by Katy Knapp
Daily Lobo
Paul Krebs has a solution for the dwindling attendance at Lobo basketball games.
"One thing always improves attendance, and that's winning," he said. "I know that's easier said than done."
Krebs, Rick Hartzell and Jim Schaus are making pitches to the UNM community this week as to why they are qualified to fill Rudy Davalos' shoes. Davalos will be leaving the University after serving as athletics director for 13 years.
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Krebs, the athletic director at Bowling Green State University, was the first on the chopping block.
He said beyond winning, he doesn't know enough to offer a solution to The Pit's attendance problems.
The Pit has seen 13,344 in its stands this season, compared to 14,309 last season.
Members of the Albuquerque media poured into a conference room at the Embassy Suites on Friday to ask the candidate what sets him apart from the competition.
"I bring a wide breadth of background in the athletic administration," Krebs said, citing fundraising achievements and securing funding for facilities, including a $3 million project while serving as athletics director of Ohio State University from 1993-99.
Krebs is in the middle of obtaining $18 million from the Ohio state government for athletics, which is part of a larger $110 million goal. The athletics department at Bowling Green is also building a $8.7 million student-athlete center decked out with weight training rooms and offices for football coaches.
Jamie Koch, president of the UNM Board of Regents, said he wouldn't comment on Krebs until all three finalists had been interviewed. He hopes to name a director on March 13 during a regents meeting.
Krebs applied for the position because of the good athletics program and because his wife, Marjori, has family in the region, he said.
Krebs plans to maintain a close working relationship with coaches if he were to secure the position, he said, but he wouldn't be a micromanager.
"I believe you hire the best coaches you can and let them run their programs," he said. "I am not going to sit over a coach's shoulder and question substitution patterns."
Krebs said there are a lot of similarities between Ohio State University and UNM, one being the passionate fan base.
"In Columbus, Ohio, everyone eats and sleeps Ohio State Buckeyes. All the media attention is focused on it," he said. "It's also the state capitol. And while Albuquerque is not the state capitol, the proximity to Santa Fe and the close relationship with the Legislature - there's a lot of familiarity."
The Lobos receive a lot of media attention, especially the basketball and football programs, Krebs said, and he would maintain a close relationship with the press.
"I think that's a good thing, the passion and the interest," he said. "It's how we, as an athletics department, work with the media, how open we are in communicating, and how we manage that attention."
Krebs said there could be worse things than having constant media attention.
"I'd rather have that than a scenario where you're trying to drum up interest and support for your athletic program," he said.
Breda Bova, director of the search committee, said each candidate endures a barrage of events during the interview process. They start the day by having breakfast with coaches, then they meet with the search committee, alumni, Faculty Senate, the Lobo Club, the regents and acting President David Harris.
Members of each group fill out evaluation forms to help the regents make their final decision.
Hartzell is in Albuquerque today being interviewed. Schaus will be interviewed Tuesday.
