Like most successful corporations, the
University Athletic Association has many employees working behind the
scenes who rarely get recognized for their good work outside their own
offense.
It’s time to give a shout out to one such employee at UF — associate athletic director Mike Spiegler.
Spiegler
is the man behind the hiring of new women’s golf coach Jan Dowling on
Monday. Spiegs conducted the search, did all the leg work (and it was
considerable, I’m told), came up with a list of candidates and helped
set up the interview between athletic director Jeremy Foley and Dowling
last week. According to Foley, Dowling “knocked it out of the park”
during her interview. Less than a week later, she was hired.
Foley
thinks UF has uncovered a real gem here, someone who will elevate the
program to elite status in the nation. After listening to her on a
conference call Monday, I can see why Foley, Spiegler and everyone else
over at UAA is excited about the hire. She’s energetic, passionate
about this job and eager to start rebuilding the women’s golf program.
I have a feeling she’s going to be a dynamic recruiter and teacher in
the mold of Urban Meyer, Billy Donovan, Mary Wise, Tim Walton … and
every other coach at UF.
Foley said Monday that Spiegler deserves credit for the great work he did bringing Dowling to Florida.
So, here it is: Good job, Spiegs.
