Re: Coaching Carousel & Hot Seat 2017
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 1:01 pm
xusandy wrote:As an X fan, I'm typically a bit nervous about retaining our coach about this time of year. First Bob Stack (remember him? - he left for AZ State and IMHO really started the whole upward trajectory of XU basketball), then Gillen (Providence), then Prosser (Wake), then Matta (Ohio State), and then Miller (Arizona.) A whole string of fine coaches, and every time I said to myself that they should stay -- because who wants to trade job security with a supportive administration, a loyal fan base, an improving recruiting picture, and a fine city in which to raise your kids, just for a pressure cooker job where they'll fire you ass in 2-3 years if yoou don't succeed immediately?
Well, duh, they ALL left, and so I've learned to be apprehensive after another good X run in March. So what's different this time? Well, Mack is an Alum; he has three kids and a wife who LOVE Cincy, and we're now in the Big East and can recruit top national players (take a look at who ESPN has on the XU 2019 "considering" list!) So is all that enough to offset a potential $25MM 6 year contract (almost the definition of "silly money!) at Indiana or any number of other Football 5 program offers? X simply cannot match the money he's likely to be able to get. So here I am again, more worried about the future of our program than about the huge game tonight -- why oh why?
PS. I was NOT happy to read this AM that Alford is staying at UCLA -- but then again, and as I posted earlier this week, who in his right mind would take the IU job for any reason except silly money?
Great post Sandy, just one minor error. Staak actually left for Wake, not Arizona State. You're thinking of Ned Wulk who left X after the 1957 season to go to Arizona State. Also it just broke about 90 minutes ago, Archie Miller is taking the IU job, so Xavier Nation can breathe easy and enjoy the Zaga Elite 8 game later today. Go X!!!!!!!!!!!