For months, the University of Colorado was the school that could do nothing right. Every aspect – its sports programs, academic programs and campus life – seemed to generate controversy.
There were lurid allegations of sex, booze and football recruiting. Over-the- top partying. An alcohol-related death of a student. Sharp tuition hikes. Painful budget cuts. And who can forget Ward Churchill?
Then, 10 days ago, the chosen successor to women’s basketball coach Ceal Barry snubbed the school three hours before the news conference to announce his hiring.
That snub may someday be seen as CU’s turning point. We certainly hope so.
Within 48 hours, CU managed to close the deal on two other very important hires that should help the school turn the corner. Former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, now head of the philanthropic Daniels Fund, was appointed president, while hometown success story Mike Bohn signed on as athletic director.
Both men seem to be the right people at the right time for CU, and we hope their tenures will usher in a new era of openness, integrity and academic excellence.
Brown, with experience as a university president at Northern Colorado, is one of the state’s elder statesmen and brings instant credibility and stature to a job that needs both. The incumbent, Elizabeth Hoffman, is a hugely talented academic administrator who was ill-suited to the troubleshooting that came to dominate her time.
Brown is well-respected by Democrats and most certainly by Republicans, who have lobbed shots at CU from the governor’s office and statehouse. He will get the benefit of doubt from the faculty, and can earn their trust by acting quickly and decisively when making high-profile decisions.
“First and foremost, he needs to restore public confidence in the university,’ said regent Michael Carrigan. “He does that by pursuing transparency and accountability at every turn.’
As someone not steeped in the academic culture of CU, he also should be allowed some breathing room to make difficult personnel decisions. Everyone wants to see Brown succeed, which should make it easier to make the upcoming tough decisions.
Bohn already has made a good first impression. When Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s basketball coach Kevin Borseth left CU standing at the altar, the incident could have joined CU’s long list of embarrassments. But Bohn wouldn’t let it.
Borseth’s unease with CU meant he wasn’t right for the job, Bohn said calmly. CU will find the right candidate, he said. There’s no rush.
One of Bohn’s first duties will be to assess football coach Gary Barnett, the only major figure from last year’s recruiting mess left standing. Hoffman announced her resignation earlier this spring, and athletic director Dick Tharp stepped down last November. CU-Boulder chancellor Richard Byyny left for greener pastures, as executive director of a new health policy center at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora.
If Bohn thinks Barnett is the right person to lead the Buffaloes, he needs to say why and put the program’s uncertainty to rest. If not, he needs to make the change. He’ll face tremendous pressure from both sides because the constituency supporting Barnett is as strong as those who want him gone yesterday.
Bohn’s greatest task will be changing the good old boys culture that’s permeated the athletic department. Winning is important, but if it’s not done with integrity, as we’ve witnessed, it hurts the school in countless ways.
Brown and Bohn have accepted difficult jobs, but they can’t reverse CU’s fortunes on their own. We hope the entire university community will pitch in to move CU forward.
