Name the next head coach (a GMUJim tribute album)

[Vurbel]

I think there is a possibility BE might let the season play out. Just so incoming coaches would know they're not on too short a leash. It is his first year.

But is that worth the $85,000 bonus payed on March 1? I don't know the answer, just throwing that out there.

 

[mason lawyer]

But is that worth the $85,000 bonus payed on March 1? I don't know the answer, just throwing that out there.

We have already wasted millions. Whats another 85 k?

 

[Pablo]

We have already wasted millions. Whats another 85 k?

True, but the awarding of a longevity bonus before the end of the regular season is inexcusable and warrants our disgust.

 

[wijg]

I think there is a possibility BE might let the season play out. Just so incoming coaches would know they're not on too short a leash. It is his first year.

I would actually be surprised (pleasantly) if BE took any action prior to near the end of the season (hopefully before the longevity bonus). It doesn't mean I don't hope it happens before then. I'll be concerned that it isn't going to happen until it actually happens...

 

[gmutom]

The more I think about it, the more I believe Edwards' only two choices are to make a change very soon or wait until after A10 Tournament. Firing him 10 days before the tournament just to save some cash would make us an even bigger laughingstock than we are now.

I know the pat answer around here is that the assistants couldn't do any worse than Hewitt, but I would be pissed if another A10 team axed their coach right before the tournament just to save what really is a small amount of money in the overall scheme of things.

I most certainly understand how frustrating it would be if Hewitt is allowed pocket even more money than he deserves, but we made our bed and now have to lie in it. Part ways very soon or eat the cash and terminate him immediately after we leave the Barclays Center (which I'm assuming will be following the play-in game).

 

[smccart5]

What have other schools done in similar situations? How often are people let go in the middle of the season?

 

[Pablo]

What have other schools done in similar situations? How often are people let go in the middle of the season?

See http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...-cardinals-fire-coach-pat-knight-third-season.

 

[Pablo]

The more I think about it, the more I believe Edwards' only two choices are to make a change very soon or wait until after A10 Tournament. Firing him 10 days before the tournament just to save some cash would make us an even bigger laughingstock than we are now.

I know the pat answer around here is that the assistants couldn't do any worse than Hewitt, but I would be pissed if another A10 team axed their coach right before the tournament just to save what really is a small amount of money in the overall scheme of things.

I most certainly understand how frustrating it would be if Hewitt is allowed pocket even more money than he deserves, but we made our bed and now have to lie in it. Part ways very soon or eat the cash and terminate him immediately after we leave the Barclays Center (which I'm assuming will be following the play-in game).

If Hewitt is fired before the end of the season, who should Edwards designate as the interim coach?

 

[gmutom]

If Hewitt is fired before the end of the season, who should Edwards designate as the interim coach?

That's what I see as our biggest dilemma, because I don't see any of them as being qualified to take over. If I had to pick the lesser of three evils, I would probably pick Krieder just because he's young and might relate better to the players.

 

[Pablo]

That's what I see as our biggest dilemma, because I don't see any of them as being qualified to take over. If I had to pick the lesser of three evils, I would probably pick Krieder just because he's young and might relate better to the players.

Is the correct answer: anyone but Houston?

 

[wijg]

The more I think about it, the more I believe Edwards' only two choices are to make a change very soon or wait until after A10 Tournament. Firing him 10 days before the tournament just to save some cash would make us an even bigger laughingstock than we are now.

I know the pat answer around here is that the assistants couldn't do any worse than Hewitt, but I would be pissed if another A10 team axed their coach right before the tournament just to save what really is a small amount of money in the overall scheme of things.

I most certainly understand how frustrating it would be if Hewitt is allowed pocket even more money than he deserves, but we made our bed and now have to lie in it. Part ways very soon or eat the cash and terminate him immediately after we leave the Barclays Center (which I'm assuming will be following the play-in game).

I see your logic, and agree with it to a point. The only thing I have a little heartburn with is your statement:

"Firing him 10 days before the tournament just to save some cash would make us an even bigger laughingstock than we are now."

That might be true, but I would argue we are already in that ballpark for the following reason. My understanding is the main reason he is even still here is that Mason couldn't afford to pay a new coach. We already have to pay Hewitt for the rest of his contract (unless he is convinced to resign, yeah right...), so that is a sunk cost. The additional cost is the new coach. I am assuming we could get a good up-and-coming assistant in the 300k ballpark. So, Mason would have had to come up with 300k for year 4 and 300k for year 5 of Hewitt's contract. In year 6 (the first year after his contract ends) we would make up 400k+ and the same with year 7. So, if we couldn't find a way to borrow 600k from the budget somewhere for two years, that we would easily pay back, and then some, within four years (the interest on said loan would likely be in the 85k ballpark), then I would argue that the 85k is significant and could even possibly be the difference between a year 5 with Hewitt and one without him. If that makes us more of a laughingstock, well that is what we are.

But, If it is the difference between 4 or 5 years of Hewitt, I'd prefer the criticism on the $85k than the extra year of misery. Additionally, Imagine having to explain to an auditor or state senator/governor paying Hewitt an $85k bonus and firing him for poor performance 10 days later. That is no good either. I'd rather Mason be smart with the money regardless of what others think.

