Sunday Chat is a weekly feature appearing in The Blade’s print and digital platforms each Sunday.
Earlier this summer, University of Toledo athletic director Bryan Blair had an important hire to make.
Former deputy AD Al Tomlinson, who had been part of a record fund-raising haul, left for a job at Tennessee, creating a valuable vacancy that Toledo couldn’t afford to miss on.
The Rockets went with Connor Whelan, a Pittsburgh native who has worked exclusively in the South but is considered a rising star in athletics administration, with a track record for improving fan experience and generating revenue.