The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Wedesday, January 6, 2010 - 3A
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wedeaday, January 6, 2010 - 3A
NEWS BRIEFS
ANN ARBOR
Patrick Doyle
named Domino s
new CEO
Domino's Pizza Inc. has named
a new CEO to replace David Bran-
don, who is stepping down to
become athletic director at the
University of Michigan.
The pizza delivery chain says
45-year-old Patrick Doyle will
replace Brandon. Doyle joined
the company in 1997 and has been
president of Domino's USA since
2007. Before that he was an execu-
tive at Gerber Products Co.
The 57-year-old Brandon will
stay on with Domino's as a special
adviser for the rest of the year and
will become the pizza chain's non-
executive chairman. Brandon was
the second-ever leader of the com-
pany that was founded in 1960 by
Tom Monaghan.
Domino's says details about the
transition will be completed over
the next several weeks and voted
on at the company's Feb. 24 board
meeting.
LANSING
Mich. dealing with
union reluctance
on schools bid
Michigan officials are hoping
that union hesitance to endorse
new school reforms won't hurt
the state's bid to win more federal
education money.
Local superintendents, school
board presidents and union presi-
dents are being asked to sign
memoranda of understanding
related to the state's efforts to win
up to $400 million in the Obama
administration's Race to the Top
competition. The state wants the
documents this week to include
them in an application due to the
federal government Jan. 19.
Teachers unions are advising
against signing the documents
until they get a better handle on
what will be in the application.
State schools chief Mike Flana-
gan said Tuesday the state will
accept memoranda without union
signatures. But he acknowledged
that could weaken the state's
chances to win the cash.
LANSING
Lansing lawmakers
to discuss budget
process
A bipartisan group of lawmak-
ers from the Lansing area wants
to speed up the state government
budget process and make it easier
for the public to follow.
Three Republicans and two
Democrats from the state House
are scheduled to discuss new leg-
islation related to the state budget
process on Tuesday.
Their proposal calls for making
some aspects of determining state
revenue estimates and target setting
for budget appropriations subject to
Michigan's Open Meetings Act.
The budget process has come
under more scrutiny because state
lawmakers have missed the annual
Oct. 1 budget-balancing deadline
twice in the past three years.
Lawmakers backing the new leg-
islation say they want to make the
budget target-setting process less
secretive.
WASHINGTON
Chairman doubts
Republicans can
retake House
GOP Chairman Michael Steele
thinks Republicans have "screwed
up" for the most part in the years
since Ronald Reagan was presi-
dent. And, he adds in an interview
on the heels of his new book's
release, Republicans won't win
back the House in fall elections
and might not be ready to lead
even if they do.
That forecast of failure sparked
a pushback Tuesday at the GOP's
own National Republican Congres-
sional Committee, whose aim is to
elect Republicans, and delight at its
counterpart, the Democratic Con-
gressional Campaign Committee.
Asked Monday by talk-show
host Sean Hannity if Republicans
can regain the House in Novem-
ber, Steele said, "Not this year." He
6 added: "I don't know yet, because
I don't know all the candidates
yet. We still have some vacancies
that need to get filled, but then the
question we need to ask ourselves
is, if we do that, are we ready?"
- Compiled from
Daily wire reports
BRANDON
From Page 1A
ment throughout the University's
administration, Coleman said she
felt financial management would
continue to be an increasingly
important area of focus for the Ath-
letic Department. She added that
Brandon's business background
would enable him to handle the
department's finances well.
Coleman also said she was
impressed with the responses Bran-
don gave during interviews for the
job.
"One of the things that David
talked about during his interviews
was really quite intriguing - how to
enhance our fan experience," Cole-
man said.
"There are all sorts of things we
need to be looking at for the future
because people are going to have
choices about what they do with
their leisure time and we want to
keep people connected to the Uni-
versity," Coleman said, adding that
athletics is a key way to keep people
active in the University community.
Additionally, Coleman said she
was impressed with Brandon's
desire to better align the Athletic
Department with the University's
academic mission.
"We're building pretty good
bridges already, but we could
strengthen those bridges," Coleman
said of the relationship between ath-
letics and academics.
However, Coleman admitted that
though she valued Brandon's busi-
ness savvy, it was ultimately his
demonstrated ability to unite peo-
ple behind a common purpose that
impressed her most.
"I was very intrigued by that sort
of quality that he has to bring out the
best in people and move organiza-
tions forward," she said. "That ulti-
mately iswhat persuaded me that he
could take those skills into the set-
ting of intercollegiate athletics."
