Dec. 17--Illinois has hired search firm Korn Ferry to assist with the hiring of a new athletic director, the school announced Wednesday.
Korn Ferry will help a campus-led search committee formed last month by interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson to identify and hire a replacement for Mike Thomas, who was fired Nov. 9. The firm will be paid a consulting fee of $140,000.
The application process closes Jan. 4, and Wilson has said she hopes to have a hire in place for approval by the board of trustees at its Jan. 21 meeting. An industry source said that is an "unusually short" time frame for a firm to vet and narrow a pool of candidates.
Wilson said in a statement the process of hiring the firm began in mid-November.
"My hope all along was to identify a firm that had the experience and network to add value to our efforts," she said. "Korn Ferry will play a crucial role in conducting an effective, comprehensive and confidential process of interacting with top-quality candidates for this vital and sought-after campus role."
Los Angeles-based Korn Ferry has helped with some recent hires that became controversial or duds.
USC athletic director Pat Haden appeared critical of Korn Ferry when he fired football coach Steve Sarkisian, who was vetted by the firm but left in unsavory fashion after reports of inappropriate behavior and excessive drinking.
Texas AD Steve Patterson was fired after less than two years on the job. The firm was also involved with Michigan's hiring of football coach Brady Hoke, who was fired.
Korn Ferry consultant Jed Hughes was with the search firm Spencer Stuart and assisted Michigan in 2009 with the hiring of AD Dave Brandon, who resigned after an unsuccessful tenure.
Michigan is currently using Turnkey Sports and Entertainment Inc. to hire a new athletic director.
Texas paid Korn Ferry $267,000 during the hiring process of football coach Charlie Strong. Michigan used Korn Ferry when it hired football coach Jim Harbaugh.
Korn Ferry also assisted this year with Missouri's hiring of AD Mack Rhoades and last year with Marquette's hiring of AD Bill Scholl, and the firm was involved with Florida's hiring of football coach Jim McElwain, who led the Gators to the SEC East title in his first season.
Illinois fired Thomas without cause after a damning report from a university-hired law firm's investigation that had previously led to the firing of football coach Tim Beckman for player mistreatment.
Sources had told the Tribune earlier this week that the search committee was handling elements of the search inappropriately.
Illinois had previously used Parker Executive Search, including for the hiring of Thomas.
sryan@tribpub.com
