The same forgiveness cannot be expected for FSU AD Stan Wilcox. Oversight of the football program is, directly, his job. While we do not know the structure under which Wilcox operates at FSU, he clearly works for the President, whatever approach it is needs to be revised. All impressions point to a genuinely cordial, professional, and respectful relationship between Thrasher and Wilcox. However, and maybe it’s just his style, but numerous sources have noted the absence of Wilcox in high level news accounts about Fisher and instead that of President John Thrasher being fully engaged. If Thrasher is micro managing the football coach, given the state of the ACC, its anemic revenue relative to its peers and its endless hope and no revenue from the ACC Network, FSU’s less than impressive deal with Nike, one would be free to wonder what, exactly, Wilcox does at FSU. For none of the above point to any level of success.
Regardless of the relationships or management styles, Wilcox clearly failed to properly prepare for Fisher’s departure. To be fair to Wilcox, it’s hard to manage or control an employee who makes 8 times what you make and over whom your mutual boss seems to regularly swoon. However, it’s Wilcox job to do so and arguably, he didn’t do it very well for a man promoted to an academic VP who makes over $750,000 per year. Further analysis into the highest profile challenges facing FSU point to more confusion, if not weakness.
