[washingtonismoney]

Stanford has also used them for high profile hires. They are another tool for busy ADs and, I suspect, a way to test the water with high profile coaches before an AD has let the previous guy go and without getting his/her own hands dirty.

Right. That and that way the approached coach can claim, "I haven't been talking with any other schools!" when convenient. The AD can claim, "I only offered the job to [candidate X]."

The search firm also probably does a lot of the scut work as well -- arranging the super-secret meeting place for final candidates, eliminating some people who are unrealistic, etc.

Point is, if you have a record of crummy hiring decisions, my bet is most of it is on the AD.

[washingtonismoney]

Stanford has also used them for high profile hires. They are another tool for busy ADs and, I suspect, a way to test the water with high profile coaches before an AD has let the previous guy go and without getting his/her own hands dirty.

Right. That and that way the approached coach can claim, "I haven't been talking with any other schools!" when convenient. The AD can claim, "I only offered the job to [candidate X]."

The search firm also probably does a lot of the scut work as well -- arranging the super-secret meeting place for final candidates, eliminating some people who are unrealistic, etc.

Point is, if you have a record of crummy hiring decisions, my bet is most of it is on the AD.