Hitt says choice for new Maine AD job is a coin flip

Peter Liske and Michael Ploszek, each described as nice guys who would be a perfect fit in the role as athletic director at the University of Maine, are involved in a neck-and-neck race for the post, according to the man who has the decision to make involving the position.

Interim President John Hitt met with Ploszek earlier this week and is meeting with Liske Wednesday night and Thursday morning. On Thursday evening, Hitt may be prepared to hire one of the two to replace Kevin White, who took the AD post at Tulane University last spring.

“This is a time where we could get out the old executive-decision-making coin and flip it,” Hitt said after meeting with Liske for about 30 minutes on Wednesday afternoon. “From the meetings I’ve had with them, either one could do the job very well.”

Ploszek, who met with Hitt earlier this week, is an assistant AD at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Liske, who had a dinner meeting scheduled with Hitt on Wednesday night and another meeting on Thursday, is an associate AD at the University of Washington.

“I ought to know everything by tomorrow afternoon,” said Hitt. “I do still want to hear from some key people who will also be meeting (with the candidates) before I make a decision.”

Hitt also said that having candidates like Liske and Ploszek was a bonus, despite the difficult decision before him.

“It’s a great position to be in,” Hitt said. “I like both of them a great deal.”