After 3 years, Bill Beekman is out as Michigan State AD

We all wish Bill Beekman the best of good fortune in his future endeavors, but let’s be honest, Bill Beekman will not be missed as Athletic Director because he should have never been appointed permanent AD in the first place.

Let’s remember how we got here: In February 2018, as the Larry Nassar drama was unfolding, then “interim” President, John Engler appointed Bill Beekman “interim” AD arguably to stabilize the Athletic Department after the sudden departure of Mark Hollis. It seemed to be a prudent decision at the time.

Yet Bill Beekman’s role should have never been anything other than “interim”. Engler and Michigan State should have organized a “search committee”, which in turn would have collaborated with a “search firm” and together they should have conducted a coherent national search for a highly skilled and competent AD.

However, a “search committee” was never organized, and a “search firm” was never hired, and shockingly in July 2018, Michigan State’s “interim President” appointed Bill Beekman as permanent AD. Really?

Let’s make this clear, hiring Bill Beekman as permanent AD was arguably amongst the most egregious blunders in Spartan athletic history because the University hired an AD with “Zero” experience.

What in the world was President Engler thinking…and what in the world was the Board of Trustees thinking?

By every single measure, Bill Beekman was totally unqualified to become permanent AD. So, why in the world would one of the world’s largest and most respected Universities, hire a totally inexperienced AD to guide an athletic department with over 700 athletes, in more than 25 sports and a budget of nearly $150 Million? By conventional standards of organizational architecture, that decision was absurd.

It was administrative arrogance at its highest…

After all, what made Michigan State University think the captain of a 747 could be hired from a group of waiting passengers from the passenger lounge? To embellish the point further, the decision to appoint Bill Beekman as permanent AD was tantamount to hiring the Manager of the Student Union to oversee Michigan State’s world famous Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.

The Beekman experiment failed miserably and the facts tell the story: 3 years after taking the helm as AD, 16 of 17 Spartan athletic teams finished in the bottom half of their respective Big Ten standings, while two athletic teams finished “dead last”. More problematically, Bill Beekman was at a loss to correct course or fix the problem.

Instead of guiding Spartan Athletic teams to more championships which would generate enhanced revenue, Bill Beekman decided to cut Swim & Dive, a program with a miniscule operating budget, but that decision fixed nothing. In fact, that action not only didn’t fix the revenue issues, it underscored the ineptness of athletic leadership and decision making.

But there were bigger problems and failures of leadership:

it was rumored late in 2019 that Mark Dantonio might step down, yet Bill Beekman was unprepared.

It’s worth noting, the best executives always have a “short list” of replacement candidates at the ready…succession plans are mandatory…but problematically, Bill Beekman didn’t have a “go to short list”.

Consequently, when Mark Dantonio stepped down, Bill Beekman was caught flat footed, and thereafter stumbled through a succession process.

Let’s remember, it was made public that Bill Beekman would interview Luke Fickell to become Head Football Coach, but there was no preliminary “agreement in principle” with Fickell, which in and of itself was a huge mistake, because Fickell thought it over and then publicly spurned Bill Beekman’s proposal while Spartan stakeholders watched in disbelief.

Thereafter, Bill Beekman and his ad hoc search expedition travelled to Colorado to offer the job to Mel Tucker (once again a meeting was publicly announced without a preliminary “agreement in principle”) and once again, Beekman’s offer was spurned, this time by Mel Tucker, a coach with just one year of head coaching experience: another major embarrassment.

The bungled missteps with Fickell and Tucker was contract negotiations at its worst: two swings and two public misses.

Then Bill Beekman doubled the offer to Mel Tucker and Mel Tucker accepted. Bill Beekman thereby made Mel Tucker, a coach with a 5-7 won/lost record, amongst the Top 15 highest paid coaches in the land. In turn, Mel Tucker suddenly declared that coaching Michigan State Football was his dream job?

Sorry, it was a bungled expedition and a professional embarrassment all the way around. It may turn out OK, but the lack of planning renders an uncertain prognosis for certain.

I wrote about Bill Beekman’s lack of qualifications on May 27…and if you are so inclined, you can read that article in its entirety by clicking on the following link.

This is an opportunity for President Stanley to make his mark and put Michigan State Athletics back on the map:

But what is his plan?

