Coaching Carousel
- Status
I guess the era of the million-dollar recruiter was inevitable, but I never thought Illinois would be the program to usher it in. The challenge, of course, is that being the highest paid assistant ever brings with it enormous recruiting expectations. Those expectations are much easier to meet if your'e recruiting for Kentucky than Illinois.
I'm afraid that Whitman is initiating an arms race that the blue-chip programs are destined to win.
I'm afraid that Whitman is initiating an arms race that the blue-chip programs are destined to win.
I just don’t think “the relationship” is going to be the difference. I get what you mean though. I think it’s a “business” not “personal” decision.
sacraig
- The desert
Like one person has suggested that possibility. It was silly then and it's silly now. Kentucky is the bluest of blue bloods and will not hand the keys to a guy whose only stint as a head coach was a prolific flop.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
But even if they do, it shows we're willing to play ball. We've been slapped with the reputation of wanting a top-flight program without being willing to pay for it. Shedding that reputation will have its own rewards even if we lose this particular battle.
OA and Chin helped us get our 1 seed and ranking with both their recruiting and coaching acumen. Not fighting to keep that sends the wrong message. I'm good with us fighting, even if we lose.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
If the pay is the same, then how much more value does UK offer in terms of his career? We already witnessed what an incredible 5-year run at UK gave OA -- a job at USF (nothing to sneeze at, but not exactly a significant program). Is there really reason to believe that it would offer a better launching point now, or that Illinois would serve as a substantially worse launching point? He's about to become the highest paid assistant in history based off his performance at Illinois. If the money is the same, I could see the business side of this being a relative wash. So, which personal factors are likely to hold more weight and for whom? Could see that going either way.
I get that it’s easier to recruit UK vs UI, but again, the high school recruiting cycle is pretty much over. Not many blue chippers left to snag. And if Cal has another down year, I think he could look for an easy exit.
We have already won. Every top shelf assistant in America is watching this and a few of them have already asked their wife "Where do we keep my resume"
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
"It's inside the computer, honey"
We're not going to outspend Kentucky basketball, so the only way we win is if we offer Antigua (and maybe Chin) more money that Kentucky thinks he's/they're worth. Our prize is the exact same staff we have now, only they cost us millions more. Essentially, winning means we triple our mortgage, but keep the same house. And it still won't be as nice as Kentucky's house.
Meanwhile, there are dozens of assistants contributing at more successful programs who are going to think they're worth at least as much as Antigua, so we drive salary inflation in a way that will affect all major D1 programs, us included, for a long time.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Made me laugh...
The prize for nationally televised games will pay for this increased spending on 1 Saturday afternoon....
That is all it will take, but if you don't have the players, you don't have the games.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
It was necessary.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Another way of looking at this is that the market is now showing we've had OA and Chin at a deep discount for the past several years. We are also to an extent projecting how well OA and Chin will be able to leverage our recent success. Those two can sell our turnaround in important ways a new hire cannot.
Love your take
Not silly that they might include this in their pitch seeing how many pitchforks are out right now for Cal in Lex. Sales pitches often contain stuff both sides know to be crap.
OA is not worried about being unemployed that's for sure. Who knows if he even wants to be a HC again.
sacraig
- The desert
sacraig
- The desert
Hello, there, and welcome to capitalism.
Designer clothes. The fancy name-plate car. The “Storied” professional franchise names. Some folks just can’t resist what they perceive as some kind of special value and status to a certain “brand”. They think that just by associating with the likes of them, then that sense of “specialness” and purported caliber of royalty will sprinkle magic dust on them as well. So be it for them if that’s what they choose to believe.
But there’s no courage in that. There’s no challenge in that. You’ll never leave your own mark that way.
Special is the man or woman that is secure and successful WITHOUT wearing the designer labels. Without feeling the need to drive certain wheels with a certain name plate on them because they are always so worried about what other people think. Special is the one who loves to BRING and RESTORE and ESTABLISH success in a place that does not benefit from the momentum of privilege and a misguided sense of divine right.
This is not necessarily a reflection on what these two guys who are deciding which source of big dollars they want to spend their time at. That is their business and Godspeed to them what they decide for themselves.
But... IF things in their contract negotiations are fairly equal in terms of money and perks between The Beloved and The Interlopers... then there is only one reason why you would turn your back on those who have supported you and relied on you in your current position. You fell for the hype and don’t want to complete the mission of restoring greatness to a special Prairie State program that loves its ball and fans who adore the team and its players.
Illini Nation craves the day when The Beloved is seen nationally as a Blue Blood like the others. In a way it’s kind of baffling that this hasn’t yet happened when you look at the long history of great talent coming out of this State for so very long. But the pathway is so close right now that you can taste it. And it would be a pathetic shame for anything to short-circuit those last few steps to the Top of the Mountain.
But there’s no courage in that. There’s no challenge in that. You’ll never leave your own mark that way.
Special is the man or woman that is secure and successful WITHOUT wearing the designer labels. Without feeling the need to drive certain wheels with a certain name plate on them because they are always so worried about what other people think. Special is the one who loves to BRING and RESTORE and ESTABLISH success in a place that does not benefit from the momentum of privilege and a misguided sense of divine right.
This is not necessarily a reflection on what these two guys who are deciding which source of big dollars they want to spend their time at. That is their business and Godspeed to them what they decide for themselves.
But... IF things in their contract negotiations are fairly equal in terms of money and perks between The Beloved and The Interlopers... then there is only one reason why you would turn your back on those who have supported you and relied on you in your current position. You fell for the hype and don’t want to complete the mission of restoring greatness to a special Prairie State program that loves its ball and fans who adore the team and its players.
Illini Nation craves the day when The Beloved is seen nationally as a Blue Blood like the others. In a way it’s kind of baffling that this hasn’t yet happened when you look at the long history of great talent coming out of this State for so very long. But the pathway is so close right now that you can taste it. And it would be a pathetic shame for anything to short-circuit those last few steps to the Top of the Mountain.
sacraig
- The desert
Yes, it is silly. It is silly that they would promise the keys to a person whose only track record as a head coach is as a failed one. If Cal goes, UK will make a run at someone like Mark Few or Brad Stevens or some other big name, successful head coach, not a successful assistant who fell on his face as a head coach.
Of course it's a silly argument. I'm saying that KY is silly and their sales pitch to OA might be silly as well. Have you been to a used car lot recently? You'll probably find a Cal clone there.
I disagree. We're caught up in a bidding war against a program with deeper pockets than our own. One of us is going to make Antigua the highest paid assistant coach in the history of the sport. And, if you're paying more than has ever been paid before, you're probably overpaying. I'm not sure that's the best example of capitalism.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
While I agree with the ultimate outcome here, I also think it is at least possible that statements are being made that are at best misleading. Perhaps some kind of statement that lets the listener believe what they want to believe but that also does not commit the AD to actually follow through. When so much is at stake I have learned that people will sometimes find less than honorable methods to get their way.
- Status