Pearl out at Tennessee

[Mack Attack]

http://http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/28018503I have absolutely no pity for him. I thought he was always an ass. Totally got what he deserved.

[BBC 08]

I've hated Pearl ever since he pussed out on that initial return game he owed Xavier. I'm glad that hypocrite is fired. I also love to see all the Tennessee fans at my office act like they don't care and say that UT is back to being a football school.

[SixFig]

They are already creating a shiny new "Shaka Smart" nameplate for the office.

[waggy]

They are already creating a shiny new "Shaka Smart" nameplate for the office.

I think I'd wait for a better job than UT if I were him.

[xavierj]

They are already creating a shiny new "Shaka Smart" nameplate for the office.

How is Brad Stevens not being mentioned for every open job in the country? All that guy does is win without getting worried or breaking a sweat. You watch Jamie Dixon and the guy looks like he is having a stroke on the sidelines and then they show Brad and he looks like he is ready to take a walk on a Sunday afternoon. Guy is calm, cool and collected.

[XUglow]

I think I'd wait for a better job than UT if I were him.

UT is an OK job. They were 5th in the nation in attendance. T-B is pretty nice since the refurb and seats nearly 22,000.

[Masterofreality]

How is Brad Stevens not being mentioned for every open job in the country? All that guy does is win without getting worried or breaking a sweat. You watch Jamie Dixon and the guy looks like he is having a stroke on the sidelines and then they show Brad and he looks like he is ready to take a walk on a Sunday afternoon. Guy is calm, cool and collected.

You wonder that with the loss of Matt "Flopflailer" Howard and Van Zant he might be more amenable to moving.

Yeah they have Nored and Mack back, but Andrew Smith does not concern me and they have little else coming back.

[Fireball]

I've hated Pearl ever since he pussed out on that initial return game he owed Xavier. I'm glad that hypocrite is fired. I also love to see all the Tennessee fans at my office act like they don't care and say that UT is back to being a football school.

...one that's no longer particularly good at football.

That has to suck.

[94GRAD]

You wonder that with the loss of Matt "Flopflailer" Howard and Van Zant he might be more amenable to moving.

Yeah they have Nored and Mack back, but Andrew Smith does not concern me and they have little else coming back.

People say the same thing about us when we lose our players:D

[waggy]

UT is an OK job. They were 5th in the nation in attendance. T-B is pretty nice since the refurb and seats nearly 22,000.

Agree. But there is also the issue of NCAA penalties forthcoming.

[Masterofreality]

People say the same thing about us when we lose our players:D

But there have been plenty of cases where after the loss of multiple players, like after 2004, we took a step back. We have also been able to fill in a bit with transfers. Maybe Butler has some transfers coming in that I don't know about but the guys on the present roster, other than Mack and Nored for defense are not impressive.

[coasterville95]

I was going to say - Pearl got off to a real good start with me when he welched on our return game "because I'm new here and haven't had time to establish my system or whatever" As i recall, that didn't stop Sean Miller from taking the Muskies down to Rocky Top when he was a brand new coach. Then, as I recall, PEarl cherry picked a year to offer up the return game, a return game we almost, but not quite won.

From what I have heard of the case - he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and then tried to lie to the NCAA about it? I hope those were real good cookies. 8 game league imposed suspension, fine, yada yada. Nice to see Tennessee man up and can him after that. Then again going out with a big losing streak punctuated by a 30 point tournament couldnt have helped his cause. It may not have caused the firing, but it sure makes a "for lack of performance of duties" term easier to defend.

That said, while the program may, right now, be in Fixer-Upper status, it does have a gigantic arena, and a rabidly loyal fanbase as well as a solid name just waiting for an up and coming coach to make a big name for themselves, or an experienced coach that likes a challenge to get back in the spotlight.

All well and good, so liong as...<you know that>

[Xavgrad08]

Here is a quote from Gary Parrish abou Tennessee's coaching search."Note to UT fans: Don't aim too high with your wish list. NCAA problems. AD on shaky ground. No recruiting base. Not a great job right now."

