Dr. Wallace Loh was introduced yesterday as the new President of the University of Maryland College Park.
Here is a Baltimore Sun article detailing Dr. Loh’s background:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-um-president-loh-20100817,0,3084844.story
His Presidency can effect the State in a lot of ways, but of immediate interest to this sports blog is what impact will he have on Maryland’s Athletic Department (particularly the Major Revenue Sports – Football, and Basketball).
One of Dr. Loh’s first major decisions will be with ultimately hiring the replacement for departed Athletic Director Debbie Yow.
In conjunction with the new Athletic Director, Dr. Loh will also have to decide on the leadership of the Football program going forward. Coach Friedgen, and Coach Franklin. Friedgen’s contract expires on Jan. 2nd, 2012. If Franklin is not named the Head Coach at that time, he can resign and collect a $1M dollar payment from the University.
Coach Friedgen has gone out of his way recently to state he is not yet looking to leave. Everything comes down to results on the field. The team was 2-10 last-year. If the results do not show marked improvement this Fall, it is hard to imagine the University allowing Friedgen to continue. While Franklin receives high-marks as a recruiter, the question will be if the results say Friedgen has to leave; how do you promote his Offensive Coordinator? One answer to that question is the Athletic Department has limited dollars to go around. Paying Friedgen the remainder of his contract, paying Franklin $1M to not coach, and hiring someone else with pedigree might be much more than the program can afford.
With all of the talk this Spring/Summer if Maryland possibly being pursued for Big 10 Expansion, it is interesting that the new President is coming from the University of Iowa, and Big 10 country. Perhaps Dr. Loh will have a desire to see Maryland in that Conference?
I am also sure it is only a matter of time, that we hear rumors of former Ravesn Assistant (and current Iowa Head Coach) Kirk Ferentz being on the ‘dream’ list of future Maryland Coaches.
There is a Fanhouse article from June, which states Iowa has had the third highest spending on their Football team during the 2008-9 season:
http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/06/29/big-spending-ohio-state-could-change-nickname-to-bucks-eyes/
Will we see some of that type of spending at Maryland?
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.