If so, isn't that worth $3+ MILLION per year in a long-term deal?
http://www.tigerboard.com/boards/view.php?message=17468910
Seriously, no other fan base thinks this way. It's absolutely absurd rationale for extending a P5 head coach.
ALL THAT MATTERS is whether he can recruit & coach well enough to win consistently, and periodically compete for a league title or Sweet 16+ run.
"Class acts" are a dime a dozen, and if that's the job criteria then we can get one for a lot less than we're paying Cuonzo (like 98% less — a public school teacher's salary).
To be clear, I'm not suggesting we should fire CM... I'm saying it would be foolish to give him an even more favorable contract based on this season. His recruiting has been abysmal the past 3 cycles and thus the cupboard will be empty. One could argue that he hasn't "built" anything after 4 years given how depleted the roster will be. Cuonzo and his agent both know that, which is why they're desperately trying to leverage this slightly above-average season into a new iron-clad deal. They know Sterk is weak and easily played.
I should also point out that giving the state's second highest paid employee any kind of raise, extension, or buyout increase amid the pandemic, while everyone else is taking pay cuts to mitigate budget shortfalls, would undoubtedly draw criticism and be yet another example of Sterk's poor judgment.
If CM is able to improve recruiting dramatically and put together consecutive winning seasons, *then* he will have earned a raise/extension/buyout increase.
Until then, the status quo is fine.
Edited by zounami at 16:13:38 on 03/04/21