Inside: Davies introduces new AD, talks MAC football
On Tuesday morning Central Michigan University announced Amy Folan would be taking over the reins as
Director of Athletics going forward, putting an end to a national search that lasted nearly two months.
Folan comes to CMU from the University of
Texas at Austin where she was executive senior associate athletics director since 2012. Most recently she oversaw athletic fundraising and the ticket office.
She will start at CMU on Oct. 5 and is the eighth CMU Director of Athletics since 1940. She replaces Michael Alford who took a job at Florida State earlier this summer. Current interim Director of Athletics Rachel Blunt will remain in the interim role until Folan starts.
Central Michigan University President Bob Davies said the university and Folan are still negotiating her contract, but added its likely to be a four-year deal worth $290,000 annually.
In all, Davis said around 70 individuals applied for the job.
Moreover, Davies also discussed the current state of Mid-american Conference football going forward. As it stands all fall sports at MAC institutions are currently in limbo, yet that could change in the near future.
Just last weekend MAC Presidents spoke about the possibility of bringing football back.
“As you know the Mid-american Conference Presidents had a meeting (this) past Saturday, we discussed a wide-range of elements with regards to fall football,” said Davies. “The possibility of that is still being discussed throughout this week”
The main issues are making sure the MAC has the proper protocol in place when it comes to protecting its studentathletes, coaches, etc. Moreover, each MAC institution, will have to have the proper testing capacity and materials on site in order for football to return.
“Those discussions will continue and we will come to a decision very quickly on that, to proceed or not to proceed,” said Davies.
In recent months CMU has cut salaries within its athletic department, and across the board for that fact. Additionally, the men’s track and field program was cut earlier this summer.
These budgetary cuts were in direct response to the uncertainty cast forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. Davies said there would be no more cuts to the athletic program.
Now, in terms of potentially having MAC football play out this fall, well that decision should be rendered later this week and at the latest by Monday.
On paper it might sound like a great idea, however it’s a stretch because the MAC doesn’t have the financial leverage that Power Five conferences the likes of the Big Ten, SEC, ACC have.
MAC football programs depend on filling the athletic budget coffers via earlyseason non-conference games, and since there were no non-conference games to fill the coffers in 2020 every MAC institution lost millions in potential income.
If football were to return it would have to be conference-only games.
Stay tuned.