Looking to the future, Coleman
said she believes Brandon will be
able to strengthen the University's
relationship with the NCAA and the
Big Ten Conference.
"I've talked tohimaboutmy desire
for him to become really engaged
with the issues of the Big Ten con-
ference and also at the NCAA,"
Coleman said. "I'd like Michigan to
have a seat at the table when a lot of
those decisions are made and Dave
Brandon will be, I think, avery pow-
erful voice for Michigan."
Though the final selection was
Coleman's and hers alone, a small
committee -including Provost Tere-
sa Sullivan, Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer Tim Slot-
tow, Michigan basketball coach John
Beilein, Education Prof. and faculty
athletic representative to the Big 10
and NCAA Percy Bates and Direc-
tor of the Life Sciences Institute Liz
Barry - was formed to advise her on
possible replacements.
Briefing members of the press
from the athletic director's confer-
ence room in Weidenbach Hall,
Brandon expressed his excitement
for the new position.
"I'm the athletic director of the
University of Michigan. I'm proud to
do that," Brandonsaid. "I've commit-
ted to the University for a minimum
of five years and I hope that gets
extended. This is whatI want to do."
Asked about his role at Domino's,
Brandon said he was happy with his
decision to move to the University's
athletic department.
"I can't think of many jobs in the
world that I would pick up and leave
that great company and great brand
for, but this is one," Brandon said.
"I love the University of Michigan,
I loved it when I was here as a stu-
dent-athlete, I've been connected to
it ever since in one-way or another."
Brandon told reporters that he
would carry over his work ethic as
a CEO to the University's Athletic
Department.
"I'm not Don Canham, I'm notBo
Schembechler, I'm Dave Brandon,"
he said. "I'll bring my life experi-
ences to thisjob and I'll work harder
than any athletic director has ever
worked to be successful."
Brandon said it was too soon to
speculate on specific changes he
might make to the department, but
he said he would focus on unifying
and strengtheningthe department's
activities.
"Every business that I have led
has been number one in its category
or number one in the industry that it
competes in. I don't know any other
way," Brandonsaid. "I want the Ath-
letic Department at the University
of Michigan to be number one in the
nation in terms of talent, in terms of
accomplishment, in terms of success
in all the ways success can be mea-
sured. That's what I'll be working
towards."
However, Brandon also alluded
to his interest in furthering Mar-
tin's legacy for the Athletic Depart-
ment by continuing to renovate and
expand the University's athletic
facilities.
"There are big plans underway
to put the expansion in place and
the practice facilities," he said. "I've
seen a little bit about what those
plans are about, they look exciting.
They're long overdue."
Brandon specifically referenced
plans underway to make facility
improvements to Yost Ice Arena and
Crisler Arena, sayinghe was excited
about the opportunities.
"I'm aguywho understandswhat it
meansto be a Michigan man. I under-
stand the traditions of this place, I
understand the important role (the
Athletic Department)playsinthe Uni-
versity community and I think that
understanding and that grounding
that I have in this job will be an asset
in thisjob," Brandon told reporters.
Martin released a statement this
morning congratulating Brandon on .
being selected as his successor.
"I applaud Mary Sue Coleman for
making such an outstanding selec-
tion," Martin wrote in the state-
ment. "Dave has all the skills to run
Michigan Athletics. He's a former
Michigan athlete, an extremely suc-
cessful businessman, he served the
University as a regent so he under-
stands the internal workings and we
won't miss a beat."
Martin continued: "He'll certain-
ly move us forward. I'm very, very
pleased and I look forward to work-
ing with him in a very orderly and
smooth transition."
Associate Athletic Director Lloyd
Carr, formerly Michigan's football
coach, told the Daily in an interview
yesterday that he was excited about
Brandon's appointment.
"The University of Michigan Ath-
letic Director historicallyhas played
an important role not only in our
institution, but nationally as well,"
Carr said. "I think David brings a
breadth of experience in so many
different areas and that experience,
I think, is going to enable him to be a
great leader here."
Carr said he felt the decision
would be good not only for the ath-
letic department, but for the Univer-
sity as a whole.
"What comes across if you talk
to (Brandon) is great passion for the
University of Michigan," he said.
"He went to school here ... and was
a regent and he's done a lot of things
to improve the University so we're
all excited."
Michigan football coach Rich
Rodriguez echoed Martin's and
Carr's comments in a statement
released this morning.
"We are very excited that Dave
will be leading our athletic depart-
ment," Rodriguez wrote. "He has
been a successful leader in business
and I'm sure all of our teams will
benefit from his experience."
