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agree it's critical. the confluence of a new MBB on the horizon & NIL & fund-raising shot in the arm are the 3 things an AD has to succeed at.

I put the Pyramid structure in a separate category. While the AD will bear some responsibility, frankly that's a University Infrastructure issue under the President. The AD will want a new roof like the last roof, however it becomes from either a) rebuild, b) demolision, c) new type of roof is frankly outside the ability of the AD to execute. especially if it's a $50 mil project as we've been told which in that case an augmented naming arraingement/ sponsorhips/Trustee involvement will be needed for that type of infrastructure. as an aide, I'm assuming (?) repairs/patches over the summer are in process due to the WVB, MVB Big West tourneys and the NCAAs next year? I can't imagine they are not, otherwise we'd be hearing about request to move those events out of Long Beach? I believe, I hope correctly, that that budget for Pyramid infrasture is separate than the AD budget.

As to a Baseketball-centric AD, I don't know what that means, the AD is the AD, hiring a quality basektball coach doesn't mean we need a basketball - centric individual. In fact they could be detached. The right coach is key, which a competent AD that knows how to hire is the key.

The AD has to be more than simply rounding up existing donors and keeping them happy. THey have to understand marketing and unlike Fee or Conoley, have to understand marketing is not coming up with and changing new branding gimmicks. It's hard work. Draw a 15 mil radius around LBSU, and make a plan, that is where attendance comes from. Every coach has to be part of outreach, ESPECIALLY MBB. The loss of Beach on 2nd Street is one more branding/outreach loss. LBSU attendance #s are driven 90-95% within that 15 mile radius with a population of 2 to 2.5 million!! It's a huge market. LBSU on-line streaming, and incrementing that adertising revene with streaming, and improvements to streaming revenue are huge as well. It'll be hard, the person has to be dedicated to LBSU, has to leverage maybe some student talent to assist at expanded intern levels, has to develop NEW relationships, NEW relationships in the Long Beach business community and city. Combined with winning, that's what'll drive clicks, money, and attendance.

There is the right candidate, who I hope gets hired. The UC Riverside AD? sorry, not another incestuous UC/Cal State system flunky looking for a career stepping-stone to claim credit for stuff they really didn't do, on the backs of our great coaches.

UC Riverside's best player just left. why?, UC Riverside has to crack the NIL nut like LB has to help facilitate to some degree.

Of course there are limits, but there are also going to be great candidates, if they don't get swayed by 'fluff' & buzzword qualifications on the resumes.

After Oahu, Long Beach is the #1 city in the Big West identifiable with the University. It's always been an advantage. Even with USC/UCLA that pervade SoCal, Long Beach should be able to have distinguish itself and have a niche it can SELL to the city/region. It's not an either/or,

yes, UCSD is in San Diego but is NOT the university (SDSU & USD) soley identifiable, like Long Beach is.

40 years ago, Long Beach was a black and white student university. Now it's an Asian-AMerican and Hispanic dominated university in demographics, so the AD has to take advantage of that. Understanding that dynamic to identify Beach with that dominating demographic (along with the old black/white demographic) is huge. It doesn't require some PC type efforts, it requires marketing to those that in 5-10 years will support Beach along with legacy demographics. Heck, do broadcasts in english and spanish (ok, maybe not), the next AD needs to think about how to expand.