Brad Underwood contract extension through 2026-27

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#27      
Guenther allowed, by way of not fully doing his job, the destruction of a decent football program (when he took over) and the extreme decline of the basketball program. While he made some good hires in basketball, he didn’t do enough to keep them around. He also didn’t do enough to push bad football coaches out when it was obvious they couldn’t get it done. No excuses with the BTN money when other programs in the conference were able to manage just fine without it.
I agree with Guenther on the football hires.

I still think it's ludicrous to believe that he could have kept Kruger or Self.

We just found out how a boatload of money still isn't enough to keep an assistant here.
 
#28      
I agree with Guenther on the football hires.

I still think it's ludicrous to believe that he could have kept Kruger or Self.

We just found out how a boatload of money still isn't enough to keep an assistant here.
Agreed. Self’s dream job was KU. The minute that job opened up, he was gone regardless f money. And Kruger’s wife wanted out of Champaign the minute he arrived.

I’d swear I saw somewhere that Underwood viewed Illinois as his dream job.
 
#29      
I agree with Guenther on the football hires.

I still think it's ludicrous to believe that he could have kept Kruger or Self.

We just found out how a boatload of money still isn't enough to keep an assistant here.
Me thinks it depends on the size of the boat
 
#30      
I agree with Guenther on the football hires.

I still think it's ludicrous to believe that he could have kept Kruger or Self.

We just found out how a boatload of money still isn't enough to keep an assistant here.
Months earlier Self had been passed over by Mizzou and your telling me he will turn down a P5 offer because the buyouts too big. He would have come. Yes, KU was Self's dream job and he took it and I understand that completely but I have seen 8 ADs in 55 years and Guenther and Cecil Coleman were the least visionary of them all. We might as well had CPAs running the program What JW pulled off in pilfering BU would have been inconceivable to Guenther, it wouldn't have even crossed his mind.
 
#31      
What JW pulled off in pilfering BU would have been inconceivable to Guenther, it wouldn't have even crossed his mind.
I do agree with this. I just find the constant harping by some about Guenther losing Self to be tiresome. Likewise with Cecil Coleman and Bartow. The idea that we could have kept a coach from jumping to UCLA in 1975 was ridiculous.
 
#32      
Agreed. Self’s dream job was KU. The minute that job opened up, he was gone regardless f money. And Kruger’s wife wanted out of Champaign the minute he arrived.

I’d swear I saw somewhere that Underwood viewed Illinois as his dream job.
Here you go: Dream Job

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#33      
Guenther allowed, by way of not fully doing his job, the destruction of a decent football program (when he took over) and the extreme decline of the basketball program. While he made some good hires in basketball, he didn’t do enough to keep them around. He also didn’t do enough to push bad football coaches out when it was obvious they couldn’t get it done. No excuses with the BTN money when other programs in the conference were able to manage just fine without it.

Here, Here well said my good man!!(y)(y)
 
#35      
In the words of noted Pacific Northwest philosopher, scholar and gentleman, as well as a neighbor of mine, Ben Haggerty .. you might know him as Macklemore…

“This is !!!!ing awesome.”
 
#36      

Dbell1981

Decatur, IL
Lets revisit the clownzo vs. Underwood conversation. Seems like a great time. I have a feeling itll be all crickets from the BU haters that wanted Martin.
 
#37      
Lets revisit the clownzo vs. Underwood conversation. Seems like a great time. I have a feeling itll be all crickets from the BU haters that wanted Martin.

Heh, truth. The pro-Martin camp didn't age well. Even that first season with the insane #1 recruiting class didn't really go anywhere.
 
#38      
I like that we’re extending BU given we’re heading in the right direction and he’s the right man for the job right now- but let’s not act like he’s a hot commodity nationally that needs a huge buyout

Coaches approaching 60 who have never take a team to the second weekend of the tournament (3-5) aren’t exactly candidates for the bigger paying jobs. This is a win-win, he’s the coach we need right now and the bigger paying jobs aren’t going to come calling
 
#39      
I like that we’re extending BU given we’re heading in the right direction and he’s the right man for the job right now- but let’s not act like he’s a hot commodity nationally that needs a huge buyout

Coaches approaching 60 who have never take a team to the second weekend of the tournament (3-5) aren’t exactly candidates for the bigger paying jobs. This is a win-win, he’s the coach we need right now and the bigger paying jobs aren’t going to come calling
I don't think he would have left for Kansas St., but that job has got to open up soon, it is his alma mater, and if BU's agent is even halfway competent he and BU were at least letting Whitman believe (and possibly even fostering that belief) that the K St. job could be appealing to him. That's just good negotiating. And if you're Kansas St. BU would have to be one of your first phone calls.
 