I agree with Parrish. I think the NCAA will likely give UT some shcholarship reduction based on lack of institutional control. Remember UT wasn't exactly a mens basketball school before Pearl took over. Looking at some polls, most UT fans don't think he should have been fired. So the new coach will likely have a tough time uniting the fan base, combined with a depleted roster. Overall, I think there are to many unknowns to consider this a good job.

[GoMuskies]

How is Brad Stevens not being mentioned for every open job in the country? All that guy does is win without getting worried or breaking a sweat. You watch Jamie Dixon and the guy looks like he is having a stroke on the sidelines and then they show Brad and he looks like he is ready to take a walk on a Sunday afternoon. Guy is calm, cool and collected.

I'm pretty sure Stevens can have any job he feels like taking.

[xavierj]

I'm pretty sure Stevens can have any job he feels like taking.

Yep but his name does not get thrown around like Xavier coaches or like Buzz Williams now.

[LadyMuskie]

I have never liked Bruce Pearl. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

[Jumpy]

Yep but his name does not get thrown around like Xavier coaches or like Buzz Williams now.

He was the "it" coach during the off-season last year. His name came up with every open position, at least from the writers. His season isn't even over this year. I can all but guarantee that he will be mentioned with every new opening as soon as the tourney's over.

[BBC 08]

For some reason Brian Gregory's name is being thrown around in the search for Tennessee's new coach. Just heard it on Nashville's sports radio show before my shower. UT's Rivals guy was the one who said it

[xavierj]

For some reason Brian Gregory's name is being thrown around in the search for Tennessee's new coach. Just heard it on Nashville's sports radio show before my shower. UT's Rivals guy was the one who said it

Brian Gregory is probably pleading for that job. They will have a hard time getting anyone else to take it so that would not surprise me.

[coasterville95]

"You know your program has fallen on hard times when..."

[Juice]

Kevin Ware, a 4 star guard from the class of 2011, has asked from his release from his commitment to Tennessee.

[xubrew]

http://http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/28018503I have absolutely no pity for him. I thought he was always an ass. Totally got what he deserved.

i don't have any pity for a person that is paid just under a million bucks to not work, especially when said person will undoubtedly be making six figures within six months working for a tv station if he wants to.

i thought his contract had been terminated. i don't know why he's still getting a million bucks.

i should have gone into coaching. i'd be willing to not follow the rules and completely screw things up, and then be paid to go away for half that much.

[Muskie]

i don't have any pity for a person that is paid just under a million bucks to not work, especially when said person will undoubtedly be making six figures within six months working for a tv station if he wants to.

i thought his contract had been terminated. i don't know why he's still getting a million bucks.

i should have gone into coaching. i'd be willing to not follow the rules and completely screw things up, and then be paid to go away for half that much.

From what I heard on the radio, there were various provisions that required payment of some salary even when firing for cause. If I understood the analyst on FSR correctly, Pearl had strong language written in that he could be fired for cause only after an official determination by the NCAA with sanctions being handed down. I don't think Tenn wanted to wait until June, so they coughed up some money.

Then again. I could be wrong.

[xubrew]

From what I heard on the radio, there were various provisions that required payment of some salary even when firing for cause. If I understood the analyst on FSR correctly, Pearl had strong language written in that he could be fired for cause only after an official determination by the NCAA with sanctions being handed down. I don't think Tenn wanted to wait until June, so they coughed up some money.

Then again. I could be wrong.

well, whatever the reason, he's getting paid just under a million bucks. that's not getting fired in the sense that you our i would be fired. that's receiving a huge chunk of change to go on a virtual sabbatical.

when bob huggins was "fired" from uc, he received $3 million. he took a year off to recruit, and since he wasn't actually working anywhere he wasn't bound by any restrictions or limitations. he then signed on at kansas state, and was paid more than a million to coach there. the irony is that he actually MADE money. A LOT of money. "getting fired" in coaching is actually a financial gain in many cases, especially if it's for violations and not for poor performance.

pearl will get another job. in the meantime, he's got a million bucks that he can kick back with. that's not what i call getting smacked down. if many of us ever got fired, we'd receive virtually no money and would have much more difficulty finding a job than he will.

so, to the orginal point of the post, i don't feel sorry for him at all.

it's too bad that the old georgia AD who was fired for DUI wasn't a coach. he may have made some money out of the deal.

