U of A's athletic director search: Six names to watch for the Wildcats

Arizona’s next athletic director will face several daunting challenges, with the department’s financial crisis atop a list that includes the transition into the Big 12.

There is no time for on-the-job training.

The successor to Dave Heeke, who was ousted Monday, must hit the ground in a dead sprint.

For that reason, our list of potential candidates is restricted to sitting athletic directors who bring an area of expertise vital to Arizona’s future.

Here are six ADs to watch (alphabetically by last name):

UTSA’s Lisa Campos: Although she has no direct ties to Arizona, Campos understands the intricacies of the state university system after spending five years (2012-17) as NAU’s athletic director. (The Flagstaff school shares a board of regents with Arizona and ASU.) She also hired UTSA coach Jeff Traylor, who has turned the Roadrunners into one of the top Group of Five programs.

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Boise State’s Jeramiah Dickey: Arizona’s wish list undoubtedly includes Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades, a Tucson native and Arizona graduate who, in our view, is far beyond the Wildcats’ price range. If not Rhoades, what about a Rhoades disciple? Dickey worked under Rhoades at multiple stops, including Baylor, before taking the top spot in Boise. He’s known for expertise on the external side of the business (i.e., revenue generation and donor relations), which Arizona needs, desperately.

Utah’s Mark Harlan: The obvious choice for Arizona ... if he’s interested. Harlan is highly regarded in college sports and currently serves on the College Football Playoff selection committee. He’s an Arizona graduate who worked in both the athletic department and for central campus (in fundraising). And he has a strong relationship with new football coach Brent Brennan from their time together at San Jose State two decades ago. The Hotline is skeptical of Harlan’s willingness to make the jump, but he should be Arizona’s first call.

Villanova’s Mark Jackson: One of the few athletic directors in the country who not only oversees a basketball program on Arizona’s level but also would view a Big 12 AD seat as an upward move. (Villanova’s football team competes in the FCS.) However, Jackson has experience with football at its highest level, having served as USC’s sport supervisor during the Pete Carroll-era dynasty.

New Mexico’s Eddie Nuñez: If a basketball school like Arizona wants a basketball-focused athletic director, it would be difficult to beat Nuñez, who played for Florida during the early years of the Billy Donovan era. Given the financial challenges in Albuquerque, Nuñez understands how to squeeze every penny out of a dollar, compete against schools with more resources and make difficult fiscal decisions.

Nevada’s Stephanie Rempe: Prior to assuming the top post in Reno in the summer of 2022, Rempe was LSU’s chief operating officer. Before that, she held the same post at Texas A&M. But long before her turn as a top-tier Power Five administrator, Rempe was a volleyball player ... at Arizona. She knows the school but doesn’t have fingerprints on any of the issues that have plagued the Wildcats in recent years.