Katz: Buyout Still Hanging over Beilein’s Head
West Virginia, which hired alumnus Bob Huggins away from Kansas State to replace Beilein, isn’t budging. WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong said Tuesday that the buyout was initiated by Beilein’s side.
“That was what made him comfortable,” Pastilong said. “It was his desire … and we were going to go along with it. Everyone has a unique approach and that’s just what he wanted and we were accommodating him.”
But was it? Beilein won’t go on the record about his intentions in seeking legal counsel, but multiple sources have told ESPN.com that Beilein is trying to get the buyout reduced — if not wiped out entirely. Pastilong said he wouldn’t discuss anything more about the buyout, except that, “We expect the contract to be honored. A contract is a contract. [The buyout is for $2.5 million] and that’s what the contract is for.”
When asked if there could be a negotiated buyout, Pastilong said, “That would be for the attorneys to work out.”
The language in the contract is pretty clear. Beilein signed on to be West Virginia’s coach in 2002. In the original contract, which was obtained by USA Today for a story last month, Beilein had a buyout of $550,000. He would also be owed that amount if he were terminated without cause.
If that buyout is what allowed us to get coach Lowe instead of Beilein, then all I say is….LOVE THE BUYOUT clause!!!
Actually, he is a vey good coach, but I still prefer our man Sid.
Is this stuff straight from the horse’s mouth, or Pastilong?
For reference purposes:
http://www.statefansnation.com/index.php/archives/2006/04/27/scoop-analysis-how-fowler-flubbed-beilein/
That has to stink, if you’re Beilein. The man’s a great coach and he might end up paying them money. Can’t say that I agree with a buyout. You don’t owe your life to anybody, but a contract is a contract. If a person can get a better, higher ranking, more prestigious job in their career or profession, then he should do that. Michigan is a step up from West Virginia. They can be very good in basketball and will have no problems getting great players there. West Virginia . . . Well, it’s not basketball paradise. They don’t have as much to offer as some places. I just think if a university/AD does enough to keep a man happy and he feels very appreciated, he won’t leave. The keys are: making his salary above average with what his peers make and making him feel wanted, supported, and appreciated. Salary is not everything. If a coach is lacking the support in facilities or appreciation, he will leave. Sloan was the lowest paid coach in the ACC back in ’80. He brought that up in his book. He left because Casey was a tightwad. Plus, he said he had taken the program at State as far as he could. Sheridan never got facilities improvements. Coaches need a nice stadium, basketball arena, practice facility, football complex. Sendek left because, as he put it and conveyed to his close NCSU friends, he felt that he was underappeciated.
Coaches have to do certain things to keep their job. They need to win and graduate a decent percentage of players to stay on good terms with the administration and the fans. The responsibility of the administration and the alumni/fans is to keep good coaches well paid, satisfied, and appreciated so they won’t want to look elsewhere.
Now some places are just difficult to compete with. I think about UCLA and Valvano in ’88. I think about Sheridan and Georgia in ’86. UCLA ranks above probably 95% of all schools in terms of dream college basketball jobs. Georgia, the same, because of the 80,000 seat stadium, the interest, the pay, and the prestige.
If Sid and TOB win in the coming years, I urge the administration to give them pay raises and I urge the fans to make them feel very appreciated and wanted. That boosts morale for both guys and they’re less likely to try to leave. I hope TOB can win 8-9 games in most years; that’s about what we’ve done in football over the last 40 years, in the modern era. If he won the ACC, that would be great, but only Holtz and Rein have done that. And that was in the old, weaker ACC. I hope Sid can win the ACC every 4-5 years (That’s reasonable, considering history.) and every 3-4 years, make it to at least the Final Eight in the NCAAs.
I got off track there. But relationships are important between a school and its coaches. The fans are part of that equation, too.
Too bad that Beilein has to deal with this. I feel badly for him, but he also signed the contract when he obviously didn’t have to put that in there.
Not sure if you realize this, but blogs are pretty easy and cheap to start
Gee, sorry SFN. Didn’t mean to step on any toes. Sorry.
SFN, it’s even easier to complain about something someone gets for free.
FWIW, I thought — given our experience with “Buyout Clause” Beilein last spring — that this was an interesting entry.
i thought it was pretty relevant, too. . . and interesting.
Jimmy V: Beilein wanted the buyout clause because it was two way: if West Virginia wanted to fire him without cause it’d cost them 500K a year. It’s securty for the coaches in most cases. There is nothing wrong with a buyout if both parties agree to it.
I thought article was really interesting. It seems beilein learned(at fowler’s expense) last carousel season that no one is going to pay his buyout. It all worked out though;)
beowolf, that is classic!
I like interesting articles about things happening in college sports, primarily football and basketball. If the people here on this site want to post them, great. It’s interesting reading and discussion. It’s not an “either or,” but it can be “both and.” I know most fans want to read and hear about NCSU sports. But the college sports scene, the latest talk, coaching changes, big games, etc. is all fun to banter about.
I’ve said it many times: The site founders and writers do a great job.