John Beilein, head coach of the
men's basketball program, also
released astatement this morning in
support of Brandon's selection.
"This is great news for the Uni-
versity of Michigan and our athletic
department," Beilein wrote. "There
was no question in my mind after
the interview process that David
Brandon is the right fit to lead our
program at thistime and in the years
to come."
Softball coach Carol Hutchins
agreed with Rodriguez.
"Clearly, DavidBrandon haslong-
standing ties to this University, and
he is an upstanding member of the
University community, the Ann
Arbor community and the state of
Michigan," Hutchins wrote in a
statement. "I am certain that Mary
Sue Coleman has found someone
committed to upholding the tradi-
tions of Michigan athletics."
In an interview this morning,
Regent Andrew Richner (R-Grosse
Pointe Park) praised Brandon's
selection.
"In my opinion, President Mary
Sue Coleman has chosen the perfect
person for the job," Richner said. "I
think Dave willbringinnovationand
new and fresh ideas to the depart-
ment. We're excited and thrilled to
have him joining our team."
Richner explained that he feels
Brandon's experience as a CEO and
his continued involvement with the
University makes Brandon the right
person for the job.
"A modern-day athletic depart-
ment is in fact a large and complex
organization, especially at a major
university like the University of
Michigan," Richner said. "As such,
the kind of skills to lead such an
organization are really those in line
with those of a CEO."
HesaidthoughMartinhasdone a
tremendous job while at the Univer-
sity, he believes Brandon willbe able
to not only carry on Martin's work,
but also expand on it.
"I think Bill Martin has done a
phenomenal job for us at the Univer-
sity with managing the construc-
tion projects and expansion of our
athletic campus. I can't think of a
better person tohave led the athletic
department during this period in
our history," Richner said. "We are
fortunate to have had Bill Martin
in that position and we're fortunate
to have a very able successor to Bill
Martin's legacy in Dave Brandon.
"I think he'll be able to build upon
a strong legacy at the University of
Michigan of having effective lead-
ership in our Athletic Department,"
Richner continued. "He brings adif-
ferent skill set in some ways and I
think we'll add to our tradition, we'll
build on our tradition."
Summing up Brandon's selection,
Richner said, "It is a good day for
Michigan."
Reflecting on his time as a
student-athlete at the University,
Brandon joked with reporters ear-
lier today about his time in the early
1970s as defensive end under leg-
endary Michigan football coach Bo
Schembechler.
"I tell people I got two degrees
from the University of Michigan,"
Brandon said. "The second one was
a degree from the Bo Schembechler
School of Leadership."
Brandonsaid he learned alot from
Schembechler by observing how he
recruited and managed talent.
"He recruited athletes not just
based on their skills or abilities on
the field, but he recruited charac-
ter and integrity," Brandon said. "I
learned that from him and I trans-
lated it into the way I recruited peo-
ple in my business career."
"He taught me about preparation.
He taught me about competing at
the highest level. He taught me what
intensity was all about," Brandon
continued. "All those qualities that
I learned being a part of the football
program at Michigan were qualities
that transferred very well to being a
leader in business and will transfer
well into being an athletic director."
Brandon was a member of three
Big Ten Championship football
teams and has remained active in
the University community since
graduating from the University in
1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree
in communications. He served as a
University regent from 1998 - 2006
and is co-chair of the fundraising
campaign for the C.S. Mott Chil-
dren'sandVonVoigtlander Women's
Hospital construction project.
Brandonhas also receivedseveral
honors from organizations on cam-
pus - including the Distinguished
Alumni Service Award from the
University's Alumni Association in
2007, the Bennie Oosterbaan Award
from the Bob Ufer Quarterback
Club in 2008 and the CEO Coach of
the Year Award from the American
Football Coaches Association later
that same year.
Brandon also holds honorary doc-
toral degrees from Albion College,
Cleary College, Lawrence Techno-
logical University, Schoolcraft Col-
lege, Walsh College and Central
Michigan University - where he
served as a trustee from1994to 1998.
When thesearch for the next ath-
letic director was launched in Octo-
ber last year, Brandon was widely
rumored to be among the potential
successors. However, at the time,
Brandon would not confirm wheth-
erhe was interested inthe position.
"I am not campaigning for,
against, involved or uninvolved,"
Brandon told the Daily at the time.
"I'm doing what I do for a living and
that is, right now, running my Dom-
ino's Pizza corporation, and that's a
job that I love very much.'
