Report: Jim Hackett on his way out as Athletic Director

Jim Hackett is reportedly on his way out as the Interim Athletic Director at Michigan. The school will begin its search for a permanent AD.

Sources have told the Detroit Free Press that Michigan Interim Athletic Director Jim Hackett will likely be stepping down, possibly as soon as this month, once the university targets and hires a permanent AD.

Hackett has been the interim athletic director since Oct. 31, 2014, when Dave Brandon resigned under growing pressure from the students, fans and alumni.

It’s really no surprise that Hackett isn’t expected to be a candidate for the permanent position; he’s made his stance well known.

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“When I took this job, it was clearly as interim AD,” Hackett said a month into his role.

He even signed the school’s new deal with Nike by writing the world “interim.”

Hackett has mostly been dealing with the larger issues, staying away from the day-to-day operations of the department. He brought on former Oregon State athletic director Bob DeCarolis as a consultant, though Hackett said at the time that DeCarolis isn’t a candidate for the permanent position.

Should Hackett stay on through Michigan football‘s bowl game, his largest remaining task will be determining Jim Harbaugh’s deferred compensation. Harbaugh’s contract was left open-ended. The status of the program will be reviewed, and from there a decision will be made on the deferred compensation.

Hackett has done tremendous work for athletics at Michigan during his year-plus as the interim athletic director.

He of course fired Brady Hoke following last season and then executed a brilliant target-and-capture of Harbaugh from the 49ers.

He also landed the aforementioned deal with Nike, which will kick off next summer. It’s considered to be the largest apparel deal in history, lasting 11 years for a total of $122.3 million. The school will have an option to extend it four more years when that time comes.

Then there was the extension of Michigan basketball coach John Beilein through the 2020-21 season.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Hackett’s time at Michigan is his stance on buyouts of contracts.

Michigan Wolverines

“[I] “felt the buyouts, for coaches who want to leave as an incentive to stay, is a dumb idea,” Hackett said in February. “So if he wants to go, we’ve asked him to give us notice, more than a week. It will give me time, or whoever’s in my spot, to conduct a wide (search). I’d hate to make this reference, but it feels to me like indentured servitude.”

Through it all, Hackett was adorned by the Michigan faithful for his dedication and execution through some of the darker times in recent history.

Update

Michigan president Mark Schlissel announced Wednesday morning that a national search for the university’s next athletic director has been launched, and Hackett will not be a candidate for the position.

“Jim does not wish to be considered for the permanent AD role,” Schlissel said in the release. “I have asked him to serve on the search advisory committee because he knows well what is required for the position to be successful. Great university citizen that he is, Jim has agreed to stay on until a permanent successor is in place.”

On the search committee will be: Liz Barry (special counsel to President Schlissel), Anne Curzan (university professor and faculty athletic representative), Corinne Harris (undergraduate student, co-captain of women’s track), Kevin Hegarty (U-M executive vice president and chief financial officer), Dr. Stefan G. Humphries (alumnus, former U-M and professional football player and medical director at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital in Reno, Nevada) and Carol Hutchins (women’s softball coach).

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the University of Michigan and President Schlissel,” Hackett said in the release. “This past year has been incredibly rewarding both personally and professionally, we have accomplished many great things.”

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Michigan will be using Turnkey Search to assist with the search. The university will pay Turnkey $150,000 plus expenses.