C of C won't rush search

The College of Charleston hopes to hire a new athletic director before the start of the school year, but the man in charge of the search says who the school hires is more important than when.

"At this time of the year, schedules are set, budgets are set," said Fred Daniels, Charleston's senior vice president for administration and the head of the search committee. "We would like to think by the start of school, but nobody has set a goal. We want the best person we can for the athletes, the coaches and the college."

Charleston is seeking a replacement for outgoing athletic director Jerry Baker, who announced his resignation effective at the end of the month.

Daniels, who will serve as interim athletic director until a new AD is in place, said he has gotten a large number of inquiries about the job.

"The response has been very encouraging," he said. "We have not at this point advertised it, but everybody knows the job is open. We've had a significant

number of telephone calls. We're processing applications and resumes."

Daniels says he has a good idea of the type of person the school is looking for.

"The most visible part of the College is the athletics department," he said. "We've been blessed. We've had guys who can coach and teach and be successful, and respected. We've got to make sure we bring here somebody who can continue to hire good coaches when we have to, continue to bring out the best in the coaches, and have these men and women interact and bring our kids to graduation."

Daniels said it's important for the incoming athletic director to understand that academics come first.

"It will be somebody who has an appreciation for what we are," he said. "Academically, it's a very fine place, athletically it's a very successful place. Academics come first and athletics for us is our advertising point. We need somebody who can bring leadership to create better understanding between the faculty, the administration and the athletic side of the college. It's important that the athletes become graduates of the college, that they don't come here for two or three semesters and then fall by the wayside."

Reach Charles Bennett at cbennett@postandcourier.com.