1 - Did the injunction invalidating the transfer rule in December (IIRC) accelerate Sprinkle's timeline? I say yes - if the old rules were still in effect, I don't think he leaves after one year knowing he couldn't take some guys with him and he'd do a full rebuild in WA. I think we'd have him at least one more year. If the free transfer rule stays in effect, this will continue to be a mid-major blueprint going forward. No risk in a coach leaving after one or two years if you can take your best players with you. Guys like Ian, Josh, Great, Mason, Fish, have all already transferred at least once. I think under the old rules they'd have to sit out a year if they transferred unless they were grad transfers, so they'd be staying at USU. Now you can jump year to year and follow your coach and/or the money.

It's also interesting that some claim the rumblings of him wanting out started in December, possibly around the time of the ruling. If so, he was smart enough to realize the implications and he and his agent started working connections around that time.

2 - How legit was the USU extension offer? We heard it was a "significant" number, close to $2MM. Given the timing, I'm wondering if it was primarily done for show given the admin pretty much knew he was leaving. Float that you made a significant offer to try and keep him, even juice the number a bit knowing you'd never have to pay it - but could tell everyone you made a good faith effort.

The extension offer was legit. I think we will see an infusion of resources into MBB generally.

Intermeddler wrote: ↑

March 25th, 2024, 1:24 pm

The extension offer was legit. I think we will see an infusion of resources into MBB generally.

Just so we can have another coach leave and take players with him? What’s the point?

I'll add to your #2 above is that by floating the $2M offer you tell prospective head coaches that there is a lot of room for salary growth if they are successful. You don't get it to start but put together conference winning teams and there will be increases.

For me, when I look at other possible landing spots for me in my work I'm as much or more interested in what the potential growth could be than what the starting salary is. Why leave if your starting salary is where you are stuck forever, but if I perform and can get promoted then I will be listening.

There's been a bit of talk about buy-out clauses for future coaches. Those are usually percentages of the remaining contract, though, so if we want a bigger buy-out to either deter programs poaching our coach, or to at least sooth the pain when it happens, then I would think we'll need to have a big contract up front, likely along the lines of what Sprinkle's extension offer was. Double-edged sword, to be sure, as if a new coach doesn't pan out then we're on the hook to pay if we fire him, but that's just the gamble we have to decide on taking.