--Rob Alsop is a native West Virginian and has to degrees from here. The University has parted ways with Shane Lyons and he will serve as the interim director of athletics. They have retained outside counsel to conduct the search and that is underway. They expect to have a new athletic director in three to four weeks.
--He will do everything he can to assist the coaches during this time. He has a working familiarity with the athletic department. He realizes that somebody is going to take his position but he wants to improve upon the strong foundation here. Shane Lyons was a great man and a great leader and did a lot to elevate athletics. He is aware of the great tradition that West Virginia university has and this will be a sought after job and he anticipates it will be filled with a great candidate. He likes to win and succeed and they want to be driven and work toward that goal.
--The past few years of college athletics have seen a lot of change from the portal to NIL to conference realignment. President Gordon Gee decided that with this ever-changing landscape it would be a good idea to find a fresh perspective. Gee believed that a fresh perspective at this time.
--Alsop is not a candidate for the permanent job.
--West Virginia has asked the search firm to cast a wide net for the right fit. They want somebody who understands and knows the team that is here and the culture that's been developed and they will continue on the trajectory of empowering individuals. They want somebody to be innovative and thoughtful. Their brand, history and tradition is impressive but they are not a major media market so in some things they will need to punch above their weight class so they need somebody that is going to be innovative.
--President Gordon Gee will be the one responsible for hiring a new athletic director. He is somebody who is going to engage with the appropriate stakeholders and make that decision.
--In discussions with the search firm, they expect that timeline. It may be further, but they expect that it will be sough after and have a lot of interest. This search firm was retained by the Big 12 in hiring Brett Yormark but he isn't aware of any previous work with West Virginia.
--Over the past few days Gordon Gee asked him to fill in the role and he told him that if he needed him to do it he would. He works with the board of governors on a number of big picture items. He has helped facilitate when they need to make a big decision. He has a working familiarity with the people in athletics.
--Change is never easy there are a lot of people upset that Shane Lyons will be gone.
--This morning Alsop met with all the staff on zoom so they could get to know him. He had a meeting with senior leadership within the athletic department. He will be meeting with the leader of compliance and human resources to make sure he is up to speed on all issues. He will be involved in the search process.
--Generally speaking Shane Lyons is a great guy and there were people sad. It was late last night and early this morning when coaches are told.
--This isn't the first shoe of two shoes to drop when it comes Neal Brown being let go. The team hasn't given up on the coaches and neither has the administration. They intend during their interim period to support them any way they can. When a new athletic director comes in he will do an evaluation. They are not satisfied with the wins and losses, but they will take an appropriate long term look and make a thoughtful decision moving forward. These decisions are not tied together from a fate perspective.
--Over the past several weeks, everybody has been disappointed with wins and losses. Gee is always looking forward to move the institution and over the past few days this become a serious consideration. They are thoughtful but try to be strategic. Getting somebody in as quickly and thoughtful as they can is critical.
--Conference realignment, a number of court cases have changed the dynamic and they've seen changes in rules with the transfer portal. Ongoing conversation about college athletics and it hasn't really washed ashore on what those changes can be. An athletic director must be multi-faceted.
--Alsop believes that West Virginia is in a strong position and they have a strong fan base that he hopes they are out Saturday afternoon with a ranked opponent coming to town. West Virginia has a great brand and number of attributes that will make them attractive moving forward. They have a loyal set of donors and fans and the resources to be competitive moving forward.
--One of the factors moving forward will be a business mindset.
--He will do everything he can to assist the coaches during this time. He has a working familiarity with the athletic department. He realizes that somebody is going to take his position but he wants to improve upon the strong foundation here. Shane Lyons was a great man and a great leader and did a lot to elevate athletics. He is aware of the great tradition that West Virginia university has and this will be a sought after job and he anticipates it will be filled with a great candidate. He likes to win and succeed and they want to be driven and work toward that goal.
--The past few years of college athletics have seen a lot of change from the portal to NIL to conference realignment. President Gordon Gee decided that with this ever-changing landscape it would be a good idea to find a fresh perspective. Gee believed that a fresh perspective at this time.
--Alsop is not a candidate for the permanent job.
--West Virginia has asked the search firm to cast a wide net for the right fit. They want somebody who understands and knows the team that is here and the culture that's been developed and they will continue on the trajectory of empowering individuals. They want somebody to be innovative and thoughtful. Their brand, history and tradition is impressive but they are not a major media market so in some things they will need to punch above their weight class so they need somebody that is going to be innovative.
--President Gordon Gee will be the one responsible for hiring a new athletic director. He is somebody who is going to engage with the appropriate stakeholders and make that decision.
--In discussions with the search firm, they expect that timeline. It may be further, but they expect that it will be sough after and have a lot of interest. This search firm was retained by the Big 12 in hiring Brett Yormark but he isn't aware of any previous work with West Virginia.
--Over the past few days Gordon Gee asked him to fill in the role and he told him that if he needed him to do it he would. He works with the board of governors on a number of big picture items. He has helped facilitate when they need to make a big decision. He has a working familiarity with the people in athletics.
--Change is never easy there are a lot of people upset that Shane Lyons will be gone.
--This morning Alsop met with all the staff on zoom so they could get to know him. He had a meeting with senior leadership within the athletic department. He will be meeting with the leader of compliance and human resources to make sure he is up to speed on all issues. He will be involved in the search process.
--Generally speaking Shane Lyons is a great guy and there were people sad. It was late last night and early this morning when coaches are told.
--This isn't the first shoe of two shoes to drop when it comes Neal Brown being let go. The team hasn't given up on the coaches and neither has the administration. They intend during their interim period to support them any way they can. When a new athletic director comes in he will do an evaluation. They are not satisfied with the wins and losses, but they will take an appropriate long term look and make a thoughtful decision moving forward. These decisions are not tied together from a fate perspective.
--Over the past several weeks, everybody has been disappointed with wins and losses. Gee is always looking forward to move the institution and over the past few days this become a serious consideration. They are thoughtful but try to be strategic. Getting somebody in as quickly and thoughtful as they can is critical.
--Conference realignment, a number of court cases have changed the dynamic and they've seen changes in rules with the transfer portal. Ongoing conversation about college athletics and it hasn't really washed ashore on what those changes can be. An athletic director must be multi-faceted.
--Alsop believes that West Virginia is in a strong position and they have a strong fan base that he hopes they are out Saturday afternoon with a ranked opponent coming to town. West Virginia has a great brand and number of attributes that will make them attractive moving forward. They have a loyal set of donors and fans and the resources to be competitive moving forward.
--One of the factors moving forward will be a business mindset.