Let’s remember, this past year, 16 of 17 Spartan Athletic teams finished in the bottom half of their respective Big Ten standings, while two teams finished “dead last”: it’s hard to praise leadership with those results. Of course, President Stanley inherited Bill Beekman, but now, President Stanley needs to do what John Engler failed to do…appoint a “Search Committee” and hire a search firm to identify the best AD candidates.

A search firm has been hired, but we have heard nothing regarding a Search Committee which is an extremely important component because their role should be to guide the search firm.

For example, what is the desired profile for Michigan State’s next AD? The profile needs to be clearly articulated to a search firm. Or will Michigan State simply be happy with Bill Beekman 2.0?

The profile is critically important, and I would argue that the model of a desirable AD should would be the likeness of Barry Alvarez or Gene Smith, and it would be hard to argue with the facts (let’s make this clear, I am not proposing Barry Alvarez or Gene Smith as AD candidates, rather I suggest Barry Alvarez and/or Gene Smith are models of AD success to be pursued).

Let’s  take a look at Barry Alvarez…

After a storied career as player, assistant coach, Head Football Coach and AD, Barry Alvarez (who just stepped down as Wisconsin AD) is a model of AD excellence, and he left behind a championship mark at every step.

Barry  Alvarez profile:

• At Nebraska (’65-’67), Alvarez was a starting LB on teams that won two (2) Big Eight Titles and an Orange Bowl
• As an Assistant Coach at Iowa (’79-’86), Alvarez helped guide Iowa to two (2) Big Ten Titles in just 7 years.
• As an Assistant Coach at Notre Dame (’87 & ’89), Alvarez helped guide ND to a record of 20-4, including a National Title.

So, Alvarez experience as player and assistant coach prepared him to take the job as Head Football Coach at Wisconsin in 1990, and he excelled and overcame the odds even though he inherited a veritable mess.

In 5 years preceding Alvarez, Wisconsin compiled an abysmal overall record of just 14-42 (25%), with average attendance of less than 42,000 (half stadium capacity). Prior to Alvarez, Wisconsin was a football joke and every Big Ten teams favorite Homecoming opponent.

Nevertheless, Barry Alvarez had a plan for success at Wisconsin that included recruiting dominant Offensive and Defensive Linemen, and from 1990-2005, Alvarez compiled a record of 120-73-4, including three (3) Big Ten Titles, three (3) Rose Bowl victories, while home game attendance swelled to nearly 90,000 and sell outs at every game.

By 2005, Alvarez was ready to take the next step and he was appointed Wisconsin AD. Thereafter, from 2005 to 2021, Alvarez made his mark across the athletic landscape, and in revenue Sports alone, he hired 3 Football coaches, a basketball coach and a Hockey Coach and each won Big Ten titles.

Immediately below is an overview of Alvarez success in revenue sports:

• Alvarez hired three (3) football coaches who combined to win five (5) Big Ten Division Titles, and two (2) Big Ten Conference Titles.
• Under Alvarez, Wisconsin Basketball won three (3) Big Ten Titles and played in two (2) Final Fours
• Under Alvarez, Wisconsin Hockey won two (2) Big Ten Tournament Championships, one (1) Big Ten Championship, and an NCAA Championship

In brief, Barry Alvarez represents “everything” that Bill Beekman is not, and it’s notable that Wisconsin annually competes for championships across the athletic landscape.

So, if Michigan State hopes to increase revenue and compete at the highest level, then Michigan State needs to hire an AD in the likeness of Barry Alvarez, or perhaps hire an AD in the likeness of Gene Smith at Ohio State.

I won’t go into a long resume review of Gene Smith, AD at Ohio State, but his resume is a successful variation of Barry Alvarez.

Gene Smith profile:

Gene Smith was a player on Notre Dame’s 1973 National Championship Football team.

He then became an Assistant Coach on Notre Dame’s undisputed 1977 National Championship Team, then served as AD at four different universities, climbing the ladder from small to large, including Eastern Michigan (’86-’93), Iowa State (’93-2000); Arizona State (2000-2005); and Ohio State from 2005 to present.

Moreover, as AD at Ohio State over the past 15 years, Gene Smith’s teams have won a remarkable eight (8) National Championships, including a 2014 National Championship in Football.

