When Joni Comstock stepped onto AU's campus as the new Athletic Director four months ago, she had no idea she'd be making such a monstrous hire so quickly.
Now, here she sits, about to name the new Women's Basketball head coach, a hire that could make or break her tenure as the AD.
Aside from Jeff Jones' Men's Basketball squad, the women's team is arguably AU's second-biggest sport, thus increasing the importance of Comstock's first hire.
"We're really just trying to support the development of Women's Basketball," Comstock said. "Since this is my first hire, I'm being extra careful to make sure we get the right person."
And find the right person she may have done. Comstock has said AU is "close" to an agreement with a head coach. Over the past several weeks, she has brought two candidates to campus and has been very impressed with both. One more will be visiting this week.
After the visit, Comstock hopes to name a coach by the time students athletes leave for summer break in early May.
"My goal all along has been for the student-athletes to meet the new coach, and we're still trying to do that," Comstock said.
Comstock admitted that there have been some delays in the search, due to the fact that she is on the Women's Basketball Committee and attended each round of the NCAA tournament. Thus, she was out of town for almost the entire month of March.
However, while she was covering the tournament, she was able to meet some candidates and talk to others that could suggest potential candidates.
"Most of the people I've interviewed were people I knew or who a trusted colleague led me to," said Comstock of the 12-person field who was considered for the job.
As for what the coach will bring to AU, Comstock is aiming for someone coming from a prominent program with a great coaching experience. This could come in the form of an assistant coach coming from a successful program, such as Georgia or Virginia.
Previous coach Shann Hart came from Division III St. Mary's (MD), and it's unlikely Comstock will go that route.
In her illustrious career, Comstock has hired coaching greats Nell Fortner and Carolyn Peck, who have both won NCAA Championships.
Fortner, a close friend of Comstock's, just took the head-coaching job at Auburn, so the biggest name on the market is now employed, though it's doubtful she was ever a contender for the AU job.
Comstock said she knows what this job has to offer and hasn't been surprised at the overwhelming amount of interest during the search.
"We're in a very strong position because I fully believe this is the best situation in the Patriot League, and we're looking for someone who can help us dominate the league for years to come," Comstock said.
AU may now be competing for a coach against PL champion Colgate, whose former coach, Beth Combs, went home to Chicago to coach Northwestern University of the Big Ten Conference.
But Comstock said she doesn't think the Colgate opening will hurt AU because they are such different situations, and she feels that AU has more to offer. In addition, seeing someone move up from the PL to the Big-10 just helps potential coaches see how far they can go.
Whoever may be coming to campus, the only sure thing is that this person will have AU competing for the PL championship right away. With much of last year's team coming back, a new system will help the Eagles rebound and make a run at the NCAA's.
This hire has to be it for AU's new AD, for as she knows best, you only get one chance to make a great first impression.