[Coogles]

How is Brad Stevens not being mentioned for every open job in the country? All that guy does is win without getting worried or breaking a sweat. You watch Jamie Dixon and the guy looks like he is having a stroke on the sidelines and then they show Brad and he looks like he is ready to take a walk on a Sunday afternoon. Guy is calm, cool and collected.

Because everyone knows he's happy where he is. Hell, the guy is signed through 2023 at ~$1million per. He could make more elsewhere, but he's hardly scraping the bottom of the barrel.

It's pure conjecture, but I think most people believe it would take a truly special job to lure him away from Butler. Indiana would be one, but maybe an already established program like Duke or Kansas could pull him away.

If Oregon's money and brand new facilities didn't lure him away, why would a Tennessee gig where the program will likely be under sorts of sanctions and the AD isn't a sure bet to keep his job? Of all the openings that worried me last year, it was Wake Forest. It's another small, private university, which means a potentially similar culture, but with better facilities and more money in a premier conference.

But he didn't bite. Schools can call all the want, but I honestly think Stevens is staying at Butler for a long, long time.

...at least until Crean gets canned.

[Muskie]

Because everyone knows he's happy where he is. Hell, the guy is signed through 2023 at ~$1million per. He could make more elsewhere, but he's hardly scraping the bottom of the barrel.

It's pure conjecture, but I think most people believe it would take a truly special job to lure him away from Butler. Indiana would be one, but maybe an already established program like Duke or Kansas could pull him away.

If Oregon's money and brand new facilities didn't lure him away, why would a Tennessee gig where the program will likely be under sorts of sanctions and the AD isn't a sure bet to keep his job? Of all the openings that worried me last year, it was Wake Forest. It's another small, private university, which means a potentially similar culture, but with better facilities and more money in a premier conference.

But he didn't bite. Schools can call all the want, but I honestly think Stevens is staying at Butler for a long, long time.

...at least until Crean gets canned.
SO two more years (I assume they will give him to years of Cody Zeller and Yogi).

[xavierj]

brad stevens ain't pulling in a million per.

[Muskie]

brad stevens ain't pulling in a million per.

Nobody knows for sure. But here is an article from a year ago from the Indianapolis Business Journal discussing his pay and the coming increase.

http://www.ibj.com/butler-coach-stevens-expected-to-get-lucrative-offers/PARAMS/article/19060

[xavierj]

According to Guide Star Brad Stevens made $434,382 in 2009 which made him the highest paid employee at Butler. He may have made more in 2010 but I doubt they gave him a $570,000 raise. Butler is a non-profit institution that struggles to draw more than 6,000 fans a game. They cannot afford to pay Brad much more than they are now nor would it be ethical since they are a non-profit institution.

[bobbiemcgee]

Kevin Ware, a 4 star guard from the class of 2011, has asked from his release from his commitment to Tennessee.

Chris Jones as well:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/Duke/basketball/recruiting/player-Chris-Jones-98837

[xavierj]

In 2008 Sean Miller had a base compensation of $616,000. Surprisingly Mike Bobinski made a lot less than several other University employees.

[Coogles]

http://www.theindychannel.com/sports/23077250/detail.html

From Butler President Bobby Fong, "For $1 million, mybe we can stretch, but the $4 million to $6 million that I hear, I have to give pause."

That ~$400k figure is a base salary. With performance bonuses and other deals, David Woods, the Butler beat writer for the Indy Star, estimated that before the extension Stevens earned somewhere in the $750k range.

Tom Crean makes "only" $600k for a base salary, but his total compensation is somwhere in the $2.5 million range.

No one knows for sure, but we do know that Butler made an offer near the top of what it could afford to pay from interviews with Fong. Based on quotes like the one in that article, that makes you think his base salary, plus incentives, is somwhere very close to that $1 million mark.

[xavierj]

http://www.theindychannel.com/sports/23077250/detail.html

From Butler President Bobby Fong, "For $1 million, mybe we can stretch, but the $4 million to $6 million that I hear, I have to give pause."

That ~$400k figure is a base salary. With performance bonuses and other deals, David Woods, the Butler beat writer for the Indy Star, estimated that before the extension Stevens earned somewhere in the $750k range.

Tom Crean makes "only" $600k for a base salary, but his total compensation is somwhere in the $2.5 million range.

