Isn't it amazing that nearly everyone agrees saying "once the facts come out..." and yet many of the same people are already pointing fingers and drawing conclusions. And now some are blaming Padilla?
We aren't alone Texas Tech fired their volleyball coach last week.
he was great at fundraising (one year we had a 133% increase in fundraising during his time).
I’m sorry, but this is a load of hooey. Padilla promised so many fundraising projects that never came to pass. Remember the new gym? Remember his access college? Remember the new nursing building? The only thing he was able to fund was a freshman dorm, and he had to auction off artwork to get that done, alienating a generation of alumni (and, important to note, donors)
Konkol recently announced a major fundraising boost, too. But it’s easy to have a great year when the year before was in the basement. Give me year-over-year numbers, not just percentages.
I agree on the fact that several of Padilla's programs never actually materialized and that he did not "build" as much as Heckler. But, we have to be real with the facts. Valpo raised around $1.2 million multiple years in a row during his term, which was above the goal set by the University. We finished the Forever Fund (that crossed multiple administrations), but that ended up being several million dollars above the previous goal. We got the largest donation ever to the basketball and athletic departments during his reign. The numbers don't lie.
Again, I'm not saying he was the best leader. And I agree that the fundraising did not materialize into substantial projects. But let's not act like he was a pure failure. I think much of this negative perception comes from personal beef.…Come on, "alienating a generation of alumni" is some extreme hyperbole. Sure, some people didn't like it. But, as an alumni, almost everyone I talked to that I went to school with was like “eh whatever." I mean, most of the students didn't even know we had an art museum. Yes, it was controversial, but I don't think anyone is quitting on the University over it.
Also, part of the reason he was not able to "build" as much was because of the poor financial situation he inherited, so much of this fundraising had to go to basic costs. Not to mention, Heckler also promised basketball stadiums and training facilities and other things that never materialized. That's part of the job, you dream big and try. But it's not always going to work out.
Back to volleyball, the Midwest has become a great breeding ground for talent and powerhouse programs. I wonder if Valpo might be able to snatch an assistant from a Big Ten powerhouse that wants to take a run as a head coach.
Mark this as good timing, this weekends tourney has 3 teams with a combined win total of zero.
Valpo raised around $1.2 million multiple years in a row during his term, which was above the goal set by the University. We finished the Forever Fund (that crossed multiple administrations), but that ended up being several million dollars above the previous goal. We got the largest donation ever to the basketball and athletic departments during his reign. The numbers don't lie.
The numbers lie a little bit. You mention million-dollar years, but it used to be that Valpo could raise a million dollars on Day of Giving alone. It was under Padilla’s tenure that Valpo stopped publishing totals for the Day, hint hint.
You can’t lay any of Forever Valpo at Padilla’s door. That was a Heckler project, thru and thru. It only ended under Padilla because Heckler left a few months early.
But you can credit Padilla with hiring an AD who knows how to fundraise. You also have to credit him with losing the AD he hired, but them’s the breaks. Hosmer has been great at raising money for Valpo. Padilla’s chief fundraiser, on the other hand, was fired just before Konkol arrived, and if you think that’s because Padilla set records as a fundraiser or even had a single good year, I got a bridge with a beautiful view I’d love to show you.