Lots of risk in UW's hire, but Woodward can adapt

Well, since University of Washington president Mark Emmert took my advice, I'm expecting a prorated portion of that $75,000 search-firm payment any day now.

The prolonged quest for an athletic director is over. Emmert turned to his right and tapped Scott Woodward on the shoulder. All is official, if not well, in Huskyland.

The Prez did just what I recommended Tuesday.

So give me my money.

Seriously, though, this decision has great potential. After an adventurous, convoluted, ill-planned Easter-egg hunt of a process, Emmert will wind up looking smart for sticking with one of his most trusted employees.

It shouldn't excuse him for turning this task into an episode of "Lost." It shouldn't discount the fact that Emmert is taking a considerable risk because he failed to land a seasoned AD. But over the past nine months, Woodward has spent his time showcasing his greatest skill, an asset that could make him an unexpected success story.

Adaptability.

As the interim chief, Woodward learned the nuances of running this athletic department in record time. Maybe it's his lobbyist upbringing. Maybe it's his astute nature. The man just seems to have already acquired a feel for this job, this situation, and he's open-minded enough to keep learning as he puts his mark all over Huskies athletics.

"The startup time will be roughly zero," Emmert said as he permanently shifted Woodward from vice president of external affairs to commander of athletic hysteria.

This isn't an easy job. The football program might need a bulldozer soon. The effort to get state funds to renovate Husky Stadium is full of trap doors. Every decision Woodward makes will come with a kind of scrutiny he has never experienced.

And whenever he makes a mistake, a sizable portion of the fan base will mock his Southern drawl, recall this awkward AD search and cast off Woodward as a Louisiana interloper who couldn't possibly grasp the mystical concept of being a Husky.

At his introductory news conference Wednesday, Woodward spent much time navigating questions on how to fix Huskies football. To me, he sounded pitch-perfect, acknowledging flaws, expressing his desire to do what's necessary to have a winning program and creating breathing room for a maligned coach who has begun the season 0-3 but still has nine games left on the schedule.

"No, I'm not happy," Woodward said when he encountered the first Tyrone Willingham question. "Nor is coach Willingham. Nor are the [players]. No one is happy."

Woodward intimated that, barring unforeseen circumstances, he would not fire Willingham during the season. He described his role as being a supporter until the season ended. Then he vowed to make the right decision on Willingham's future.

He said the right things, said the only things a leader in his position can say. He didn't sway in any direction on the controversial issue, but to illustrate the can't-win dilemma of anyone who's not roasting Willingham these days, Woodward has already drawn criticism for calling the coach "fabulous" and saying he doesn't see a good reason to shoot him out of a cannon right this minute.

Woodward has inherited an angry fan base. But unlike his predecessor, Todd Turner, he won't scorn the passion. He will embrace it.

"I understand that," he said of the uproar. "I get that. They can complain all they want because they have the right to."

Emmert and Woodward have worked together since 2000. Their relationship dates back to when Emmert was the Louisiana State chancellor and convinced Woodward, an LSU alum, to leave his lucrative private business — a public and government relations firm in Baton Rouge — to work for the school.

Woodward joked that he "sold the Mercedes and bought a Honda Accord" in order to answer the call.

Over the next four years, Emmert kept getting offered different jobs, and as he pondered whether to take them, he'd ask if Woodward were willing to join him. But only one prospect intrigued Woodward: moving to the West.

He had spent summers in Montana and loved its outdoorsy charm. He knew the rest of the West offered similar allure and adventure. He told Emmert, "Mark, if you ever get an offer in the West, I'm your guy."

Woodward laughed at the memory Wednesday and said, "He called my bluff."

Now Emmert has given Woodward the entire athletic department. It's an unconventional move. It's a move that comes after a wacky, winding search. But it's also a good move. It's a good move considering the scarcity of options, and it might prove to be a good move overall.

After the announcement, Emmert joked that he did exactly what I told him to do. It was a classy, thick-skinned gesture. I laughed at the coincidence and told him to give me a heads up next time, so I can scoop my own advice.

But I forgot to ask when I should expect payment. Woodward is moving into his new office soon. Ever heard of cash on delivery, Prez?

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com. For more columns and the Extra Points blog, visit seattletimes.com/sports