On compensation for a new coach (and for the moment setting COVID financial restrictions aside), bringing in a head coach from a Group of 5 school would likely slot pay at $2.25 million a year. A good recent comparison might be Indiana, who gave the reins to Tom Allen at the start of 2018, paying him $1.8 million a year. After 2 years (and a notable bowl game), they re-did his contract and he's now at $3.9 million or so a year.
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Deleted member 747671
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Good comp on Allen. It really depends on how much they're making now. There's a big difference in G5's. Fickell already makes 3.4. He'd require probably 5 mil a year which probably puts us out even if he was receptive. AAC coaches make solid money. Most MAC coaches are 500-1 mil. Looks like Lewis is actually the lowest paid at 460. Low level HCs and higher level OCs/DCs are pretty simliar in pay (outside the handful of high paid blueblood guys).
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Didn't do enough research, thank you for the Allen comp. I didn't know he got a raise already, just knew he had been there a few years.
SKane
- Tennessee
A couple more comments.
I am not saying what I think should happen. I am just saying what I think will happen.
Also, ILL has recently hired a systems coach followed by a recruiter coach and vice versa (for example, Turner > Zook > Beckman/Cubit > Smith (who was supposed to be good recruiter because of his professional background).
You almost have to keep Lovie to end of year. No DefCoord to run Def. May the jokes commence.
Deleted member 747671
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Can't get much worse can it?
I think if you fire Lovie, his son is going with him at the same time. Let the young assistants get their shot calling the defense for a few games, got nothing to lose.
Seriously, 0-9 or 1-8 are probably the most likely outcomes this year. There isn't really anything to salvage.
Deleted member 747671
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The coaching has been so bad this year anyways. Maybe having less people in their ear and a few young, hungry coaches telling them to go out there and have some fun will actually make the defense better.
J Leman kind of alluded to this on the Jeremy Werner show earlier this week. He said the defensive players are almost like robots too focused on their assignments and don't have the flexibility to go out and make plays.
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That was a great podcast. J just let it all out. That guy loves this program and you can tell how frustrated he was with the coaching.
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
Looking at the staff - it lists Dele Harding as a student assistant. He would get my vote. Or even let Jake call the signals like the good ole' days.
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Yeah I read one earlier in the year. Tom Herman at Texas and Gus Malzahn at Auburn had buyouts over 20 million if I remember correctly. Some of these contracts are as crazy as the fan bases wanting to fire anyone that can’t win a title.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Lovie's current buy-out is absolutely reasonable. It should be no barrier whatsoever (even in a Covid environment) in terms of JW making the right move this fall/winter. I'm also 100% confident that Josh maintains an evergreen list of prospective football and basketball coaches he would attempt to hire at any given point in time.....as the need arises.
I believe we're still in exceptional hands with our AD..........that is, as long as we have a new football coach sometime really soon.
I believe we're still in exceptional hands with our AD..........that is, as long as we have a new football coach sometime really soon.
However, Illinois’ debt is one of the highest in the country. However, they also just borrowed 32 million to renovate basketball practice facility. What’s another 2 mil? Maybe basketball only needed 30 mil.
Good article for debt overview.
Illinois Athletics Borrows $32.5 Million From University for Basketball Renovation
The University of Illinois’s athletics department has borrowed $32.5 million from the university system to renovate its basketball practice facility. The loan, issued in August, was detailed as part of a records request sent to the school. The athletic department intends to pay it off entirely...
sports.yahoo.com
But that’s the point, isn’t it? Football is the prime money maker for college athletic departments. We were losing money due to fan apathy even before COVID. They almost have to pull out all of the stops and get fans interested again. Retaining Lovie to save $2 million probably costs the university just as much in lost game day revenue.However, Illinois’ debt is one of the highest in the country. However, they also just borrowed 32 million to renovate basketball practice facility. What’s another 2 mil? Maybe basketball only needed 30 mil.
Good article for debt overview.
Illinois Athletics Borrows $32.5 Million From University for Basketball Renovation
The University of Illinois’s athletics department has borrowed $32.5 million from the university system to renovate its basketball practice facility. The loan, issued in August, was detailed as part of a records request sent to the school. The athletic department intends to pay it off entirely...
The thing is by firing Lovie they likely save money. You figure $2M buyout and then another ~$2M for a young head coach from G5 (Lewis, Leipold) or a top P5 assistant (Monken). Probably end up paying assistants the same as current and can roll savings into an actual DC and still come in under Lovie and the Coaching staffs current price tag. All while revitalizing the fan base.
Exactly, and it's only a $1 million difference if they waited until next year. Plus, interest rates are pretty low.
I don’t how contracts are structured, I assume spread evenly throughout the year, but wonder if a new coach would accept a structured contract to receive less amount, 500k, until regular season is over, and then accept a one time payment of 1.5 mil after season when BIG pays and after gates?
I’m guessing new coaches would understand. Or less money first 2 years, and bump for remaining 3 years?
We are in strange times, and uncharted waters for sure, but if Illinois wants to elevate its football program, it's gonna have to spend money to get good coaches. Crazy to say, and yes it's p****** money away to you and me, but JW shouldn't have to worry about a million or two, here and there, as part of a coaching transition. Do what it takes to get the job done right. I'm guessing JW has cultivated some solid relationships with donors, alums and boosters with deep pockets, and that makes it doable.
I didn't keep up with the carousel last year so I have a question. Was Mel Tucker a good hire on paper for MSU? I don't know anything about the guy other than what wikipedia tells me.
It just suprised me they couldn't get a guy with more HC experience.
It just suprised me they couldn't get a guy with more HC experience.
The main issue w/ MSU last winter was Dantonio was due a $4 million bonus if he was head coach on 2/1/20. He stuck around through the end of last year, 2/1 came and he was paid $4 million, then he quit/retired on 2/4/20. They were so far behind in the cycle in finding a coach, that there were super limited options.
Has j leman ever interviewed for a coaching position? Like a lb coach? I’ve always loved the guy and he’s as passionate if not more about Illinois football as any of us. Just a thought
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