[Rosiak's Blog] Coaching carousel continues to spin

[ToddRosiakSays]

Coaching carousel continues to spin
               



When Buzz Williams inked his new contract with Marquette University on March 30, it effectively ended his inclusion on college basketball's annual coaching carousel.

               

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/121660294.html
               

[Big Daddy 84]

Why is it so hard to take Buzz for his word....the man is not cut from the same cloth as other coaches. He said he was staying as long as MU wanted him. We want him...EOS

[StillAWarrior]

Why is it so hard to take Buzz for his word....the man is not cut from the same cloth as other coaches. He said he was staying as long as MU wanted him. We want him...EOS

So, do you think Buzz would be willing to do the job for $100,000 per year?  Even if MU really, really wanted him?  How about $1.5 million?  Again, even if MU wanted him more than any school has ever wanted a coach?

I'd say the answer to the first question is that undoubtedly, he would not.  I'm also pretty confident that he'd be on the job market if Marquette asked him to take a $1 million pay cut.  And I wouldn't blame him.

What that illustrates is that just "wanting" Buzz won't keep him here.  There are other factors at work such as how much we're willing to pay him.  I'm sure there are other factors too, and Buzz will decide what they are and how important they are to him.  Some possible examples:  stability of conference; institutional commitment to the basketball program; ease of recruiting; family preferences; etc.

Nobody (including you, I'd assume) believes that Buzz will stay just because MU wants him to.  MU has to step up to the plate and make a reasonable commitment to Buzz and to the program.  Nobody would fault Buzz if he left MU if MU didn't provide reasonable compensation, benefits, etc., etc.  At the end of the day, Buzz will be the one that determines if it is reasonable (as compared to all other options).

I think Buzz has shown a lot of loyalty and gratitude to MU, and I am happy for that.  But, let's be honest, Marquette has backed the Brinks truck up to Buzz's bank.  Only and idiot would have walked away from MU under the current circumstances, and I'm pretty sure Buzz is no idiot.

[Pakuni]

"I do not believe that responding to every potential rumor, blog or story is right for me personally or professionally."

Amen to that.

[NersEllenson]

As Buzz says:  You get what you earn.  He's earned every one of his dollars from MU.  The fact other schools covet Buzz speaks to his value.  I'll never understand folks who get all bent out of shape over coaches or athletes salaries.  If you rose to the top of your profession and were the subject of a bidding war - would you tell the bidding parties:  "Hey, stop it - you two teams/schools fighting it out for me is really pissing me off?"  Keep in mind there is also union pressure on athletes to accept the highest bidder, and to an extent this dynamic probably exists in the coaching circles as well. 

Yes, almost everyone would love to be a professional athlete, or head coach - yet if everyone could become one...there wouldn't be any premium paid.  It is ULTRA competitive to get to the level of a Top 25 Head Coaching position in college basketball - even more competitive/difficult if you never played the game at a high level or come from a pedigreed family.  Same for professional athletes - have to be an ELITE level talent to make it - so why should they not get paid ELITE dollars? 

[GOO]

Reports are that Pastner turned down the job at A&M.  It sure would be nice to read that Buzz turned them down, instead of they couldn't afford him.

Now, my guess is that Buzz did turn them down, but just isn't saying so.... but it sure would be nice to just hear that Buzz was not interested in leaving MU!  The next rumors that come out, next year, I hope we get some kind of "I'm happy at Marquette and not interested in leaving" quote.  I know we won't, but it would be nice.

I for one, am really tired of rumors every year.  I expected it with Crean and got used to it.  I guess with Buzz at least we are not hearing that he is out promoting himself for jobs. 

[Skatastrophy]

Reports are that Pastner turned down the job at A&M.  It sure would be nice to read that Buzz turned them down, instead of they couldn't afford him.

Now, my guess is that Buzz did turn them down, but just isn't saying so.... but it sure would be nice to just hear that Buzz was not interested in leaving MU!  The next rumors that come out, next year, I hope we get some kind of "I'm happy at Marquette and not interested in leaving" quote.  I know we won't, but it would be nice.

I for one, am really tired of rumors every year.  I expected it with Crean and got used to it.  I guess with Buzz at least we are not hearing that he is out promoting himself for jobs. 

With no rumors coming out of MU it's up to TAMU's athletic department to spin it.

I, personally, don't care what MU comes out looking like in May as long as Coach Buzz is still on our bench next year   Maybe him getting some press in eastern TX will keep his name fresh with recruits down there

[4everwarriors]

The difference is Crean actively sought out other jobs. In Buzz' case, others are coming to him. Major character revealing moments.

[GOO]

If he turned down the jobs, they are character revealed moments.  If they couldn't afford him at what MU will pay, no character revealed either way.

It would be nice to not have this go on each spring. 

[brewcity77]

If he turned down the jobs, they are character revealed moments.  If they couldn't afford him at what MU will pay, no character revealed either way.

It would be nice to not have this go on each spring.

I don't understand what Buzz can do about it. He's been here for 3 years. TAMU was convinced they were his dream job because he would be coming home to a school he was once an assistant at. But I think Buzz is smart enough to realize that with a $2.6M buyout and more than $2M in salary, only the very wealthy or very dedicated schools would be able to seriously inquire. By signing that deal, Buzz turned down 98% of the schools in D1 without even letting them into the discussion. TAMU is one of those schools that simply never had a chance because they aren't going to spend in the $4-5M range in the first year alone for a new head coach.

