Candidate #3 (MSU's associate AD) Hollis

[Guest BasketBull.]

Positives

1) Ideas, ideas, and more ideas: Running a huge athletics program requires innovation, especially at USF. We are in a very large market and we must tap into those resources.

2)

"My No. 1 selling point is to put USF on a national scale."

This is what's it's all about if we are to be a contender in the Big East -with an athletic program in the black.

3)

Since Hollis arrived at Michigan State in 1995, he said the school has increased ticket revenue 39 percent, licensing revenue 146 percent and television exposure 60 percent.

Hollis also said he's helped the Spartans secure five bowl bids in the past 10 years.

"I'm one of the best in the country getting [a school] into a bowl game,'' Hollis said. "Maybe too good of a bowl because the result is we've gotten beaten pretty bad a few times.''

He said after a team is eligible, "it then becomes a negotiating process. When you start getting these opportunities, you have to go through every marketing trick you can to get that [large] number [of fans]. Because when the next bowl is looking, they'll want to know what you did at [the last] bowl.''

Success at Michigan State is essential: Bringing in the bacon is what's it all about!

Negatives

1) Nothing is mentioned of his leadership plans.

(But we all know who wears the pants at USF. And she's done a great job, so no complaints here.)

2) Talkers scare me ---a spillover from basketball promises of the past.

3) Why didn't he get those jobs when he was an AD finalist for Michigan State (2002) and Pittsburgh (2003)?

But being finalists in the past make him that much more favorable.

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BasketBull's Take

I give him an 8.5 out of ten. Basically, he has been helping MSU to bring home the bacon for a long time. I think this is the person we need desperately at this juncture. Whatever leadership shortcomings he may have (I'm not saying that he has them), our president will take care of that.

I'll take it one step further:

HIRE THIS GUY!

[Apis Bull]

I am confident that our administration will choose the right person for the job.

[Markeymark]

I like these quotes from the Trib article:

When Mark Hollis learned the University of South Florida needed an athletic director, he didn't waste any time.

Less than two weeks after Lee Roy Selmon resigned, Hollis' resume was among the first three received by USF.

"Call it overzealous, overanxious or enthusiasm,'' Hollis said. "You identify places: Where would you like to go? USF is one of those places.

"The next five to 10 years at USF is critical. To have an impact on it would be incredible.''

http://bulls.tbo.com/bulls/MGA5616TUTD.html

[TyBull]

If I had a vote..... (dangerous thought).....

Hollis is the Man!

[Ricky the Bull]

I like these quotes from the Trib article:

http://bulls.tbo.com/bulls/MGA5616TUTD.html

Call it overzealous?

How about calling it a chance to get out of East Lansing, MI for sunny Florida!

I'm kinda with BB on the negatives.  While I think he's a great "idea guy", I wish I could read more on his leadership ability and experience.

If leadership is lacking, I'm thinking I'd like him in the marketing department instead of running the entire organization.

As others have mentioned, I trust the committee to choose the best candidate as I'm sure they have a lot more information than we do.

[bigbull]

Hollis sounds like the guy.....Wow the ideas and what he says he can do....Gotta love it....He is the man

[Guest sparty]

Bulls.....

Mark Hollis is a good guy and will be a steal for your University if you can get him.  He runs a first class marketing and promotions operation and directs a quality staff.  The major events he is credited with directing and his day-to-day successes didn't happen without the efforts of many people on his staff, in the local community, the state of Michigan and in most cases with the cooperation of conference and national committees.  All of that takes leadership.  He has the leadership skills, the ideas and the work ethic to make any athletic department successful.  Plus the guy has connections with TV and bowl committees.  We will be sad to see Mark move on, but happy for him all the same.

[fidbuc]

It may because I am slanted toward the business perspective, but Hollis has my vote as of now. I don't know what the committee is hearing, but his responses that have hit the media are head and shoulders above the previous candidates, IMHO. As far as question of leadership, I think that the opportunity will breed a leader.

[bulls96go]

can't knock a guy who WANTS to come here?

and his eyes are popping out when he sees our future

now the SETH factor is all that woories me

[Papa_Bull]

We should know soon enough. The search committee makes its recommendation on Thursday. :

Hollis wants to raise USF's image

During his interview, Michigan State associate AD stresses his contacts and ability to promote big events.

By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer

Published May 5, 2004

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TAMPA - Big-name, national football programs coming to Raymond James Stadium every year.

An annual, heavily marketed basketball game at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Nike everywhere, blanketing South Florida's athletic programs.

Mark Hollis has grand ideas for boosting USF's prestige, and the finalist for the school's athletic director position shared them with the search committee Tuesday.

"The (USF) athletic department is unknown on a national level," Hollis said. "I have the ability to take South Florida and put it on the national stage."

He has a background of achieving such lofty goals. As the marketing specialist at Michigan State, Hollis created the highest attended hockey and basketball games.

The Cold War at Spartan Stadium and BasketBowl at Ford Field each drew more than 70,000. His latest project is a basketball game on an aircraft carrier in 2005. Also, MSU football, basketball and hockey have sold out for the past five years.

Thus when Hollis, 41, says he could "bring in Notre Dame tomorrow" for a non-conference football game with the Big East-bound Bulls, it resonates.

"I can immediately provide some national contacts," said Hollis, who said he would push to have USF play host to Big East championship events. "You get in that door with the relationships you've built."

Hollis gave a 35-minute PowerPoint demonstration featuring images of USF and projections for its athletic development. He also detailed his achievements as an assistant commissioner in the Western Athletic Conference and associate AD at Pittsburgh before becoming associate AD at MSU, where he has been for 10 years.

Cooperative arrangements with the Buccaneers, Lightning and Devil Rays are a high priority.

"You want to develop those partnerships," said Hollis, who had an image of himself playing goaltender at a Detroit Red Wings practice. "I believe you need to be part of the pro teams and part of the local corporations."

Hollis, who has an MBA from Colorado, negotiated General Motors' largest college sports marketing agreement and bowl matchups for Michigan State, and he touted his connections with Nike. (USF has some Nike agreements but not a blanket deal.)

"A relationship with Nike can get you into almost every retail market in the world," Hollis said. "The return has been astonishing."

Hollis is the third of four finalists. Doug Woolard, the Saint Louis AD, meets with the search committee at 2:30 p.m. today. It will choose Lee Roy Selmon's successor Thursday. The committee's choice will need final approval from president Judy Genshaft.

[Last modified May 5, 2004, 01:00:41]