Head Coach Hiring

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Policy Number:
UW-624
Responsible Office:
Athletics

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

In an attempt to clarify the Athletic Board’s role in the hiring process for head coaches, the personnel committee recommends amending the Board’s hiring policy as follows. These recommendations are based on Faculty Policies & Procedures, Faculty Document 2114a, and market factors.

Policy:

General Hiring Principles

  1. The Athletic Board’s participation in personnel matters has a primary focus on academic performance, compliance, and the overall student-athlete experience.
  2. The Athletic Board is advisory to the chancellor, both on the Athletic Department recommendation for the hire and on the question of whether the appropriate procedures have been followed
  3. “Participating actively” (F.P.P. 6.26) is defined as observing, monitoring, advising, and offering comments to responsible Athletic Department officials, which requires access to personnel materials throughout the hiring process.
  4. In creating an ad hoc search committee, the Athletic Board is delegating to the committee the authority to make a recommendation to the chancellor on a head coach hiring decision, through the chair of the Athletic Board.
  5. The ad hoc search committee represents the voice of the Athletic Board during the hiring process and is accountable to the Athletic Board.
Procedure:

Process

  1. At the beginning of each academic year, the Athletic Board votes to authorize the Board chair to form ad hoc search committees, as needed, to execute the Board’s head coach hiring responsibilities. Ordinarily, each committee will have five members, three faculty and two non-faculty: the chair of the Athletic Board, one co-chair of the personnel committee (who will serve as head of the ad hoc committee), the sport liaison, one alumni representative, and one additional member of the Athletic Board appointed by the Board chair. In making the additional appointments to the committee, the Board chair will consider availability, commitment to the values expressed in II(a) above, and representation of board membership.
  2. As much as practicable, the ad hoc committee will discuss desired qualifications with the athletic director or their designee, have access to personnel and application information, participate in the interview process with finalists, and provide feedback to the athletic director. Members of the ad hoc committee will maintain the confidentiality of information throughout this process.
  3. The athletic director will communicate the hiring decision and contract financial overview to the ad hoc search committee. The ad hoc committee makes an advisory recommendation on the decision and contract, which will be communicated to the chancellor through the chair of the Athletic Board.
  4. At the first subsequent meeting of the full Athletic Board, the Board will receive a presentation on the recommendation and consider a motion on whether the policy was adequately followed. A negative vote will initiate a review process that will recommend corrective measures and/or policy changes for subsequent hires.
Related UW-Madison Policies:

UW-806, Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 6 - Faculty Committees

Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:

Faculty Document 2114a

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Chancellor
Policy Manager:
Athletic Board Chair
Contact:
Athletic Board Chair -- Peter Miller, pmmiller2@wisc.edu, (608) 262-3771
Date Issued:
10-28-2015
Retrieved:
10-05-2024 17:42:11