04 Broadcaster Press December 25, 2012 www.broadcasteronline.com USD athletic director Sayler leaves By Jeremy Hoeck jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net So it begins again. For the second time in two and a half years, the University of South Dakota has lost its athletic director to the Football Bowl Subdivision and Mid-American Conference (MAC) ranks. The position was vacated again Thursday, Dec. 14, when David Sayler resigned to take the same job at Miami University of Ohio. Sayler, 43, was hired at USD in June 2010 after former A.D. Joel Nielsen left for Kent State. This time, though, it was a family matter that spurred Sayler’s desire to move closer to home. The mother of Sayler’s wife, Katie, recently died suddenly, which set into motion the process of Sayler seeking the same position at a bowl-eligible school with Division I hockey. “Anybody that really knows the situation, knows it’s a personal move for him and his family,” said USD football coach Joe Glenn, who was hired by Sayler in December 2011. “He really wanted to close the deal on the arena project, but I think in almost all cases in life, family comes first.” The news of Sayler’s departure was met with surprise during an early afternoon staff meeting Thursday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, leaving senior associate athletic director ¬– and now interim A.D. – David Herbster to take control. The idea of Sayler potentially leaving was, according to associate A.D. James Bandy, “Way under the radar.” “Nobody saw this coming,” Bandy, responsible for Internal Operations, said. “This was a situation where Miami came after him. That it happened to be in Ohio, and where their family concerns are included, we all obviously understand.” Sayler is no stranger to the state of Ohio. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1991, spent three years in the private sector in Cleveland and later served as associate athletic director for business operations at Bowling Green State University from 2001-05. “I’ve always had my eye on it,” Sayler said at his introductory Miami press conference in Oxford, OH. “It’s a special day for me and my family. I always felt like this was a great fit for me when the job came open.” Though he was only at USD for two years, Sayler did not seek to immediately leave, according to head men’s track coach Dave Gottsleben – the longest-tenured Coyote coach in his 29th year. “Those (family matters) all have to be factors, but I would assume it was a really tough decision,” Gottsleben said. “He wasn’t the guy to suddenly start looking for a job once his contract here was signed. “With us, he did a pretty good job here, he set some things in motion that whoever gets the opportunity will have some good things set up.” Chief among Sayler’s accomplishments at USD was his involvement in securing Board of Regents approval for the 2015 Facilities Master Plan, which includes a new volleyball/basketball arena, a new outdoor track and a soccer complex. The $48 million project — $58 million in total with a research lab “connector” – is set to go to the S.D. State Legislature next month. Fundraising for the project is within $10 million of the final pricetag, Sayler said during a speech at Yankton Quarterback Club two weeks ago. Among the other items on Sayler’s USD resume: He helped secure a multimedia rights deal with Learfield Sports earlier this year, and also helped implement a new athletic logo that was unveiled in August. Sayler also hired two coaches in his tenure, Glenn and Amy Williams to lead the women’s basketball program in early June. He was also instrumental in securing an apparel and shoe contract with Adidas in February 2012. Sayler did not return messages left Thursday. “I know that he loves this place a lot, but it has nothing to do with USD why he left,” Glenn said. “We cheer for him.” Herbster takes over in interim By Jeremy Hoeck jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net Shortly after the announcement was released, department officials and coaches were quick to point out that, yes, everything will be fine at the University of South Dakota in the wake of athletic director David Sayler leaving. It’s not new territory for USD, which had a similar situation two years ago when Joel Nielsen left for the same job at Kent State University. The key now, staff members said Thursday, is to keep moving. “It’s not like we’re young kids asking the dad for the keys to the car,” head men’s track coach Dave Gottsleben said Thursday afternoon. True, USD does have three coaches with at least 19 years experience and five others with at least five years on the job, so it’s not exactly like everything will change. “For us, it’s another obstacle we have to deal with, but I don’t see it affecting what we do in our individual sports,” Gottsleben said. USD staff was informed of the impending announcement during a meeting Thursday at the DakotaDome. It was at that time that senior associate A.D. David