redstorm89
Active member
Basically Lavin told Katz that he will get an extension. Lavin says alot of things but it makes this situation murkier.
Lavin's Future in Doubt at SJU
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Basically Lavin told Katz that he will get an extension. Lavin says alot of things but it makes this situation murkier.
beast of the east
Active member
This has not been disclosed before. As I mentioned earlier in the season, the school is not likely to eat $2 million plus pay another coach. They will view this as no harm to give him one more season to prove himself, and any extension would not have such a generous buyout.
I agree. The cost of the buyout, and the school's financial position, was always going to be be the biggest hurdle to any coaching change this year.
But I would be shocked if coach Lavin signed a short extension with a lesser buyout for next year. The writing would be on the wall, and he would know that chances are the team will struggle next season. Lavin and his agent will play hardball. And its already begun if you look at the leaks, the interview with Katz, the meetings with TV networks, the ASU rumors, etc.
beast of the east
Active member
If Lavin left for ASU, the buyout would not come into play. This would probably make a lot of people at SJU happy, at least those who favored termination except for the cost of buying him out.
If LAvin stayed he would be in no position to bargain hard. The school has lowered confidence in him, and his buyout would be much more modest. If he didn't perform next year as his leverage, he'd only be hurting his reputation going forward.
beast of the east
Active member
I don't know anyone who would fork over more money for a coach for the sole purpose of dumping Lavin one year sooner. If they are committed to play almost his entire salary for next season, why shouldn't they take a wait and see attitude. After all, the school gave Roberts a 6th year to show he wasn't the guy.
jumbo_peanuts
Active member
What's he supposed to do...go on TV and be like, "yea, we had a great year...but I don't anticipate being there next year."
That's the thing though Beast, I think he has some leverage over the school, because SJU doesn't want to pay him the $2mil not to coach next season.
So he doesn't have to accept any short term, low buyout option. He can say give me a 5 year extension with a raise, or I'll just go ahead and coach next season. Or you can fire me, and give me that $2mil.
I don't think Lavin accepts a short term offer with a low buyout.
So the school will let Lavin coach with no contractual safety net. That shows zero stability and business sense. All that does is kick the can to next year, where we will find ourselves in the same position, most likely coming off a season without an NCAA tournament.
beast of the east
Active member
You could be right about that. His only leverage is recruiting. But if he is here next year, he will need an extension to recruit reasonably well, but if he didn't recruit at all it would only diminish his own reputation.
beast of the east
Active member
You're correct, but I think they would posture that way if Lavin wouldn't go for an extension with a low buyout or vesting. I think the idea of vesting makes sense with incentives that lock him in with more financial guarantees based on the team performing reasonably well next year and him setting a solid foundation for following years.
Beast, agree with your thoughts regarding the finances. That is a lot of change, especially when you are effectively paying twice in a situation like this, so it is certainly the school's/donors' prerogative to take that approach if they so choose.
However procuring coaching talent is not a zero sum game. In this particular instance, SJU's opportunity cost is that there is a particularly attractive and realistic cast of alternatives available this year. So while at that money I would not begrudge the school for taking a "wait and see" or "no harm no foul" approach, they are not guaranteed to be in the same position 12 months from now. $2mm richer, but maybe scrambling for who they are going to pay for the next five years.
Maybe $2mm now + a coach they love is going to be money better spent over the next 10 years than saving the $2mm and flushing another $5+mm and 5 years on a less than ideal candidate? I don't know, and these things can't be entirely predicted (next year could be an even better crop of candidates), just really hope these are the granular assessments being made by the decision makers. You are certainly way more tuned into these issues at SJU than I am so would be interested in your thoughts.
I will coach the team for one year this upcoming season as a "caretaker." Very often used in European football circles as guiness can attest. That way Lavin gets his 2 million dollars and can afford a bus ticket out of town and we can get the program back to where it should be at no additional cost in 15-16!
beast of the east
Active member
Those are all very good points. Keep in mind that a contract is basically an agreement between two parties, and can be amended with mutual consent. So, there is nothing wrong with SJU sitting down with Lavin and offering to part ways if he would take a $1 million buyout. Not likely, but again, nothing to prohibit that.
I think that's how it ends. The school won't part with $2mil, and after some haggling Lavin takes less and calls it a day. They'll settle this. At least that's how I see it turning out if the powers that be don't emerge from their papal conclave and offer coach Lavin an extension.