The University of Oregon, which has become known for its innovative approach to athletics, has gone the non-traditional route again. University President Dave Frohnmayer introduced Pat Kilkenny, a long-time donor and one of the major contributors to the $2 million buyout of outgoing athletic director Bill Moos, as the new athletic director on Wednesday. He’ll lead the department until 2009.
“He is charged with solidifying the leadership within the athletic department, moving the operation from being financially self-sufficient to self-sustaining, strengthening the connection with the academic mission of the University, expanding the donor base, and reviving the new basketball arena project,” Frohnmayer said.
Kilkenny, who has already donated $1.5 million to design and planning costs of the new basketball arena project, said the construction of the arena is his “pet project.” Funding stalled recently under Moos with a lack of donations from top donor Phil Knight.
“Virtually the top of my goals is to have that arena well in the ground before those two years (in my contract) are up,” said Kilkenny, who attended the University from 1970-74. “I don’t know about the construction time, but quite frankly there is still a fundraising process that needs to be done. That’s something I hope I can be very helpful with, raising the funds for the arena.”
Frohnmayer said he hoped for a candidate with knowledge of the University and staff. He’ll get that with Kilkenny, who previously donated to the Autzen Stadium expansion as well as the Ed Moshofsky Sports Center project.
“I think the whole department feels energized,” Oregon men’s basketball coach Ernie Kent said of the hiring. “I really do. You have somebody that we all know and we’ve all seen and, in some regards, so many other coaches here have already come across in one way or another at a sporting event.”
Kilkenny, a self-proclaimed avid Oregon fan, was born and raised in Heppner, Ore. He is the former chairman and CEO of the Arrowhead General Insurance Agency out of San Diego, which he purchased in 1984 and sold last August.
Kilkenny has been involved with sports virtually all his life, though he has no previous experience as an active athletic director.
Kilkenny was once a member of the University Foundation’s Board of Trustees before he resigned in 2000 “as a response to the recent developments at the University involving its decision to join the Worker Rights Consortium and (Phil) Knight’s pledge to stop all personal donations to the school,” the Oregon Daily Emerald reported in 2000.
He also served on the University of Oregon Athletic Department Advisory Board. After relocating to San Diego, Kilkenny continued involvement on the University of California San Diego Athletic Advisory Board and the San Diego State University Athletic Director’s Cabinet.
Though Kilkenny lacks experience, Frohnmayer acknowledged Kilkenny’s successful career leading a major private insurance agency.
“When push comes to shove, it’s a pretty rarefied group of people, and there have been very notable successes for non-traditional candidates,” Frohnmayer said in regards to his hire. “And in this case, although the candidate’s non-traditional, he’s also a known one. We know and respect his integrity, we know he’s put his resources where his vision is, we know that he has a passionate loyalty to the University, we know that he’s well respected.”
Hiring a booster isn’t a new phenomenon in college sports. The University of Michigan hired Bill Martin, a successful booster, and Purdue University hired Morgan Burke out of the stands to take over the athletic director position.
One of the more intriguing aspects of Frohnmayer’s hiring is that Kilkenny funded the majority of the $2 million settlement agreement with Moos, his predecessor, in late November. Fast forward three-and-a-half months later, and Frohnmayer has hired the same man who will be paying Moos for the next 10 years.
Moos arrived at Oregon right after the 1995 Rose Bowl and has overseen 11 Pacific-10 Conference championships during his 12-year tenure. He has also provided a template for financial excellence as Oregon’s athletic department, which is one of few self-sufficient programs in the country. The department’s budget expanded from $18 million to $40 million under Moos.
Kilkenny told The Oregonian that the buyout helps facilitate “a fitting end for a person who served the University well.”
“At the end of the day the president has to make the decision he feels is in the best interest with all things considered,” Moos said. “He knows what he’s looking for and what the immediate concerns are and how best to attack them.”
Moos is still under contract until March 31.
“I’m excited to be here to help Pat, who would probably ask for my assistance more than a sitting A.D.,” Moos said. “I’m certainly here and willing to do that and was happy to agree to that.” Kilkenny understands that he lacks the experience of Moos and will meet with him twice per week until he takes over the position on April 1.
“I need lots and lots and lots of help, and that’s an understatement,” Kilkenny said. “Bill said that he’s glad to do whatever he can do to help me get to a comfort zone so he can go out the door.”
After the announcement of Moos’ resignation, Frohnmayer said Kilkenny’s name was raised as a potential candidate by sources outside and inside of the athletic department. The University search team picked Kilkenny out of “a handful” of potential candidates.
“This is a great place,” said Kilkenny, a long-time Oregon fan who even attended a Duck game on his wedding day. “I would have to be one of the luckiest people in the world to have this job.”
Despite the hiring and his position, Kilkenny said he still expects to regularly donate to the University.
“I assume the University will still cash my checks,” said Kilkenny, who will not collect on his salary in the two years of his contract, choosing instead to donate the money for “athletic and academic purposes.”
Sports editor Luke Andrews contributed to this report