 

[gmujim92]

The more I think about it, the more I believe Edwards' only two choices are to make a change very soon or wait until after A10 Tournament. Firing him 10 days before the tournament just to save some cash would make us an even bigger laughingstock than we are now.

I know the pat answer around here is that the assistants couldn't do any worse than Hewitt, but I would be pissed if another A10 team axed their coach right before the tournament just to save what really is a small amount of money in the overall scheme of things.

I most certainly understand how frustrating it would be if Hewitt is allowed pocket even more money than he deserves, but we made our bed and now have to lie in it. Part ways very soon or eat the cash and terminate him immediately after we leave the Barclays Center (which I'm assuming will be following the play-in game).

This is why the timing of the longevity bonus is such a bad deal for Mason -- Edwards is basically damned either way.

If he lets most of the season play out, gives Hewitt an opportunity to right the ship, then fires him in late February, we'll get crushed for trying to save a measly $85,000. We'll be made to look even more small-time than we are, and that's not a good position to be in when you're looking for a new coach.

But if he waits and lets Hewitt collect the $85K, knowing all the while he's going to can his a** 30 seconds after the final buzzer of our A-10 tournament defeat, Edwards will take heat for wasting money at a state school whose athletic department is heavily subsidized by student fees.

For that reason and many others already mentioned -- especially KA's suggestion that it conceivably could help keep our promising young guys in the fold -- I say Hewitt needs to go ASAP.

I get that it's cold to fire a guy right before Christmas, but Hewitt has his wife and millions of dollars to keep him warm. I suspect he'll survive.

 

[psyclone]

Does anyone know the buyout provisions in Hewitt's contract? If he is fired at the end of the season, does he receive the entirety of what his salary would be for the 2015-16 season?

I realize that he would still earn the retention money on Mar. 1, but the AD's hands may be tied because of budget issues. In a budget climate where searches for replacement positions for tenure-line faculty who retired or resigned have been cancelled, it might be difficult to get the administration to fork over more money to hire a new coach while the old coach is still collecting substantial money to go away.

It was pointed out by others that at Jacksonville Edwards simply let the old coach go when his contract expired after 2 or 3 consecutive losing seasons.

 

[gmujim92]

Does anyone know the buyout provisions in Hewitt's contract? If he is fired at the end of the season, does he receive the entirety of what his salary would be for the 2015-16 season?

I realize that he would still earn the retention money on Mar. 1, but the AD's hands may be tied because of budget issues. In a budget climate where searches for replacement positions for tenure-line faculty who retired or resigned have been cancelled, it might be difficult to get the administration to fork over more money to hire a new coach while the old coach is still collecting substantial money to go away.

It was pointed out by others that at Jacksonville Edwards simply let the old coach go when his contract expired after 2 or 3 consecutive losing seasons.

It's been discussed here several times, the gazillion reasons why simply letting Hewitt serve out his 5 years and not renewing him is absolutely the worst course of action for the future health of our program.

I look at it this way: If we're really so cash-strapped that we can't afford to eat the final year of a deal and get rid of a clearly underperforming coach, we never should've given Hewitt the contract in the first place -- and we never should've moved to the A-10, either.

If you want to play ball with the big boys, you have to be willing to pay the price for your mistakes.

 

[Pablo]

Does anyone know the buyout provisions in Hewitt's contract? If he is fired at the end of the season, does he receive the entirety of what his salary would be for the 2015-16 season?

Yes - see http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog...paring-deals-mason-gave-hewitt-and-larranaga/.

 

[psyclone]

Thanks Pablo.

I'm assuming "base salary" is what is on the university personnel budget line (and provided for by the state) for the position. I think that at some major schools when alumni are unhappy with a coach that they help underwrite the "buyout". So perhaps the solution with respect to the state budget crunch issue is for the Patriot Club or similar entity is to give money to the university to help make it happen. Do we know if they are prepared to to that?

 

[gmutom]

This is why the timing of the longevity bonus is such a bad deal for Mason -- Edwards is basically damned either way.

Exactly. I honestly can't think of one reason why TOC would allow that clause in the contract other than he simply refused to believe Hewitt would fail. He was so enamored by the big name and desire to make a splash that he conceded anything Hewitt's agent demanded.

Unfortunately for Edwards, it's now his mess to deal with, and he somehow has to convince the school's president and Board of Trustees that eating the rest of the contract is financially prudent long term.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

85k is not chump change to Mason.

But we have spent that easily just letting the kids play JV HS teams in Spain and embarrass themselves in Puerto Rico.

I don't really care, as long as it is done before next year. I understand there wasn't money to eat two years, but they can eat one. If they want a 10% discount so be it.

 

[Pablo]

If they want a 10% discount so be it.

I assume that Hewitt's response would be that no one put a gun to their heads when they agreed to the contract (which I assume is basically what he told Georgia Tech).

 

[KAOriginal]

Firing Hewitt right now before conference play could be seen as questionable in the coaching ranks. I get it, even though I think it might be the best.

However, deep in the A-10 schedule before 3/1...no way.

People in the game understand basketball as a business. Hewitt would have had nearly four years with less than stellar results, starting with a pres season Top 50(?) team in the country his first year, has gotten worse every year, AND it is well known new ADs make changes to problems. Take out the pay to play CBI run and look at that final record without those games and you see how bad it has really been.

No one is going to question Mason's move at that point and be "concerned" about stability.