More on Tom Wistrcill

Miscellaneous
The next athletic director at the University of Akron is coming off a year where he helped to sell 50,000 tickets to the first game at the University of Minnesota's stadium.
It is this sort of achievement that pushed Tom Wistrcill over the hump for UA President Luis Proenza. The administration is greatly concerned with making InfoCision Stadium a success.
Before his interview with the president, Wistrcill investigated campus. He dropped by a soccer practice, a volleyball practice and the Rec Center. He called former Akron athletic director Mike Thomas to get a feel for the job.
While Proenza thought highly of the runner up Hunter Yurachek, he chose Wistrcill because of his marketing accomplishments and his energy.
You cannot argue with Proenza's choices for athletic director. Several schools coveted Thomas, before he moved on to Cincinnati. Mack Rhoades was a finalist for a few jobs before Houston selected him. Even the interim athletic directors, Yurachek and Mike Waddell, are future Division I athletic directors.
Zips fans should be very excited that Wistrcill brings a wealth of experience in marketing a similar -- albeit larger -- football program. He also shares Yurachek's track record of sterling references at all points in his career.
Wistrcill also has experience working for a former MAC athletic director. His boss at Minnesota was Joel Maturi, the former AD at Miami (Ohio).
The PD's Elton Alexander reported that some people within the athletic department are upset about the hiring. Some even believe that my previous report sabotaged Yurachek's chances.
I'm not sure how that's possible. Maybe the administration was leaning toward Yurachek, but I have a hard time believing fans' comments persuaded Proenza to go with Wistrcill. The administration knew that a majority of fans wanted a fresh face weeks ago. It's nothing new.
Click here to read Tom Gaffney's story, which includes quotes from Wistrcill. I plan to speak with Wistrcill in the near future, as well.
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Football
Akron received its ninth commitment for 2010 on Monday, according to ScoutingOhio.com.
Lawrence Smith, wide receiver/safety, Painesville, Ohio Offers: Akron and Ohio Height: 6-foot-0 Weight: 190 Speed: 4.45 Notes: ScoutingOhio.com ranks Smith as the No. 141 prospect in Ohio. Rivals.com calls Smith an impressive athlete. Akron recruited him as a safety, while Ohio put the generalized "athlete" tag on him.
Click here for the cumulative list of offers and commitments.