Herbster made clear that life will go on, according to associate A.D. James Bandy. “It took most of us by surprise, but we all know this is part of the job, people can come and go at the drop of a hat,” said Bandy, whose primary responsibilities include internal operations. “There will be some leadership challenges for us, certainly, but I don’t think anybody will shy away from them.” For the second time in as many athletic director searches, Herbster is the interim A.D. He was the man in charge during the short three-month period between Joel Nielsen and David Sayler in 2010. The position will likely be opened to a national search, as was the case in 2010 when Nielsen left. “Over the next couple of weeks, president (Jim) Abbott and David will obviously have some meetings to see what they want to do in the interim, as far as advertising for the position,” Bandy said. “I expect one question that will be asked will be, how will this affect the fundraising and all the work we’ve made so far.” With USD nearing $10 million remaining on a $58 million project for a new basketball and volleyball arena, along with an outdoor track and soccer complex, the need to keep moving is key, Bandy said. “David intends to go out and continue raising money and talk with potential donors,” he said. “It might be two weeks or it might be a month where there might be some reassignments or some of our staff taking on more responsibilities.” As to who replaces Sayler is the next big question at USD. “I would hope the next person would consider more stability; a longer stay, but that’s not for me to say,” Gottsleben said. Herbster, who has been with USD since 2007, is seen by many as the next logical choice, given his experience with Coyote athletics and his familiarity and involvement in ongoing projects. Prior to coming to USD, Herbster served as athletic director at Nebraska Omaha (2005-07) and Concordia University-St. Paul (2001-04). Among Herbster’s other stops in his career were Pittsburg State, a Division II school in Kansas, and North Dakota State. It was at those spots where he got to know Joe Glenn, who would later be talked out of retirement by Sayler and Herbster to coach football at USD – his alma mater. “I got to know him when we would play his schools in the playoffs,” Glenn said. “When they came down to talk to me (last year), it helped that he (Herbster) was at my school.” Having experienced staff members already in house is naturally a relief for coaches, Gottsleben said. “Obviously this is something that our president has to sleep on,” he said. “We’ve got some great people in our building already. I think everyone’s concern is the building project and moving our department forward, so hopefully they can get someone who is knowledgeable about what’s going on.” Who that will be is up to Abbott and a search committee, but Bandy made sure to point out that life must continue in the interim phase. “I certainly hope our staff has confidence in us, that we can move forward without missing a beat,” he said. Gilbertson to grads: Never stop learning By David Lias david.lias@plaintalk.net South Dakota Chief Justice David Gilbertson told graduates of the University of South Dakota Saturday that what they’ve learned during their time at the university is no doubt important, exceeded only by “how” they’ve learned. “The world’s knowledge is increasing every 10 years, and in some areas, every four years. education or Coming out of whether you do it this institution in a self-taught knowing how manner. The days to think and when you can leave how to reason a university with a may be your degree knowing greatest asset you are set for life as you head are gone with the out into your wind.” life,” he said, Gilbertson was “because your keynote speaker at education is USD’s 37th winter GILBERTSON going to commencement continue, whether you go exercises at held Saturday, on to further your formal Dec. 15 at the DakotaDome. He is a native of northeast South Dakota and a 1975 graduate of the University of South Dakota School of Law. Putting a somewhat contemporary twist on the standard graduation speech format, the chief justice offered to the university graduates what he describes as “the top 10 things I think you should know:” 10: Do not be afraid of failure. Learn from your past experiences and your past mistakes, and the experiences of others. Those who ignore the past generally wind up repeating it. Never give up. “Al Neuharth didn’t succeed at his first publication attempt. Joe Robbie ran for governor of the state of South Dakota and got clobbered,” Gilbertson said. “But Joe Also see us at Siouxlandhomes.com VIRTUAL TOURS www.dunhamcompany.com Elk Point, SD 205 E. Pleasant - $154,900 207 E. Pleasant – $139,900 Beautifully maintained 2 story with important 2-story, 2058sf finished, updates. 4 bedrooms 5-bedroom, full bath up, 1.5 bath. New up, 1/2 on main, 3/4 kitchen, appliances stay, in basement. 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