- Daily News Editor Nicole Aber
and Daily Staff ReporteriJoseph
Lichterman contributed to this report.
FULL INTERVIEW
WITH COLEMAN
To read a transcript of the
exclusive interview with
President Coleman, go
to michigandaily.com
PAY INCREASE
From Page 1A
nine scho
of Wisco:
the highi
with $75t
mittee did a compensation study for tion, whi
athletic directors of like programs Eugene S
aroundthe country, andbthe goalwas Guenther
to be competitive with other athletic $600,000
programs of the size and caliber of respective
the University of Michigan," New- directors
man said. "Myunderstanding is that and Nortl
doesn't mean you would be the best- not report
paid athletic directorbutitcertainly Though
meansyou should be at a level where serves on
your peers are." Commissi
According to a report last year Athletics,
by Bloomberg, athletic directors in concernin
the Big Ten conference are the sec- explicitly
and highest compensated - behind in last ni
only the Big 12. Athletic directors Daily, she
in the Big Ten netted an average of ervations
$441,277 in base compensation last being offe
year, while their counterparts in the Newm:
Big 12 earned $470,783 in base sal- person m
ary lastyear. will face
Across the country, Bloomberg sure" as h
found the highest paid athletic his predec
director last year was University "Absol
of Florida Athletic Director Jer- Dave Bra
emy Foley. In 2009, Foley netted think thri
$965,000 in base compensation and man said
cleared $1 million after bonuses. doesn't m
Within the Big Ten conference, job, there
Bloomberg reported that Mar-
tin was the fourth highest-paid
athletic director last year of the
ols surveyed. University
nsin's Barry Alvarez was
est-paid athletic director
0,000 in base compensa-
le Ohio State University's
Smith and Illinois's Ron
earned $648,000 and
in base compensations,
ely. Salaries for the athletic
at Penn State University
hwestern University were
ted in the survey.
h Newman - who also
the board of the Knight
ion on Intercollegiate
which addresses issues
ng college sports - didn't
endorse thesalaryincrease
ight's interview with the
did not express any res-
about the salary increase
red to Brandon.
an said Brandon, like any
oving into the position,
a "huge amount of pres-
he works to fill the shoes of
!cessor.
utely there's pressure on
ndon. This is a guy who I
ives underpressure," New-
. "But are you kidding? It
atter who walked into this
's pressure on that individ-
ual to live up to the standards that
have been set before him by many
and to move forward and to keep the
Athletic Department on a forward
lookingcourse."
When Martin was named athletic
director in 2000, he was burdened
with large deficits, which he quickly
turned into sizable surpluses for the
Athletic Department.
"Bill Martin took over a program
that was in the red and in disarray,"
Newman said last night. "He not
only built the program where we've
been operating since not too long
after he took over, buthe also rebuilt
the athletic campus."
In addition to maintaing or
improving those finances, Brandon
faces a looming NCAA investiga-
tion into Michigan's football pro-
gram, inherits a Michigan football
program at one of the low points
of its history and has a responsi-
bility to finish Martin's vision for
further renovations to athletic
facilities - including Crisler and
Yost Arenas.
On a conference call with
reporters yesterday morning,
Brandon was asked about the
ongoing NCAA investigation
into the Michigan football pro-
gram. The NCAA is currently
investigating allegations that the
Michigan football team violated
NCAA restrictions on the time stu-
dent-athletes are allowed to spend
participating in football related
activities.
Brandon declined to comment,
saying he wasn't in a position to
make anystatements about it.
"I can't really comment, or
wouldn't comment if I could, on the
ongoing investigation," Brandon
told reporters.
"As it relates to the investigation,
we're going to do what Michigan
always does - we're goingto do the
right thing," Brandon said. "If we've
made some mistakes, we'll correct
them, but let's just wait and see how
the investigation pans out."
Though avoiding direct comment
on the NCAA investigation, Bran-
don did make a point to express his
support for Michigan football coach
Rich Rodriguez.
"Rich Rodriguez is the football
coach at the University of Michigan.
(He) has an awesome responsibil-
ity (and) has a proven track record
of winning at the highest levels,"
Brandon said. "I have great respect
for Rich and I look forward to get-
ting to know him better and getting
to work withhim."
Despite the demands he will face,
Newman said she is confident that
Brandon will be up to the challenge.
"I know he's excited about it and
I think we'll look back on this as
another one of President Coleman's
great hires," Newman said. "I feel
great confidence that the Athletic
Department isin the right hands."
I
U-,,l
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