Jim Knowlton announced his retirement as Cal's athletic director effective July 1, marking an end to a diminished role after hiring Ron Rivera to oversee the football program. His departure arose from issues with leadership and financial mismanagement during his tenure, which included a controversial coaching hire and budget shortfalls. The shift for both Knowlton and his counterpart at Stanford underscores the necessity for strong leadership in college athletics, particularly as they navigate new competitive landscapes in the ACC.
In many ways, Knowlton's tenure ended months ago. The moment the Bears hired Ron Rivera on March 20... Knowlton became the Zombie AD in Berkeley.
According to the terms of his contract, Knowlton would be owed his full salary for the remaining years if terminated without cause.
His departure tracks closely with the fate of Knowlton's former colleague across the bay... realized the football programs needed new leadership in these unprecedented times.
Knowlton's work over the course of seven years has been spotty, at best. He whiffed on a basketball coaching hire and was roundly criticized for his lack of leadership.
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