NewOwlOldBBFan said

I'm putting my money on Mike..Hipsher could be taking a cut in pay at $150-170K, and if he is willing to do that, there may be an ulterior motive for his accepting this job if offered.  Whoever takes the job, he has inherited a group of players that should make him respectable for the next 2-3 years, so measuring coaching ability probably can't take place until 2010 or 2011 season ;D

I don't know about that.  I'd put my money on Balado not getting the job. I'm guessing if they were convinced that Balado was the guy for the job, he'd have the job already.  This search has been going on for a few weeks now.  Why go through this process of gathering names, calling around for references, presumably flying people in for interviews this week, if you are going to hire the guy that is here already.  Plus, they made that type of hire when they hired Rex.  Do they really want someone else learning the job on the fly again?  They've hired the big name, they've hired the up-and-coming guy, this time I think they hire a solid, experienced basketball coach.  Just my opinion.

fauowls44 said

I'd put my money on Balado not getting the job.

im with you on this…

Nothing against him…he's a great guy…but i have a very hard time seeing the Admin pull the trigger that way…

I agree with you guys, and I can tell you that Balado (although a good guy) is not ready for a head job.

Couple of points led me to this conclusion:  MONEY-Doherty (National Coach of the Year) signed for around $170K, RW for less.  Jarvis lives in the area, probably has a few schekels left from St. John's and is looking for entree back into the collegiate ranks (sound familiar?).  Unless and until FAU cam come up with some $$$, they will have to take "chances" on coaches.

If rumors are true, it is down to Hibsher, Jarvis and Balado.  After the phone ringing off the hook and a list in excess of 70 potential applicants, we are down to 3?  It is all about the $$$, guys.  I suspect most ran like the hounds from hell when they heard what the budget for the HC and his staff looked like.  Hibsher has his reasons for applying, and it ain't about the money…I suspect his is getting close to $100K or more as Heath's experienced assistant.

I think player continuity is more important than the coach we can get for $150-170K.  If he is really good, he leaves SOONEST.  Hibsher is no idealist, and is long in the tooth (relatively) and has got to be thinking of his $$portfolio in retirement (just like Jarvis).  I hope I am wrong if he is the guy, but FAU is not the only victim of precipitous coaching losses…Travis Ford UMass to OkSU(he was negotiating a new contract), Kermit Davis - Butler to Prov? (he left after 1 year), so it ain't like we are unique.

FAU may go the other way (Hibsher or Jarvis), but if they do, our blog will light up in a couple of seasons so save the "No Stepping Stone" banner, maybe 5 years as an assistant at FAU will get him more votes than apparently current conventional wisdom believe in the present case.

Good points…

Ill add this:

HIGHLY doubt the money stays the same…it likely to go to $200k - $220k with quite spike in the buyout as well - $500k MINIMUM…the salary difference will be nothing considering the buyout will offset it in the event a coach departs…

if not, its a small price to pay for continuity's sake…

Fledgling said

great pic!

(too bad i cant see it…lol)

Florida_Owl said

Good points…

Ill add this:

HIGHLY doubt the money stays the same…it likely to go to $200k - $220k with quite spike in the buyout as well - $500k MINIMUM…the salary difference will be nothing considering the buyout will offset it in the event a coach departs…

if not, its a small price to pay for continuity's sake…

Not to mention the $100K they got from Rex's buyout.  Spread that out over a 4 or 5 year contract and the average salary is more attractive to applicants. 

Kids see more learly than adults  ;D.  For them it isn't about the result, but the promise of the process ;D

I really like the idea of upping wages as long as assistant coach budget increases accordingly–so we are talking about an additional $150-200K increase in HC and staff budget.  This will entice young accomplished coaches to take FAU seriously, and the $500K minimum will reduce
experienced coaches from entertaining using FAU as a stepping stone school, although the move by Doherty was likely to happen anyway (SMU is not a single incremental step up from FAU).

But the increase in budget and the buyout restriction would go a long way to helping the program continue it's ascent.

So do we blame RW or credit him for exposing the AD to the policy and pocketbook deficiencies? ;D ;D ;D

NewOwlOldBBFan said

So do we blame RW or credit him for exposing the AD to the policy and pocketbook deficiencies? ;D ;D ;D

I think it was already clear when DOH-erty left that we had a pitiful buyout in place…they didnt see Rex bailing that quickly AT ALL…

so yeah, probably a bit of both…

fauowls44 said

Not to mention the $100K they got from Rex's buyout.  Spread that out over a 4 or 5 year contract and the average salary is more attractive to applicants.

Good point…whether they use it or not is another story…but its abotu the only time you can get away with keeping all the revenue under the umbrella that drove it in the ledger…

otherwise other sports woud be "crying" where's mine…….