AU announced in a press release April 12 that it hired Parker Executive Search to assist in the search for a new men’s head basketball coach.
Former head coach Jeff Jones departed AU last week to take the same position at Old Dominion University.
Incoming Athletic Director Billy Walker said in a phone call that the hiring of Parker would help in the vetting of the potential candidates.
This marks the second time this year that AU has partnered with Parker, which also assisted in the search for Walker. AU had also worked with Parker in the hiring of Walker’s predecessor, former Athletic Director Keith Gill.
Once the list is narrowed down, Walker, along with Interim Athletic Director David Taylor and other members of a search committee, will interview candidates and pick from two or three people determined as finalists.
Taylor said in a phone interview that the search for the new head coach will take less time than it took to find Walker, a search which lasted approximately a month and a half.
Both Walker and Taylor said that the search will happen quickly and as thoroughly as possible. Neither specified an exact time frame for when the school would name a new coach.
Any individual who wishes to nominate or recommend a candidate can contact Parker at the email provided in the release.
This standard nomination procedure allows coaches to enter their name into the applicant pool, according to Taylor.
Taylor said the ideal head coach can bring the Eagles success, “doing it the way as prescribed by the Patriot League.” He did not give specifics on what AU is seeking in a candidate. Taylor did say that the new head coach would need to build off the consistent amount of on- and off-court success the program saw under Jones.
esaltzman@theeagleonline.com
