Julia Donovan Darlow, current Michigan regent

"I think it’s a great choice and he will do a wonderful job for the university." _________________

Red Berenson, Michigan hockey coach

"You expect him to be able to relate to coaches and what coaches go through. It's easy to say, 'Well, the coach is doing a good job' when the team is winning, but when they're losing or when they have a problem and he'll find out the athletic director's job is obviously to have a vision for this department. But this department doesn't need a lot of new vision. You have to have a vision and you have to have high expectations.

"But you have to understand that getting there is going to be difficult and we're going through that a little bit with our football program. We've been through with our basketball program so Bill Martin had to put out a lot of fires along the way and deal with obstacles. It wasn't just being an athletic director and taking all the success of Michigan. You're a little bit of a fireman along the way." __________________

Chris Rizik, Ann Arbor venture capitalist and CEO of Renaissance Venture Capital Fund, which Brandon helped create.

“Michigan’s always had a great reputation for education, but athletics is what much of the country will know about Michigan. Success on the field - but also how the university conducts itself in athletics - all bear on the brand. Having somebody who’s cognizant of that is really important." _________________

John Bebow, executive director of nonpartisan think tank The Center for Michigan.

"Do you think the Maize and Blue fans in Michigan Stadium care whether the AD has an 'R' or 'D' beside his name? I don’t think that’s going to matter. It seems to me the street-level expectation is they want a winning and clean program. I don’t think his political affiliation will matter much." _________________

Al Glick, long-time Michigan donor and chairman of Alro Steel

"He's very qualified and he's got a great background. The first thing to me, is that he listens to people and sees what’s going on before making decisions. ...

"I also want to say that I’m 100 percent behind Rich Rodriguez, if you want to add that. I just hope Michigan fans are patient. He’s got to be able to concentrate on coaching and not deal with outside distractions. I’d be surprised if we’re not challenging for a national championship in three years." _________________

Fred Glass, Indiana athletic director

"To get the CEO of a company like Domino’s to be the athletic director I think is a coup for the University of Michigan. To be a chief executive officer takes a really extraordinary skill set and one, in my experience, tells me will serve him extraordinarily well at the University of Michigan." ____________________

Morgan Burke, Purdue athletic director

"In looking at Dave's background, the advantage he would have, for example, over me is the fact that he's been in some leadership positions with them and I didn't have that. ...

"I think he'll have a better sense for the strategic issues that the university faces, that he can understand state funding issues that all of us are going through. And while that doesn't directly affect athletics, it indirectly does because, as scholarship costs go up, we all absorb those. So it's like a tax on the athletic department. But he'll have a leg up in that regard." __________________

Rich Maloney, Michigan baseball coach

"It's always good if you have that person that's been part of the family, and when you get that, you get the best of both worlds. This is a very important position and obviously, I think Dave understands how important it is. (Michigan) is on a global stage and he has to be the ambassador that represents athletics."

__________________

Mark Rosen, Michigan volleyball coach

"I love the fact that he was a varsity student-athlete, and so he has that understanding of the tradition and the history that's here and he has the pride we all have in the Block M.

"He's got proven leadership skills in running two successful corporations and I think that will help him in running the business of sports here. It's a perfect fit. I also love the fact he's part of the community - it's not like he's new to the power structure."

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Daniel Horning, former university regent.

"More than anything, when Dave was on the board, I think he was a true listener," said Horning, who served on the regents with Brandon. "He was not quick to pass judgment. He was very thorough.

"David really realizes the impact that the private fundraising will have at the university and, in particular, the athletic department."

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John Beilein, Michigan basketball coach and search committee member.

"This is great news for the University of Michigan and our athletic department. There was no question in my mind after the interview process that David Brandon is the right fit to lead our program at this time and in the years to come."

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Lloyd Carr, former Michigan football coach.

"David Brandon brings a resume as a proven leader with a comprehensive knowledge of the institution and understanding of intercollegiate athletics. This is a great choice for the University of Michigan and for intercollegiate athletics."