No one knows for sure, but we do know that Butler made an offer near the top of what it could afford to pay from interviews with Fong. Based on quotes like the one in that article, that makes you think his base salary, plus incentives, is somwhere very close to that $1 million mark.

So I guess the other incentives are not reported to the IRS? Or is that paid from someone outside the University. The $434,000 included bonuses and other compensation paid directly from the University, his base was $350,000 in 2009. I just do not think a non-profit with a limited fan base can afford a bidding war with big state schools. Now if the basketball program can make enough to support such high salaries then I am all for it.

[Coogles]

So I guess the other incentives are not reported to the IRS? Or is that paid from someone outside the University. The $434,000 included bonuses and other compensation paid directly from the University, his base was $350,000 in 2009. I just do not think a non-profit with a limited fan base can afford a bidding war with big state schools. Now if the basketball program can make enough to support such high salaries then I am all for it.

2009 wouldn't include any compensation from the Final Four run, for one thing. His 2010 salary with his increased base pay from the extension, plus all of the postseason bonsus will be considerably higher.

You are right in that they can't afford to engage in a bidding ware with big state universities, but they can make generous offer based on their own economy. Whether we think it's reasonable or not, that seems to be somewhere in the $1 million range.

Few at Gonzaga has a base pay of $851k, FWIW. It can be done.

[xavierj]

2009 wouldn't include any compensation from the Final Four run, for one thing. His 2010 salary with his increased base pay from the extension, plus all of the postseason bonsus will be considerably higher.

You are right in that they can't afford to engage in a bidding ware with big state universities, but they can make generous offer based on their own economy. Whether we think it's reasonable or not, that seems to be somewhere in the $1 million range.

Few at Gonzaga has a base pay of $851k, FWIW. It can be done.

I agree it can be done. Few also has a newer arena that has suites that generate a bunch more cash than does Hinkle.

[XUglow]

If Oregon's money and brand new facilities didn't lure him away, why would a Tennessee gig where the program will likely be under sorts of sanctions and the AD isn't a sure bet to keep his job?

FYI. UT's men's basketball revenues for 2009-10 - $13M - Oregon's men's basketball revenues for 2009-10 - $3M. Oregon was dead last in revenue of all 73 BCS basketball programs.

[Muskied]

Because everyone knows he's happy where he is. Hell, the guy is signed through 2023 at ~$1million per. He could make more elsewhere, but he's hardly scraping the bottom of the barrel.

It's pure conjecture, but I think most people believe it would take a truly special job to lure him away from Butler.

...at least until Crean gets canned.

BTW...I think this is BS. He may be happy, and may be there a long time, and could even say so publically, but that doesn't keep his name off of candidate lists, or even keep AD's from calling him. Matta and Miller publically stated they wanted to be at Xavier....it just takes the right opportunity, like you said.

I mean...Mack's name is already being brought up. Media and school contacts will just throw names out there...regarardless of current situations. It has NOTHING to do with knowing if the guy is happy or not. Just my 2 cents. I think you'll start seeing Stevens name early and often when this tourney run is over.

[xavierj]

I think Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, Arkansas and Tennessee are all waiting for teams to get knocked out. I fully expect Mooney to be a serious candidate at Georgia Tech, but I do not think he would go to Tennessee. I think Buzz Williams is a strong candidate at both Oklahoma and Arkansas and think he would take one of those jobs or Texas A&M if that opens up since he is a southern guy. I however am not sure that Brad Stevens would leave for any place other than Indiana, Notre Dame or Michigan St. I just do not think Brad is much of an ego guy and think he is comfortable where he is in Indiana and that area of the country. I think he may be out of place at some of these other schools. Hell Maybe Brad will step in at Duke when coach K retires. Who knows?

[Juice]

Tennesse released its list of top candidates, and it's pretty damn funny.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/mar/23/five-coaches-top-uts-list-search-replace-bruce-pea/

[xavierj]

Tennesse released its list of top candidates, and it's pretty damn funny.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/mar/23/five-coaches-top-uts-list-search-replace-bruce-pea/

Think much of yourselves Tennessee?

[DC Muskie]

Wow, someone wants to keep their job as AD!

