RPI turns to firm in coach search
Parker Executive Search not experienced in hockey hires; Nanne to graduate early
TROY>> When RPI announced it had fired head coach Seth Appert after 11 seasons, they included that the school hired Parker Executive Search to assist in finding a replacement all in the same press release.
Parker Executive Search has boasted in assisting 36 sports executive hires, 79 athletic director hires, 5 associate AD hires, 27 head football coach hires, 48 head basketball coach hires, 2 baseball coach hires and one golf coach hire. Most of these hires are at the col- lege level.
Not once has Parker, according to its website, assisted with the hire of a hockey coach. The only hockey connection the firm has is assisting in the hire of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association commissioner.
“I’m not going to get into the details of that,” Athletic Director Dr. Lee McElroy said of why he chose Parker. “That’s a university matter. I will tell you this, whenever you enter into any kind of search, you want to always be prepared to get a comprehensive and extensive a process as you can.”
According to an ESPN article published in 2013 that took an inside look at Parker Executive search, the main draw to their services is a database. The article detailed that this database has salary information, academic track record, any past coaching ties, and even videos of his or her press conferences.
That, the ESPN piece said, is why clients will often pay $60,000 to $90,000 for Parker’s services. This database helps find logical and feasible fits for its clients. It is unclear if Parker has that same exhaustive database for hockey coaches even though it’s never assisted in a hockey hire.
Parker Executive Search didn’t
respond to an email request for comment.
Dr. McElroy wouldn’t go into any details of why he chose Parker Executive Search. The firm also helps coordinate interviews, conducts background checks and verifies credentials.
“The process is moving along well,” McElroy said. “And we’re working very hard to arrive at our final outcome. And that to me, is the parameters of it.”
There has been no hire made in the three weeks since Appert’s dismissal. Dr. McElroy has been the athletic director at RPI for
two years, during which time RPI has a combined 26- 43- 8 record in men’s ice hockey. He was previously the AD at UAlbany. Parker lists UAlbany Athletic Director as a position it assisted in filling. It is unclear if they assisted in getting McElroy hired at UAlbany or if that is in relation to assisting in the hire of current AD Mark Benson.
Instead of answering questions about why he chose a search firm with no experience in hockey, Dr. McElroy chose to speak about his credentials in using search firms. He said he’s participated in four search committees at UAlbany, and seen different firms used each time.
Parker Executive was recently paid $80,000 to help find a head coach at Missouri, the Kansas City Star reported. Indiana used it for its men’s basketball coaching search as well. They’re popular this time of year with the basketball coaching carousel.
But there’s nothing to suggest they bring the same expertise to the hockey realm. And there’s no answers from the RPI AD as to why the choice was made.
Also of Note
RPI junior Lou Nanne announced that he will graduate with a degree in Biomedical Engineering in the spring and forego his final season of eligibil-
ity. He is the grandson of Lou Nanne, who is in the U. S. Hockey Hall of Fame. The younger Nanne played at RPI for three years. The forward scored three goals and had eight assists in 35 games this season for the Engineers.
He was taken with the seventh pick by the Minnesota Wild in the NHL Entry Draft in 2012.
“I viewed hockey as a way to have some fun, stay in shape, meet some amazing guys and attain an education,” Nanne said in a post on Twitter. “That is exactly what I have done... It was an honor playing for the Engineers but it will be an even bigger honor receiving my diploma from them.”