By all accounts, Mark Harlan, 44, the former senior associate athletic director at UCLA, is a good catch as USF’s new AD. He was praised by his UCLA boss Dan Guerrero as a “true leader,” a “hard worker” and a “star.” When he was introduced locally, he made good impressions all around and talked about the USF “fan experience” as a prime goal.
But talk about hitting the ground stumbling.
His starting date was moved up to better accommodate imminent USF priorities. Then shortly after unpacking, he was confronted by DiplomaGate. The all-but-fully-vetted Steve Masiello of Manhattan College was all but hired as the new basketball coach until there was a late-breaking revelation about his résumé misrepresentation. He never did get that communications degree from the University of Kentucky. Oops.
To some, it might seem almost incidental, if not excusable, for a fast-tracking, hot-shot, marketable coach, but it should matter mightily in a world where big-time “student-athlete graduate” is too often oxymoronic. If the coach, who was a seldom-used sub as a four-year, Kentucky player, never got his degree, he’s necessarily in a hypocritical mode whenever–or if ever–he encourages his players to keep up with their studies. USF couldn’t countenance that.
But nobody looked good on this hiring debacle, even though due diligence was ultimately done. The Bulls, as we know, went back to square one, re-doubled their recruiting and vetting efforts and landed Orlando Antigua, 40, the high-energy, bilingual, top assistant with the University of Kentucky as their new head coach. He’ll be on the job as soon as Kentucky finishes up with the Final Four.
The Dominican Republic-born, Bronx-raised Antigua is known as an accomplished recruiter. He has played for the Harlem Globetrotters and been the head coach of the Dominican Republic’s national team. And, yes, he has a college degree: a B.S. in social sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, where he played from 1991-95.
Antigua’s hiring has taken the spotlight–and heat–off of Harlan. Because the Masiello mess had happened on his watch, however incipient, Harlan had been taking more than his share of public criticism. And it wasn’t fair.
Masiello was the one who lied about his qualifications. USF’s recruiter, Texas-based Eastman & Beaudine, didn’t check a key credential until it was almost too late. And Manhattan obviously didn’t vet at all.
Bottom line: USF, a big-time university with more potential than success in the revenue sports of football and men’s basketball, needs to turn this thing around. Too many losses, too many bought-out contracts ($7 million to coaches it no longer employs) and too few fans at games have been weighing on everyone who cares.
Ultimately Mark Harlan will be judged on how he plays the crucible hand he’s been dealt. That now has everything to do with Orlando Antigua and nothing to do with Steve Masiello. In the first big upset of the Harlan-Antigua era, the Bronx topped Manhattan.
Chris Del Conte, the AD at Texas Christian University, knows Harlan and put it this way: “The University of South Florida got better the day they announced Mark Harlan as their athletic director…His word is gold. When he tells you something, you can count on it.”
Harlan didn’t tell anyone that losing teams and dwindling attendance would be acceptable. But he did promise that a positive “fan experience” was a top priority. And that only comes with winning.
Good luck, Mark.
And buena suerte, Orlando.