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TROY, N.Y. >> Many of RPI hockey’s most prominent alumni spoke out in dismay over the state of the program in last Friday’s Troy Record.
Following the announcement of Dave Smith as new hockey coach, RPI president Shirley Ann Jackson addressed alumni accusations that the school isn’t doing enough to engage with alumni or fund the program.
“I know what we have spent here. Even the number I’ve quoted doesn’t capture everything in terms of what we’ve done relative to recruitment. Relative to what we’ve done with athletic supplies and uniforms. The continuing improvements that we’ve made here. With improvements that we had begun before we even went into the phase that I discussed. And with the commitments that we made down the line.
“If people really believe, I invite them to be our partner. I know what I’ve committed to do. And the people who know me, know that I follow through on my commitments. And so, come on along with us.”
The seven alumni that spoke out included the captains of the two national championship teams, a 15-year NHL veteran, and a former RPI head coach. They all said they would have liked to a part of assisting the current program, but haven’t been given that chance.
“The alumni were involved,” Jackson said. “Again, I would invite you to speak with Lee, that there were alumni and hockey alumni who were involved in this process. And we consulted with them, got their input, got their perspectives on people. And they were involved in the search. I don’t know who was in and who was out. I don’t run the searches.”
Another controversy that surrounded the search was the use of the Parker Executive Search. The firm has never assisted in the hire of a hockey coach, and has primarily focuses on athletic directors, basketball and football coaches. When Jackson was asked about the use of this firm, she didn’t delve into any details, and said to focus more on the outcome than the process. Both Jackson and athletic director Lee McElroy said they didn’t know how much it cost to employ Parker Executive Search.
“This firm that was employed, from what I understand, from Dr. McElroy, from our VP of HR, is a firm that has done a lot of work with hiring many sports around the country,” Jackson said. “With all that we have learned about Dave Smith and what people tell us about him and his record, we’ve got a stellar person. I think outcomes are what you have to focus on. I think the outcome of recruiting one of the best coaches around, a person who has already been a head coach, that’s an outcome. And that’s where people need to look.”
Jackson spoke about implementing many changes to the Houston Field House as part of a $20 million fundraising effort. Smith made it clear in his press conference that he wouldn’t have taken the job if he didn’t feel like there was a strong financial backing from the university.
McElroy was vague about the exact duties of the search firm, but said mostly that their duties came down to assisting in compiling the list of candidates, and then properly vetting the finalists.
“They hockey thing is not the issue,” McElroy said of Parker’s lack of experience. “The research, the way the process is put together is done by us. Not by Parker. The research on the applicants, that’s done by me, that’s my job. What they do is facilitate it, to make sure what’s on those credentials is valid.”