Adams: “I want an outside opinion to take a hard look at what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. As well as we’re doing it, can we do it better?"
The prez has developed a reputation both far and near as a realpolitikky careerist. So this move could be perceived as a way to ensure Adams retains as much control as possible. Promoting from within would be giving more power to someone with loyalties throughout the university, while looking outside Athens means Adams can bring in a new face that leads people to use cliches like crony, puppet, and ilk.
Or maybe he’s acting out of accordance with the character that has been read into many of his previous decisions. Who knows. Dawg Sports can surely come up with a better take on this than the one I’ve just thrown together.