AD Jon Schemmel

[captaincoyote]

[Yotes]

I'm sure those more connected to the program will have an opinion of him from day 1, given that he was here for like 5 years previously. I hope his younger age may mean he will be more open to embracing the seismic changes that are transpiring in college athletics. We are going to need someone with a strong vision to navigate these coming years or we may end up left behind.

[captaincoyote]

Ever since hiring Bob as football coach, we’ve shown a clear preference for hiring young/youthful coaches. With this hire, there is no denying that there is a vision & strategy behind that coming down from the top for better or for worse.

[yotesbacker]

'Seismic changes' may even be understating current affairs in college athletics. I agree with YOTES above. Jon should give us a great mix of energetic youth, and a clear understanding of collegiate athletics - from his lifetime associations. Welcome Jon!

[yote18]

I think it’s a great hire in the sense that he knows the school, the fan base and is maybe more willing to ensure we are ahead of the curve in regards to the athletics environment.

My only concerns are that he wasn’t directly involved with athletics at DSU (unless I misunderstood his role) and this is D1. Does he have the connections to find the quality coaches to compete at this level. We sometimes still have the D2 mindset and we need to really find a way to shake that away.

[Cousin Eddie]

Dec 29, 2023 15:53:35 GMT -6 yote18 said:

I think it’s a great hire in the sense that he knows the school, the fan base and is maybe more willing to ensure we are ahead of the curve in regards to the athletics environment.

My only concerns are that he wasn’t directly involved with athletics at DSU (unless I misunderstood his role) and this is D1. Does he have the connections to find the quality coaches to compete at this level. We sometimes still have the D2 mindset and we need to really find a way to shake that away.

His brother is deputy director of athletics at UNI. His dad worked in numerous athletic departments, NCAA and a couple conferences. His dad also owns an athletic department consulting company. Jon worked in our AD, Miami of Ohio and for Learfield.

[yote18]

Dec 30, 2023 13:32:47 GMT -6 Cousin Eddie said:

Dec 29, 2023 15:53:35 GMT -6 yote18 said:

I think it’s a great hire in the sense that he knows the school, the fan base and is maybe more willing to ensure we are ahead of the curve in regards to the athletics environment.

My only concerns are that he wasn’t directly involved with athletics at DSU (unless I misunderstood his role) and this is D1. Does he have the connections to find the quality coaches to compete at this level. We sometimes still have the D2 mindset and we need to really find a way to shake that away.

His brother is deputy director of athletics at UNI. His dad worked in numerous athletic departments, NCAA and a couple conferences. His dad also owns an athletic department consulting company. Jon worked in our AD, Miami of Ohio and for Learfield.

Then I misunderstood his experiences and I think this is a great hire! I didn’t do a lot of research tbh, too much this time of year going on. The one thing I hope he accomplishes, and please don’t come for me, is that I hope we can finally shake off the D2 mindset we have held on to for some things and get us into the conversations of “they’re one of best in the Midwest” not just the summit.

[yoteforever]

There’s a number of things that are considered before you hire an athletic director. What is the need of one school could be totally different than another. Certainly staff management is a skill they all need to possess. In my opinion, an effective AD is going to delegate the different roles and functions of the department. From facilities to marketing to ticketing to scheduling to financial management to hiring and firing of coaches and etc. You get it, there are many facets to this job. Unless you have powers bestowed to you by our creator that are so unusual, no one person can do all of the above effectively.

The next thing you take into consideration is the quality of the final candidates considered for the job. In this case, there were (4) until (1) dropped out of consideration the night before interviews began. That left the president (3) candidates to select from. One was a current sitting D-1 AD, one was an assistant AD, and the last one was Jon Schemmel. From that group president Gestring has to make the right hire. One could argue this particular hire could define her legacy. Maybe that statement is a little dramatic, but maybe not.

So what are the needs of USD? The first and most pressing in my mind is the financial piece. We simply need to generate more revenue, whether that’s from ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, or increasing Howlin Pack giving. We will struggle ever becoming elite if we can’t fund whatever it takes to be elite. I think it’s fair to say that football, volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball are what we as fans hang our hats on. We certainly have been blessed in the outlier programs at times as well, but I’d venture to say it’s safe to say football plus Olympic team sports are what’s going to drive the bus. That doesn’t mean you starve the outlier programs but it does mean they aren’t the highest priority.

We need to generate more revenue to increase individual sports budgets to match or exceed our competitors. There’s several ways to attack that issue, but the point is you need to attack it through a plan rather than just say it year after year. Our president has done a great job in providing institutional support to athletics, and if Jon can implement a plan to increase the private revenues to enhance our current budget, we’ll be in a position to take off. Increased funding for recruiting, coaches salaries, and travel to name the big 3.

