Goss restructures Athletic Dept.

Athletic Director Tom Goss' plan to restructure the internal organization of the University Athletic Department is scheduled to take effect today.

"The rationale driving this reorganization is my realization ... that for us to continue in our traditional role as 'The Leaders and the Best,' we must make three changes - changes that come under the captions of improved communications, consolidation of functions and enhancement of productivity," Goss said in a memorandum to Athletic Department staff members.

The changes, which Goss announced Friday, shift the responsibilities of most of the department's senior administrators.

"We must shorten and clarify the communication lines between administrators, between administrators and coaches, and between coaches," Goss said in the written statement.

Among the many changes is the retirement of Senior Associate Athletic Director Keith Molin at the end of this school year. Assistant Athletic Director Bruce Madej will take on some of Molin's external relations duties.

Molin said he and Goss mutually agreed upon his retirement.

"I have been trying to decide whether I wanted to retire for about a year," said Molin, who has been at the University for 19 years. Goss "knew from the day he came on board that I was ready to retire."

Molin said Goss had asked him to temporarily delay his retirement plans to help familiarize the new athletic director with the department.

Goss' plans also consolidate duties previously spread among several administrators into fewer positions. To accomplish this, Senior Associate Athletic Director Bob DeCarolis' facility operations duties and ticket manager Steven Lambright's post will be eliminated.

In addition to streamlining areas of the department, Goss announced the formation of a new department concentration.

Former Michigan football player Warde Manuel will fill the only new position created by Goss, which focuses on student athlete development regarding employment and community service.

Manuel said he will link services already offered by Career Planning and Placement and the Center for Learning through Community Service to the goals the department has for student athletes.

"It's to make sure that the student athletes are our main focus and that they have access to the material, considering the time they spend in athletics and on academics," Manuel said.

Crew team member Michelle Wolbert, a student representative on the Board in Control of Intercollegiate Athletics, said the addition of the student athlete development area will help students prepare their post-graduation plans.

"Playing a sport, you almost have to plan your interviews or your job search around your season," Wolbert said. "There will be a system in place for student athletes to go to find a job."

Senior Associate Athletic Director Fritz Seyferth will be in charge of Central Campus operations. Associate Athletic Director Jeff Long will expand his post to oversee several sports, such as men's and women's swimming, soccer, crew and baseball.

Associate Athletic Director Peg Bradley-Doppes will move from senior associate athletic director to senior women's administrator. Associate Athletic Director Phil Hughes' new position will include Student Athlete Support Services. Executive Associate Athletic Director Mike Stevenson's expanded post will include overseeing recreational sports and campus facilities.

Michigan men's basketball coach Brian Ellerbe, football coach Lloyd Carr, women's basketball coach Sue Guevara and hockey coach Red Berenson will report directly to Goss instead of associate administrators.

Madej said Goss' changes are not a reflection of problems within the department, but just normal adjustments to operating under new management.

"I would never say there were problems, but that Tom feels that it's best way for him to run the Athletic Department," Madej said.

University President Lee Bollinger said changes within departments expectedly follow changes within the administration.

"It's perfectly consistent with what I wanted from the beginning, which is to have very talented individuals come and look at their respective organizations ... and to think about how it should be structured," Bollinger said.

Michigan men's swimming coach Jon Urbanchek said that although the changes will help the department achieve its long-term goals, it is unfortunate that some members of the staff have to be released.

"It's sad to see that changes have to be made, but I'm confident that we're moving forward here," Urbanchek said.

-Daily Sport Editor Dan Stillman contributed to this report.

02-02-98