Todd Turner just spoke with a few of us beat writers about his resignation, and while he called the decision to leave a “mutual agreement” he certainly didn’t sound happy about leaving.
Turner was asked what has changed at the school for him to no longer be the right fit, which was the term used repeatedly by university president Dr. Mark Emmert, and Turner’s answer didn’t exactly come across as one of a person happy with the decision.
“I think it’s not so much what changed in my eyes as what changed in his. I’m the same person I was when I came here. I have 32 years of experience in Division I athletics at five universities. My knowledge of the intricacies of managing athletics is, at least from and experiential standpoint, as strong as anyone’s that I know of. That’s really a product of my age as much as anything else. But I’m the same person with the same values—and maybe even some improved management skills—that I was when I was hired 3 ½ years ago. And if the university has moved away from that as far as what they need for someone in this position, then that’s something that’s not my decision. I can respect it even if I disagree with it.”
He later added:
“I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed that I am not the fit that the university feels is necessary. And all along the way, I have tried my best, and I think my record speaks to this, to do everything that I was asked to do.”
Asked what led to the decision, he said:
“I don’t think there was any one thing. It just came to the realization that there was too much controversy in the air. It’s taken a lot of the fun out of it for me. It’s made it very difficult on the president and, you know, I’m at a point in my career where I don’t have to be an athletic director to be happy or be successful. I just feel like it’s probably the best opportunity for me.”
Check tomorrow’s Herald for more on this story.
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