If you look at Jon Schemmel’s background, he’s a guru at raising funds. His most recent position as CEO of Dakota States Foundation, Jon raised more than $130M from the time he stepped into that role. Prior to that, Jon served as assistant AD in charge of fund raising at Miami of Ohio. He worked for David Sayler, our former AD at USD. He did a remarkable job there. Then he worked in the foundation at USD. In other words, Jon knows how to raise money. So check that box.

Next is where the future of college athletics is going. Change is inevitable. It’s going to happen. The question is are we ready to make a change if we were called upon? My guess is not even close. USD does not want to get put into the position we were 15 years ago when XDSU’s jumped up and we didn’t. So one of Jon’s jobs will be to explore every avenue available, or create an avenue, that puts us into a position being ready if called upon. Not react like last time, but rather lead the way. The one thing that helps him is the fact that his father runs a sports hiring firm, where colleges and universities employ his firm to do searches for AD;s and coaches. Cousin Eddie alluded to this. Because his father, a former AD at San Diego State and deputy for Minnesota Gophers, has his ear to the ground 24/7 and will be made aware of moves conferences are contemplating. That’s a HUGE asset to have in your back pocket.

Where Jon doesn’t have experience is hiring and firing of coaches and possibly staffers not pulling their weight. What offsets that lack of experience be is being able to draw on his fathers experience. I don’t see it as a negative, but then again, time will tell.

Jon does have experience in managing staff, just not this large. Being young and ambitious, Jon will need to sell his vision to staff and boosters as well. I’m sure he’ll ask for input but my guess he has a plan written down that he intends to implement. I’m very positive he’ll share that plan with Coyote Nation one way or another.

At the end of the day, five years from now we all will be able to look back and evaluate in our own way the significance of this hire. My bet is Jon will go down as one of the best AD’s in the history of this school. I think we’ll see momentum changes swing our way. More fans in seats. More dollars to enhance our programs. A somewhat new and resurrected pride in our athletic department. Will there be bumps along the way? Bet on it. But rising to the summit is never easy.

I think president Gestring made a great hire. Jump on board and let’s elevate the status of our great school. Tomorrow night at 5:30, prior to the men’s basketball game Jon will be introduced to the fan base in the end zone room. What a great time for you to introduce yourself if you don’t know him, or welcome him back if you do.

[usdguy99]

One thing that I think our fundraisers, past and present, have a tendency to do is spend too much time and effort on the current deep pockets. More often than not, deep pockets=older donors ergo "not around much longer". I understand and appreciate it is easier to get $10,000 from one person than $1000 from 10 people, but those 10 people may very well be at the $10k level soon enough if some time is spent with those individuals. If I'm talking to Jon or Andy or Chris K, don't look over my shoulder the whole time to see who may have deeper pockets. I'm just hoping former bad habits have been broken... Just my observations and opinions.

[yoteforever]

Very very true

Although it’s unsettling to hear “not around much longer” lol

[oldhare]

Jan 3, 2024 12:19:07 GMT -6 yoteforever said:

Very very true

Although it’s unsettling to hear “not around much longer” lol

Do you have a contingency plan for the fan board since you may resemble the "not around much longer" crowd?

[yoteforever]

Jan 3, 2024 13:24:01 GMT -6 oldhare said:

Jan 3, 2024 12:19:07 GMT -6 yoteforever said:

Very very true

Although it’s unsettling to hear “not around much longer” lol

Do you have a contingency plan for the fan board since you may resemble the "not around much longer" crowd?

Never thought about it but I guess I should. Lol

[Cousin Eddie]

It was very cool to see Jon's comments about Corey Jenkins. I think it would be a brilliant move for him to keep Corey around and let him be a true COO. Let Jon do what he does best, which is build relationships, set the big picture agenda, work with the higher powers, and facilitate outreach to the fanbase across the country. This is what successful ADs do. They do not micromanage, they empower their deputies and staff to be the best versions of themselves, push them to work hard, set a vision for the entire program and work to build support for everybody (through money and relationships).

I realize he isn't a polished public speaker - it isn't something he has had to do - but Jon knows how to endure himself to people and build loyalty from those he trusts and cares for. I like this recipe. There is risk here, but I think the upside can be great. The guy drips with passion.

[usdguy99]

Jan 4, 2024 8:46:28 GMT -6 Cousin Eddie said:

It was very cool to see Jon's comments about Corey Jenkins. I think it would be a brilliant move for him to keep Corey around and let him be a true COO. Let Jon do what he does best, which is build relationships, set the big picture agenda, work with the higher powers, and facilitate outreach to the fanbase across the country. This is what successful ADs do. They do not micromanage, they empower their deputies and staff to be the best versions of themselves, push them to work hard, set a vision for the entire program and work to build support for everybody (through money and relationships).

I realize he isn't a polished public speaker - it isn't something he has had to do - but Jon knows how to endure himself to people and build loyalty from those he trusts and cares for. I like this recipe. There is risk here, but I think the upside can be great. The guy drips with passion.

I think this may have been an issue with the past administration...