From outsiders’ perspectives, it might seem like Cal has dragged its feet on the search for an athletic director — waiting five months after Mike Williams announced his plans to retire and leaving fewer than four months until his final day to make the hire.
But Cal, which officially launched its search by retaining the Witt/Kieffer firm Wednesday, believes it is on schedule and will obtain a top-notch candidate.
“We are all very confident that, given the existing interest and awareness, we have more than enough time to identify, hire and bring on board an excellent candidate,” said Dan Mogulof, the university’s assistant vice chancellor of public affairs.
Mogulof said that Witt/Kieffer, already working from a deep talent pool, wasn’t hired sooner because of the importance of the search, the jammed schedules of the campus leadership and the nuanced steps necessary to secure the services of an outside vendor.
The recruitment will be led by Greg Santore, principal and leader of Witt/Kieffer’s Sports Leadership Practice, deputy manager partner Zachary Smith, and consultant Katy Young, a senior associate in Sports Leadership.
The university and consulting team are expected to announce position specifications and a timeline for completion of the search soon, and Mogulof offered an early look at what Cal will be seeking.
“In terms of what we’re looking for, above and beyond everything else, will be qualities and experience that will enable our next AD to ensure our student-athletes are provided with what they need to realize their academic and athletic aspirations and objectives. That’s where it stops and starts: our student-athletes,” he said. “To do that, the next AD will need extraordinary leadership, management and interpersonal skills, as well as depth of experience when it comes to responsible stewardship of resources; strategic planning and analysis; fundraising; revenue generation; creative/innovative approaches to problem solving and compliance.”
Chancellor Carol Christ recently said UC Berkeley will take on 54 percent of the approximately $440 million debt stemming from the Memorial Stadium renovation as well as the Simpson Student-Athlete High Performance Center.
About $9.5 million of the athletic department’s $18 million in annual debt-service payments will be shifted from athletic operations to central campus. Christ also has mandated that the department must have a balanced budget by 2020.
Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rsimmons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron