College hoops coaching firing/hiring thread

Oh thank goodness! You are very lucky, and I apologize for the error.

 

D-3 Fan

Any smoke to the Pearl to Iowa rumors?

 

There is some smoke, but it's courtesy of cigarettes. If Iowa calls Pearl, he will listen. He loves Iowa and enjoyed being on Tom Davis' staff. But it's going to take Iowa to pony up some hard cash (a base of $1.5 million or more) to get him to consider. Alford got nearly $965k for a base plus incentives.

From my standpoint, Pearl is the sexy pick right now over Altman, 3-to-1 out here. A few days ago, it was Altman or bust. Personally, Pearl would be nuts to leave Knoxville to come back up here, but if Iowa does calls, he can use it as leverage to get more $$$ out of UT, who would give it to him. He's got what he needs at UT: a new practice facility, riding Summitt and Fulmer's coattails, fans piling into Thompson-Boling again. Altman, to me, isn't likely to leave Omaha. After the debacle he went through at K-State, he's comfortable in Omaha. He has everything he needs at Creighton including a great administration and loyal support.

This is new Iowa AD Gary Barta's first major move and fans have too many unrealistic expectations on him to get Pearl or Altman in here by week's end. So far from what I have noticed, Barta is going to do this right and in a timely fashion to find the person who best fits the program and the school, unlike Jamie Pollard at ISU, who whacked Wayne Morgan and landed Greg McDermott in two days.

Iowa fans want someone who will not only coach the team, but also embrace the state as his own. Alford's crime was fawning over Indiana.

 

Late breaking news tonight on the East Coast:

Lexington-based media reporting Donovan will in fact take the UK job for what could turn out to be $28 million:

- Seven years at $3.5 million per season.
- $3.5 million bonus for staying all seven.

http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=6283438&nav=EQlr

 

I'm still not ready to get my news from a source called CatsPause.com. Sorry, just won't happen today.

 

We'll reserve judgment on this until this shakes out as a confirmation. If Donovan is primed to head to Lexington and this gets becomes official by Friday, the Gators can say sayonara to a repeat.

 

Upon further review:

Apparently that TV station in Lexington blew Bird's story out of proportion. The offer has been made, but has not been signed.

Here was Bird's response to the CatsPause folk:

Darrell reply on Donovan rumor post Reply
Here is what I posted on House of Blue.

Steady guys, geez!!! This post on House of Blue -- where we discuss rumors every day -- is exactly what it says it is. Blockbuster deal done? (note question mark). Did not come from UK officials (as stated). REPORTEDLY set to offer. Can still fall through? Yes.

I put a one paragraph teaser on main page simply to direct folks to the message board, same as we did with Sunday's Scuttlebutt segment. That's it. If this had been a news story announcing UK will sign its coach I would have included comments from UK officials.

This is one of several rumors circulating -- only this one can't be shot down -- and from what I've learned these are the details. But we are still a long way from done as evidenced by the reference to another story coming up about Plan B candidates if this doesn't pan out. (I've been told some media outlets ran with this info as fact, which is unfortunate but I can't control that.)

I can appreciate the excitement over the possibilities, but let's take a breath. And thanks to everyone who read it for what it is, adding comments like, "I hope this is true." "I'll keep my fingers crossed."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1383&tid=92020439&mid=92020439&sid=888&style=2

 

And also not accepted yet. But other than that small detail ...

 

Don't worry Central, we're not holding you to the fire. We want to make sure that the message board stuff can be verified and checked out.

Is there a way you can talk to the guy you know who is a part of Cats' Paws to see what he's been getting so far and if it's credible or not? I would hate to see your pal get burned by something like this.

 

Maybe I am old fashioned, but if I'm Billy Donovan and am in any way considering a deal to leave my school while less than a week from playing in the national semifinal I'd call my doctor to make sure my medication is at the right levels.

 

Like Roy Williams?

 

Other than Jerry Tipton at the Lexington Herald-Leader or possibly Brett Dawson of the Louisville Courier-Journal (who used to be under Bird at The Cats' Pause), Bird has the most sources at UK, IMO.

I would trust Bird. He only said what the offer was and that it was on the table, but since a local TV station took his story and botched it, he is taking some heat (like he has any control over what a TV station does).

He tried clearing his name in a statement on Cats' Pause, but I haven't seen anything from the TV station (yet).

Bird has been around quite a while. I doubt this is the first time someone has used his story as a source/lead and screwed it up.