KSUFans Archives
Sports => Snyder's Electronic Cyber Space World => Topic started by: sonofdaxjones on June 18, 2008, 02:28:57 PM
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Personal Notes added:
Posted on Sun, Jun. 15, 2008
or life, it won't be because he's a nice guy," Krause said.".. You have to demonstrate y
Krause brings passion to KSU post
BY JEFFREY MARTIN
The Wichita Eagle
The new athletic director at Kansas State has never been an athletic director, and he's inheriting the post from Tim Weiser, a native of Emporia whose understated style and fiscal responsibility made him a solid, if not perfect, fit in Manhattan. Weiser was a perfect fit if you prefer a slightly better version of Max Urick
The new athletic director is also the current vice president of institutional advancement, initially hired by K-State president Jon Wefald, who is retiring at the end of the upcoming academic year.
Plus, the new athletic director is also an admittedly passionate supporter of Wildcat athletics, which are in the midst of a transition the new athletic director likens to 1988, just after he arrived on campus, when football was a mess and basketball reached the NCAA Elite Eight.
This could be a confusing time, at least troublesome, but Bob Krause isn't concerned.
Take his animated courtside antics at Bramlage Coliseum, for instance.
"Heaven knows I get caught up in the emotion," Krause said, smiling. "I hate to lose at anything."
In the past, officials haven't been safe from his vitriol. Now?
"I don't want to get fined $10,000," he said, shaking his head between laughs.
The laughter subsides, though, when Krause is asked about the direction of K-State athletics. Under his direction. Technically, Krause is sharing the position with Jim Epps, the university's senior associate athletic director, but Epps handles the day-to-day, almost administrative responsibilities.
Krause, who remains in his Anderson Hall office, is focusing on the big picture, which is, in his vernacular, all about "consistently competing for championships." It's a familiar refrain echoed by K-State's two highest-profile coaches, football's Ron Prince and basketball's Frank Martin, and it's little surprise both men were thrilled when Krause was appointed Weiser's successor.
"He's one of the guys who stepped up to the plate and hired me," Martin said. "I'm all about going for it all."
Case in point -- the escalating arms/facilities race in Big 12 Conference athletics. K-State had talked (and talked) about athletic renovations, including the construction of a practice facility so, in Krause's words, "Frank or Deb (Patterson, women's coach) don't have to take their teams to Washburn to practice because we're using Bramlage for a Landon Lecture." (Yes, talked and talked was correct, but without a strong figurehead to lead the effort it was never going to happen, this pissed off Bob Huggins a LOT. The powertards have floated every concieveable excuse as to why Timid Timmy couldn't move on these things faster. But the shear reality of the matter is that Timid Timmy had neither the will nor a desire to see these project through. People who know, know this was the case, he purposely drug his feet at every possible moment.)
But the process, in terms of fund-raising and planning, had been moving at a deliberate pace.
Suddenly, there are details -- a $70 million project that will be financed by private contributions and bonding that features a basketball complex, a Wildcat Hall of Fame and tweaks to the west sides of Snyder Family Stadium and Bramlage Coliseum.
"We hadn't done what we said we were going to do," Krause said. "It's human nature. It's nobody's fault. You get to a point where you're succeeding and then all of the sudden, you stop to smell the roses a little bit.
"One thing I learned working with Jon for 31 years is there's an expectation of 'take care of it now.' You don't take care of it next week. Do it later this afternoon. Get on it now and take care of it. If you do, you'll have energy to do some other things."
Such as raising funds, an obvious strength. At a recent Catbacker event in Scott City, Krause stressed the importance of committing to the cause, now more than ever. He'll be more visible and hands-on in this capacity than his predecessor, and the approach should be effective.(every significant fund raising effort in college athletics is spearheaded by a strong, active AD aka, the exact opposite of Timid Tim Weiser)
Plus, it suits his personality.
"Bob is bold and daring," Martin said.
That, of course, was Prince's catchphrase during his rookie season, when K-State finished 7-6 and ended a two-season bowl drought with an appearance in the Texas Bowl. But then 2007 happened, a 5-7 season punctuated by a winless (and punchless) November that Prince said recently at that same Catbacker event in Scott City left the coach "embarrassed" and "disgusted."
Some fans felt the same way. Krause understands. He lived the so-called "Decade of Dominance" engineered by his good friend Bill Snyder.
"Football is the largest engine," he said.
But there won't be any major changes. Not this year, and probably not next year, either.
"The wins have to come -- that's the bottom line," Krause said. "But you can't judge (Prince) on one season. He has close to a .500 record, and he's a coach who I believe has a plan. I believe he's the right guy. I believe the responsibility that I and our staff have is to literally find a way to provide the infrastructure, the financial strength, the patience and the guidance to keep going back to that plan. (Translation and you'll see this further down in the article: Ron, Frank-we're going to give you everything we possible can to help you win . . . but you better win)
"I'm feeling good about where the progress is at. Am I happy where we're at in terms of wins and losses? Heavens no."
He continues to defend Prince, with whom he has been in discussions since last July in regards to a contract extension:
What other K-State football coach has won 13 games and landed in a bowl game in his first two seasons? Trick question -- never happened before Prince. When was the last time K-State won 12 games in a coach's first two seasons? Ninety-seven years ago.
Then, he's asked about dropping Fresno State from this season's nonconference schedule.
Krause shrugs his shoulders.
"If it's all about winning, and that's the emotional trigger -- no one remembers who you played," he said. "They only remember your record."
He preaches patience, although he's 62 and estimates his might only be in a four- or five-year window. But he also reiterates that everything, including his new job, is performance-based.
"If (Prince) is going to be here for life, it won't be because he's a nice guy," Krause said.".. You have to demonstrate you have value and can earn it every day. There is no resting on the laurels. I'm committed to the end goal. I believe in the people I have.
"And if I don't, I'll tell them that."
But, he's asked, how can he be so certain? After all, he's a first-time athletic director. Isn't it possible that, given his tendency to scream from the front row at Bramlage or a private box at Snyder Family Stadium, his viewpoint might be skewed?
Is it conceivable that being a professed fan might hinder his effectiveness?
No chance, he said.
"You can't get too close on an emotional level," Krause said. "It's the discipline to execute the plan and also keeping the emotions in check.... It's an adjustment on my part. I have to take a dispassionate view of the competition itself. I have to spend more time in the nuts and bolts, the behind-the-scenes where that hasn't been where I've been in athletics.
"It's a business."
Jeffrey Martin covers Kansas State sports. Reach him at 316-269-6763 or [email protected].
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Weiser was a complete f-ing disaster. Still can't believe he hired huggins.
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Not a mention about Krause's family status with the Vaniers
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Not a mention about Krause's family status with the Vaniers
Well, since he married into the Vanier family...it is very apparent who wears the pants in his household.