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PETE YOUNGSenior associate AD Sparks-McGlinchy would be top candidate should school need to replace AD Selmon.
Everyone involved in South Florida athletics is optimistic. They say they are anticipating Lee Roy Selmon's vibrant return to his athletic director post after a six-week sabbatical for a private health matter.
Selmon, however, said it is "highly unlikely" he will back in the same capacity. Which means USF likely will be looking for a new AD.
In 2001, when AD Paul Griffin stepped down, president Judy Genshaft heeded the recommendation of Carr Sports Associates consultants and hired from within, tabbing Selmon.
The USF athletic community overwhelmingly prefers an internal candidate again (if one is needed), citing continuity during a time of great change. At the top of the internal list would be senior associate athletic director Barbara Sparks-McGlinchy.
"We have a good, strong structure internally, and I think everybody would be comfortable playing this game along the home-team lines and not making a trade (for an outside AD candidate)," softball coach Ken Eriksen said. "Mr. Griffin and Lee Roy cultivated a great internal structure.
"(Sparks-McGlinchy) is very professional, detail-oriented and has a major emphasis on ethics and morals. She has a great understanding of this athletic program."
Internal candidates don't get much more internal than Sparks-McGlinchy, 53, the only senior associate AD on staff (there are seven associate ADs, many of whom could emerge as candidates). She has two USF degrees and has been working at the school since 1974 and in the athletic department since 1982.
"Barbara, (associate ADs) Bobby Paschal, Barry Clements, they have all put in their time and done very, very well," said baseball coach Eddie Cardieri, who is in his 22nd year at the school. "I'd be rooting for an internal candidate to get the kind of break that people like Ken Eriksen and I got by going from assistant to head coach."
Sparks-McGlinchy has garnered serious attention from other schools in recent years. Raised in Miami, Sparks-McGlinchy twice nearly returned to that area as she was a finalist for the AD job at Florida International and Florida Atlantic.
"She has been much sought after, and I think we would be great within the structure we have here," women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez cqbm said. "We have a lot of people in this athletic department who could run this program."
Added volleyball coach Nancy Mueller: "She knows (Selmon's) game plan and what our mission is and what we need to achieve as we go into the Big East. She has great communication with her coaches. She only cares about making this program the best it can be for everyone."
As when Griffin left, Sparks-McGlinchy is taking on increased responsibility. She, Selmon and executive vice president Carl Carlucci assumed acting athletic director duties for about two months in 2001. During Selmon's leave, Sparks-McGlinchy will oversee football and men's basketball.
"This has happened suddenly, and we need to make sure we don't miss a beat in Lee Roy's absence," said Sparks-McGlinchy, who declined to address a hypothetical scenario if Selmon, who she referred to as"Mr. Tampa," did not return. "We're approaching this as a six-week sabbatical and he'll be back."
Spokesperson Michael Reich said the school would not address the situation until the conclusion of the sabbatical. Bill Carr, the athletic director at Florida from 1979-86 and head of Carr Sports Associates, said the position is a more desirable job than ever.
"I would love to work with them again, so it wouldn't be appropriate to comment (on potential candidates)," Carr said. "I do know if Lee Roy doesn't return, there will be a lot of interest in (the job). They've made some very wise moves in recent years. I've already had people call me, informally, expressing interest in the position, and there are some very capable people internally."
Added booster Harold Astorquiza: "If they stay within, there are several good candidates. But I expect it to attract a lot of outside interest."