Other schools are going to talk. Arkansas was convinced they were getting Buzz. So was Oklahoma. Missouri thought they had a shot, and so did Tennessee. But just like all four of those high-major state schools, TAMU was out of the running before it even started because very few institutions are willing to meet the demands we have on Buzz, and he damn sure knows it. What's he supposed to do, hold five press conferences every off-season to dispel coaching rumors, or focus on doing his job and not let the random writings of overzealous out-of-town reporters bother him. Personally, I'd prefer the latter. And once he's been here for 10 years, those rumors will start to go away because people will realize this guy really is content where he's at.

[Pakuni]

If he turned down the jobs, they are character revealed moments.  If they couldn't afford him at what MU will pay, no character revealed either way.

It would be nice to not have this go on each spring. 

Buzz's name will almost certainly be linked with other jobs in the years ahead.
He may even take one of them.

But I think what we've seen this spring will go down as an unprecendent run of job openings in what's thought to be Buzz's wheelhouse, i.e. Big 12 country. What are the odds that four  Big 12 jobs - including one at which he was an assistant - open up again within a matter of weeks?
I feel safe saying it won't happen again anytime soon, if ever.

[Jay Bee]

Reports are that Pastner turned down the job at A&M.  It sure would be nice to read that Buzz turned them down, instead of they couldn't afford him.

Bro,

Pastner has said that he is staying at Memphis... and that there was no offer from A&M.

You can read a lot of things that aren't true.

[avid1010]

Or you can have schools like Oklahoma offer Buzz, and then when a kid who originally signed with OK gets a call from Buzz, Buzz can simply say that he had the option to go to OK, but MU is a much better basketball school.  I don't mind schools drooling over Buzz, and I think it serves MU and Buzz well as long as he's sincere about staying here.  It doesn't seem like recruits are worried that Buzz will jump ship.

[79Warrior]

Reports are that Pastner turned down the job at A&M.  It sure would be nice to read that Buzz turned them down, instead of they couldn't afford him.

Now, my guess is that Buzz did turn them down, but just isn't saying so.... but it sure would be nice to just hear that Buzz was not interested in leaving MU!  The next rumors that come out, next year, I hope we get some kind of "I'm happy at Marquette and not interested in leaving" quote.  I know we won't, but it would be nice.

I for one, am really tired of rumors every year.  I expected it with Crean and got used to it.  I guess with Buzz at least we are not hearing that he is out promoting himself for jobs. 

By virtue of him still being at MU means he wants to be here. People need to move on and forget about constant validation. He obviously turned OU, ARK and TAMU down or he would be gone. Buzz was the number 1 target for all three. He is ours to lose and if people don't stop asking him "how long will you be here" every frigging time they see him he will bolt.

[NCMUFan]

By virtue of him still being at MU means he wants to be here. People need to move on and forget about constant validation. He obviously turned OU, ARK and TAMU down or he would be gone. Buzz was the number 1 target for all three. He is ours to lose and if people don't stop asking him "how long will you be here" every frigging time they see him he will bolt.

I have to agree.  Many people seem to be oblivious that Marquette is in the Big East with an admin dedicated to providing great support in terms of practice facility, team transportation, etc..   If we can't sell Marquette as a premier destination job, no one else will be doing so.  Either you walk around with a "L" on your forehead or a "W".

[MU Buff]

Agree as well.  His salary, buyout, as well as Buzz's feelings towards the Marquette community shows he's not leaving anytime soon.  No need to worry about it as far as I'm concerned.

[BCHoopster]

Buzz must feel that MU is the right fit at this time, financially and most importantly to him is the  recruiting to MU.  Expect next years recruiting class to be his best so far.                                                                                                                                                                                                 

[Skatastrophy]

I have to agree.  Many people seem to be oblivious that Marquette is in the Big East with an admin dedicated to providing great support in terms of practice facility, team transportation, etc..   If we can't sell Marquette as a premier destination job, no one else will be doing so.  Either you walk around with a "L" on your forehead or a "W".

Along the same lines:  Buzz should have a very good handle on what (if any) shakeup there's going to be in the Big East in the next few years.  Buzz deciding to stay at MU is a good omen for the BEast maintaining their course for the foreseeable future

[NersEllenson]

By virtue of him still being at MU means he wants to be here. People need to move on and forget about constant validation. He obviously turned OU, ARK and TAMU down or he would be gone. Buzz was the number 1 target for all three. He is ours to lose and if people don't stop asking him "how long will you be here" every frigging time they see him he will bolt.

+1 - Think we are in for a decade or so run of some EXCELLENT basketball.  As you mention, Buzz saying NO to OU, AR and TAMU speaks volumes to his commitment to MU.  Think recruiting only gets easier for Buzz at MU...as if any other coach tries to negative recruit against Buzz and say he'll probably leave MU....Buzz can flat out say:  Listen, I'm from Texas, was an assistant at A&M..and turned them down.  Oklahoma is a 3 hour drive from where I grew up..and my wife is from that area..we turned them down too.  We like it in MKE, and plan on being here for awhile.