Mike Bohn ‘resigns’ as Colorado’s athletic director
Athletic director Mike Bohn “resigned” from the University of Colorado on Monday, according to a release from the school.
"Mike Bohn led CU-Boulder athletics in a time of great transition and change,” Chancellor Phil DiStefano said in the statement. “We are grateful to him for his vision, passion and commitment, and for his key role in revitalizing men's and women's basketball, helping us to join the Pac-12 Conference, and in taking important steps to upgrade athletic facilities at CU-Boulder. We wish him well."
The “resignation” comes at a strange time given the fact that Bohn was just awarded a five-year contract extension in 2011.
He also was allowed to hire his third football coach — after two failed endeavors with Dan Hawkins and Jon Embree — and announced facility upgrades that were key in the hiring of current football coach Mike MacIntyre.
However, raising money for those facility upgrades may have been the problem.
A couple weeks ago, Boulder Daily Camera beat writer Kyle Ringo noted that Bohn was unhappy with the checks and balances he had to go through to raise money for the university. In February, Colorado announced that it was seeking $50 million in private donations to help supplement the $170 million the university was planning to use for upgrades across several different athletic facilities on campus. Colorado has traditionally had trouble gaining significant monetary support from its fan base.
Despite a lack of results on the football field and some struggles in fundraising, Bohn did help Colorado get out of the Big 12 and into the Pac-12, which will ultimately be a major financial boon for the university.
Maybe new leadership is exactly what Colorado needs to get out of its funk. While basketball has been impressive for the Buffaloes over the last couple years, football — the school’s supposed moneymaker — has been woeful. Of course, not all of that is on Bohn, but a new way of thinking might energize what has become an apathetic fan base.
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