Being Bill Martin
Eric Lacy of the Detroit News recently conducted an in-depth interview with University of Michigan athletic director Bill Martin. The main topic, of course, was the status of men’s basketball coach Tommy Amaker. Reading a bit between the lines, I get the sense that Amaker’s days in Ann Arbor are numbered:
Q . Do you have a decision in your head about Amaker?
A . I’m, at this stage, very, very open.
…
Q . What’s your take on this year’s basketball season?A . There’s been moments where we’re pounding our chest and other moments where we’re frustrated. We’re all fans and all want the best for the players, coaches and the university — of course.
But my objective, with all of our programs, is to sustain competitive excellence. I believe that we should be routinely, in every sport, top three in the conference and every few years, seriously contending for national championships.
…
Q . A lot of people find it odd Amaker doesn’t do a coach’s show. His assistants do it. Does that concern you, knowing other coaches do that kind of thing to promote their programs?A . I’ve never talked to him specifically about it.
Michigan will almost certainly miss the NCAA tournament again this year, with their last tournament appearance being way back in 1998. If Amaker could have made the tournament just once over the past two years, when he was in good position to do so, or was better about promoting the program, there would be a legitimate case for keeping him on as head coach.
But his apathy perfectly complements the way his teams have played the past two seasons when the program should have turned the corner and competed for one of those top three spots in the conference and an NCAA tourney berth. He has done a good - not very good, not great - job at helping the team rebuild from the Ed Martin scandal and should be thanked for the job that he has done. But I suspect Bill Martin will fill both the men’s and women’s basketball coaching jobs this summer.
Putting that aside, you get the sense from Lacy’s interview that being athletic director is quite a burden on Martin. That also makes me believe that Martin is prepared to make a move and relieve Amaker of his duties. The interview was conducted before Michigan played Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament and Martin’s comments can only be described as grim. He also discusses the women’s basketball program, the football team playing Appalachian State this year, and eventually replacing Lloyd Carr. So that no doubt played a role in Martin’s dour replies.
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