I have no idea if she worked out at Missouri or her path from UNLV to Missouri was successful or not, but UCLA's hiring of Jarmond during COVID didn't work out too well in hindsight. I have no idea if she is a good AD or not, but there was a lot of disdain from both UCLA and UNLV fans.

Lol, to be fair most fan bases hate their ADs unless the teams are winning championships. Neither ucla nor unlv were in that boat.

[GlobalCat]

PS, zero chance Robbins will be her boss in a year

[UAEebs86]

PS, zero chance Robbins will be her boss in a year

Man I hope you are right.

[TheCat]

PS, zero chance Robbins will be her boss in a year

This seems to confirm that.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/her-scathing ... 21479.html

[dovecanyoncat]

That's a shame.

[Lute4God]

Yes it's a damn shame and about time. Leadership!

[TheCat]

ABOR is just as much to blame but a president not in control or aware of their finances is toast.

[GlobalCat]

Conflicts of interest with certain ABOR members and Robbins are being investigated. A search firm is already chatting with new President candidates.

[ChooChooCat]

Conflicts of interest with certain ABOR members and Robbins are being investigated. A search firm is already chatting with new President candidates.

Who hired the search firm?

[TheCat]

Robbins hired them but just wasn't aware he did.

[TheCat]

I remember when some folks on this board indicated it was not a big deal. Glad we have a new AD in place.

[GlobalCat]

Conflicts of interest with certain ABOR members and Robbins are being investigated. A search firm is already chatting with new President candidates.

Who hired the search firm?

No idea, but did learn Robbins and ABOR have run deals (including the UAGC diligence) through the Foundation to avoid FOIA requests.

[TheCat]

Really.....he is screwed and so is the ABOR member that helped him.

[PHXCATS]

Robbins was at the game in Tempe today. Wasn't acting the way he usually does at gsmes