Oh, what a tangled web Dims weave
Sadly, this is not uncommon in a university environment. I'd be willing to bet the position was not widely advertised, often because a decision has already been made.
University faculty or administration jobs usually attract multiple candidates. The larger and more well-known the university is, the more candidates. This is especially true for fluff positions promoting the diversity gospel.
Given the facts outlined here, I would not be surprised if a donation or endowment is driving the hiring process here. I'd advise the person here to keep their mouth shut long enough to see if any other candidates come forward and/or if there is a colleague in the department they could trust, to raise these concerns privately.