University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel apologized Tuesday to football coach Brady Hoke and interim athletic director James Hackett for comments he made at a faculty meeting Monday afternoon, David Jesse reports in the Free Press.
"I have a great deal of respect for the efforts of our student-athletes and for the coaches and others in athletics who support them, and that did not come through in my earlier comments," Schlissel said in a question and answer with university spokesman Rick Fitzgerald, published on the university's web site early Wednesday morning. "I regret that."
During the Monday meeting, Schlissel talked about his concern about the role of academics in athletics. He talked about the graduation rate for football players and said his search for a new athletic director is taking some time because he's looking for someone who shares Schlissel's attitudes towards athletics.
Athletic controversy have overshadowed Schlissel's first several months in office, including the resignation of athletic director Dave Brandon late last month.
Schlissel also took time to talk to the Michigan Daily, U-M student newspaper.
