Is incoming Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson big enough for the room?
Can the Army athletic director move up to Maryland and ACC sports after six years at West Point plus support jobs at Stanford, Cal and Oregon State? Will he keep one of the nation’s top athletic departments faring well following the departure of predecessor Debbie Yow, perhaps the school’s finest A.D. ever?
It sure looks like it.
The new Terrapins boss met an overflowing Heritage Hall crowd of media, staff, coaches and boosters on Tuesday. Everybody wanted to see the first new leader in 16 years at College Park. And, a look at incoming president Dr. Wallace Loh, who upon seeing a much bigger crowd than his recent introductory press conference quipped, “Looking at the crowd here, that tells me which position is more important.”
Anderson wowed the search committee with a confident delivery that clearly shows his experience working with military leaders. Anderson is concise, goal driven and no nonsense. He clearly looks to improve a trophy case already filled with national titles from basketball to soccer to field hockey over the past decade.
“Trust me, you’ve done good and great things,” Anderson said, “but we’re going do better and greater things.”
That won’t be easy. The school already has a top-notch basketball arena, recently expanded football stadium and standout facilities for smaller sports. Maryland wins regularly at all levels. Graduation rates are good. There have been virtually no NCAA rule problems in recent years.
“Everywhere I’ve been, the reputation of the University of Maryland has been top notch in everything that you do,” Anderson told staffers. “You compete the right way. You compete within the rules and the institutional control is first and foremost. We recruit student-athletes. That’s what I expect and that’s what you already produce.”
Anderson might even avoid a football coaching search after Maryland’s upset victory over Navy. After finishing 0-5 in the Army-Navy series, Anderson praised Terps coach Ralph Friedgen, who seemed in jeopardy with two seasons left on his deal. Now, 6-6 and a bowl bid seem possible.
Chances of the Maryland-Navy series increase with Anderson’s arrival given his previous relationship with Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuck. The two teams have played twice since 2005 after a 40-year absence.
“I think I can strong arm [Gladchuck,]” Anderson joked.
Anderson was open-minded over coming super conferences that might threaten the ACC through defections.
“We don’t have any idea how this whole thing will end up,” he conceded.
Anderson would like to pursue changes in NCAA recruiting limits over the amount of time coaches spend with high school players.
“There was a time when a coach would get to know young men and women,” Anderson said. “Now with the limited time we’ve put on that you have to make some decisions.”
Ultimately, Maryland gains a new leader without a department of differing alliances that sometimes plagued Yow.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