Most remarkably, as an executive, Gene Smith navigated the turbulent waters that forced Ohio State legend, Jim Tressel, who won a National Championship in 2002, to step down as Head Football Coach after the 2010 season. But Gene Smith was prepared: he surprised the football world by hiring Urban Meyer to take the reins in 2012. Meyer of course had recently stepped down as Florida Head Football Coach after winning a National Title.

Yet, at Ohio State, Urban Meyer didn’t skip a beat: he posted a record of 12-0 his first season, and thereafter posted an overall record of 83-9 including 3 Big Ten Championships and a National Championship in 2014.

Of course, Urban Meyer stepped away from Ohio State after the 2018 season, but once again, Gene Smith was prepared. He had a succession plan and hired Ryan Day, and in just two short years, Ryan Day posted a remarkable overall record of 23-2 including two (2) Big Ten titles and two consecutive invitations to the College Football Playoff.

Gene Smith has earned his stripes and distinguished himself as a championship AD.

While Wisconsin and Ohio State are winning championships under the guidance of competent, dynamic AD’s, on the other hand, Michigan State “spun the wheel of misfortune” and handed the AD baton to Bill Beekman, a general administrator with Zero athletic experience and the results are self-evident.

What’s next?:

What Michigan State doesn’t need is an AD seeking “on the job training”…

Michigan State needs to seek and find a dynamic leader, and it would be fair to argue that Barry Alvarez and/or Gene Smith are prototype “Athletic Executives” and Michigan State needs to seek and hire an AD in their likeness. There are other candidates of course, but the candidate list is small.

Too many times, Michigan State has simply “filled the AD seat” and John Engler appointing Bill Beekman was a prime example.

In fact, since 1954 (nearly 70 years) Michigan State has employed eleven (11) AD’s, yet I would argue only three carried the mantle “dynamic executive” and that included Biggie Munn (1954-1972)…Joe Kearney (1976-1980)…and Mark Hollis (2007-2018).

And that leads me to the Search Committee for Michigan State AD…

Bottom line; who’s on the Search Committee? (here is a hypothetical list)

Hiring the next AD will define President Stanley.

If President Stanley gets it right, it means Spartan athletics will be guided by a dynamic, athletic executive, and that means Spartans Athletics will succeed across the landscape; revenue will increase and charitable donations will become self-fulfilling. Get it wrong, and Michigan State will continue to spin the wheel of exasperation.

Keep in mind, from 1975 until Mark Hollis hired Mark Dantonio prior to 2007 (30+ years), Spartan Football compiled a dismal overall record of 174-177-7, and folks around the country commented “why can’t Michigan State get it right?”. During that time, Michigan State Football only finished in the Top 10 twice.

So, President Stanley needs to form a “Search Committee” to lay out the qualifications for the so called national search firm. In my mind, the “Hypothetical Search Committee” should include individuals in the likeness of those listed below and the committee would be chaired by President Stanley:

• Mark Hollis (President Rocket Mortgage and former Michigan State AD)
• Barry Alvarez (former Wisconsin Head Football Coach and former Wisconsin AD)
• Jim Tressel (current, President, Youngstown State University and former Head Football Coach at Youngstown State University and Ohio State University including four (4) 1-AA Championships at YSU and a National Title at Ohio State.
• Chris Petersen (former coach Boise State and University of Washington-retired)
• Chair; Samuel Stanley (President, Michigan State University)

Does a Search Committee need more representation from Michigan State University? No!

The voices in East Lansing were silent when Michigan State hired Bill Beekman and there is nothing to think that coaches, members of the BOT or others have a clearer vision for the future. Michigan State needs the “eyes and voices” of diversity and success.

Of course, the Hypothetical Search Committee is unlikely to be comprised of those listed above, nevertheless the so called “Search Committee” should be a group of professionals that understand “what it takes” to win at the highest level, because let’s be honest, too many former AD’s at Michigan State were unqualified to win at the highest level.

In closing, it may seem unfair to criticize Bill Beekman, yet he accepted the role and so he owns the results whereby 16 of 17 Spartan Athletic teams finished in the bottom half of their respective Big Ten standings and in a stunning expression of ineptness, Bill Beekman cut Swim & Dive and that diversion tactic “fixed” nothing!.

Michigan State deserves a dynamic leader as AD, so let’s hope President Stanley gets this right.

Thank you for reading.