Jay Jacobs is the current director of athletics for the Auburn Tigers athletic department.
He was named Auburn's 14th Director of Athletics on December 22, 2004, after working in almost every area of the Auburn Athletic Department for the previous 20 years. His current annual salary is nearly $500,000.[1]
In December 2008, Jacobs came under considerable criticism[2][3][4] for the resignation of head football coach Tommy Tuberville and subsequent hiring of former Iowa State football coach, Gene Chizik.[5] The public perception of the 2008 coaching search was so negative [6] that it created a groundswell of opposition to Jacobs by many Auburn fans, students and alumni. [7][8] (Notably, Auburn graduate and former NBA star Charles Barkley accused Jacobs and the school of "racism" in its hiring of Chizik over Buffalo head coach Turner Gill.[9][10][11])
[edit] 2008 Sports department challenges
Citing the handling of the football coaching search, the resignation of champion swimming coach David Marsh, the stagnation of the Auburn basketball program and the decline in the Auburn baseball program, many people have begun calling for Jacobs' resignation or release.[12] Under Jacobs' direction in 2008, the Auburn Athletic Department hit what has been dubbed as a "dreaded trifecta" by failing to have either its baseball, basketball, or football teams qualify for post season play.[13]
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