#40      
I like that we’re extending BU given we’re heading in the right direction and he’s the right man for the job right now- but let’s not act like he’s a hot commodity nationally that needs a huge buyout

Coaches approaching 60 who have never take a team to the second weekend of the tournament (3-5) aren’t exactly candidates for the bigger paying jobs. This is a win-win, he’s the coach we need right now and the bigger paying jobs aren’t going to come calling

I tend to agree with being cautious on long term contracts, so I partially agree with you. That said, he's hotter than that statement would imply. He took a program that had deteriorated out of national relevance and got it to a #1 seed in the tournament. His BigTen conference wins by year are 4, 7, 13, 16, and the program is heading into a third season ranked nationally. The tourney wins will come. Hard to say how far his teams will go, but he has a pretty high ceiling. He's also very good as a representative of the University --doesn't put his foot in his mouth or push around the blame when there's adversity. Every year there's at least a half dozen programs looking for a coach of his ability.
 
#41      
I tend to agree with being cautious on long term contracts, so I partially agree with you. That said, he's hotter than that statement would imply. He took a program that had deteriorated out of national relevance and got it to a #1 seed in the tournament. His BigTen conference wins by year are 4, 7, 13, 16, and the program is heading into a third season ranked nationally. The tourney wins will come. Hard to say how far his teams will go, but he has a pretty high ceiling. He's also very good as a representative of the University --doesn't put his foot in his mouth or push around the blame when there's adversity. Every year there's at least a half dozen programs looking for a coach of his ability.
I agree he’s got the program going in the right direction- but it’s a little funny to say a 57 year old coach has a high ceiling!

I’m sure there are a lot of programs that would want him- programs that would pay him more than $5M a year? Not so much- including Kansas St- Weber makes $2.7M and they cut his salary last year because they couldn’t afford it during the pandemic. it’s literally a top 10 salary - the other top 10 schools paying that much are not hiring BU, like I said, I’m a fan but not a fan of having to lock up a large buyout either way
 
#42      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Let's not ignore the message this sends to potential recruits. Stability. Culture. Family.

That's 3/5ths of a solid formula that equals success, with money and winning filling out the rest. You could probably dissect all the blue bloods and find this formula near the beginning of their success.
 
#43      
I agree with Guenther on the football hires.

I still think it's ludicrous to believe that he could have kept Kruger or Self.

We just found out how a boatload of money still isn't enough to keep an assistant here.
Guenther was not all bad Weber and Zook were decent fans may have forced them out but I take a Zook recruiting class and on field performance over the last 15 years. Underwood and BB have the potential to did greater things.
BU needs to deliver in March soon or fans may get restless

I just want a basketball team that makes the dance 5 out of 6 years and makes a elite 8 every 5-10 years with a final four sprinkle in every once in awhile.

for football average 6 wins and every 10 years compete for a conference championship

I am not greedy and I think our current staffs are capable
 
#44      
I tend to agree with being cautious on long term contracts, so I partially agree with you. That said, he's hotter than that statement would imply. He took a program that had deteriorated out of national relevance and got it to a #1 seed in the tournament. His BigTen conference wins by year are 4, 7, 13, 16, and the program is heading into a third season ranked nationally. The tourney wins will come. Hard to say how far his teams will go, but he has a pretty high ceiling. He's also very good as a representative of the University --doesn't put his foot in his mouth or push around the blame when there's adversity. Every year there's at least a half dozen programs looking for a coach of his ability.
If you objectively look at his head coaching resume thus far, the numbers are sparkling. 2014-2017 BU is all over the coaching record books. The only other coach in history to win 89 games through their first 3 seasons is Brad Stevens. He now owns the most wins and best winning percentage over the last two Big10 campaigns with a conference tourney crown to boot. I really think he is the goods
 
#45      
I like that we’re extending BU given we’re heading in the right direction and he’s the right man for the job rightempli now- but let’s not act like he’s a hot commodity nationally that needs a huge buyout

Coaches approaching 60 who have never take a team to the second weekend of the tournament (3-5) aren’t exactly candidates for the bigger paying jobs. This is a win-win, he’s the coach we need right now and the bigger paying jobs aren’t going to come calling
I would think coaches that can turn around a program in 3 years would be of interest to any major program....some program is employing Larry Brown and he is 80ish.
 
#46      
I agree he’s got the program going in the right direction- but it’s a little funny to say a 57 year old coach has a high ceiling!

I’m sure there are a lot of programs that would want him- programs that would pay him more than $5M a year? Not so much- including Kansas St- Weber makes $2.7M and they cut his salary last year because they couldn’t afford it during the pandemic. it’s literally a top 10 salary - the other top 10 schools paying that much are not hiring BU, like I said, I’m a fan but not a fan of having to lock up a large buyout either way
Last season BU was the #12 top paid HC in college basketball, so all it would have taken him to get to top 10 is about $200k more if I'm reading this correctly.


I think this move was primarily about keeping BU happy and rewarding his phenomenal job performance to date. But if you're going to give him more anyway, why not structure the buyout so he is pretty much certain not to take another job. Get a little something in exchange for giving something.
 
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