[boozehound]

They should have just put Coach K on there at the top of the list if they aren't going to be realistic.

[muskiefan82]

Their best bet is to let Pat Summitt take over the team. It would be interesting, if nothing else.

[CinciX12]

Wow, epic fail Tennessee. You have created a laughing stock of your program by just releasing a simple list of coaching candidates.

[X-band '01]

Is the new coach also going to teach the guys how to take showers properly (see Derek Dooley, football coach)?

[xubrew]

mike anderson is going to arkansas, so mizzou is now open. personally, i think mizzoui is a better job than arkansas, and am wondering why he left. i know he was a long time assistant there, but he had it pretty good where he was.

[Juice]

mike anderson is going to arkansas, so mizzou is now open. personally, i think mizzoui is a better job than arkansas, and am wondering why he left. i know he was a long time assistant there, but he had it pretty good where he was.

He can win the SEC West every year with his eyes closed. All the good SEC teams are in the East.

[xubrew]

He can win the SEC West every year with his eyes closed. All the good SEC teams are in the East.

that's just it, though. the sec west champion has missed the tournament the last three years. the sec west ranked below the ivy league this year. utah state wins the wac in their sleep. that doesn't necessarily take them anywhere.

[Juice]

that's just it, though. the sec west champion has missed the tournament the last three years. the sec west ranked below the ivy league this year. utah state wins the wac in their sleep. that doesn't necessarily take them anywhere.

Right, but he will also improve the program a ton. Alabama, who was first in the west this year, is not a good basketball program. Arkansas was good in the 90s and has shown flashes in the past decade, they just need a good coach. If he gets Arkansas to the level of Missouri, which I don't see why he can't, the program will make the tournament.

[GoMuskies]

Wow, epic fail Tennessee. You have created a laughing stock of your program by just releasing a simple list of coaching candidates.

They could probably get Marshall, although I think he should be striving for NC State.

[xubrew]

Right, but he will also improve the program a ton. Alabama, who was first in the west this year, is not a good basketball program. Arkansas was good in the 90s and has shown flashes in the past decade, they just need a good coach. If he gets Arkansas to the level of Missouri, which I don't see why he can't, the program will make the tournament.

i believe arkansas has had two good coaches. i don't believe either are as good as anderson, but both the two previous coaches were/are good. stan heath won the division and made the ncaa tournament (albiet barely as a #12 seed) in his final year there. arkansas was returning all five starters and their top two guys off the bench, and recruiting was up. they appeared to be trending up big time and poised to have a really big year that next season. arkansas fires stan heath in a decision that is still mind numbing, and everything went to hell.

pelphrey had a top ten recruiting class coming in, and the team appeared to be getting better....and they fired him. they'll probably lose a lot of what they appeared to have built up.

arkansas is a place that seemingly fires people just as it is beginning to trend up. that's what i don't understand.

yes, anderson can get arkansas to the level he's gotten missouri to. i guess what i don't get is what's so appealing about getting arkansas to the level of missouri, when he can just stay at missouri and keep missouri at the level of missouri?? it looks tme like it's a lateral move at best, and it arguably isn't even that. mike anderson had it good where he was. i don't see arkansas as being any better. at best, it's as good.

[PMI]

I actually like the direction Alabama is going under Anthony Grant. I think they will be one of the better SEC teams for years to come. Now it looks like Arkansas might be getting back into that group too in the next couple of years. Mike Anderson will get players to go to Arkansas and I think his style will win plenty of games in the SEC once he does.

[smileyy]

i guess what i don't get is what's so appealing about getting arkansas to the level of missouri, when he can just stay at missouri and keep missouri at the level of missouri??

He was an assistant there under Nolan Richardson. I think that's the primary appeal.

[X Factor]

i believe arkansas has had two good coaches. i don't believe either are as good as anderson, but both the two previous coaches were/are good. stan heath won the division and made the ncaa tournament (albiet barely as a #12 seed) in his final year there. arkansas was returning all five starters and their top two guys off the bench, and recruiting was up. they appeared to be trending up big time and poised to have a really big year that next season. arkansas fires stan heath in a decision that is still mind numbing, and everything went to hell.

pelphrey had a top ten recruiting class coming in, and the team appeared to be getting better....and they fired him. they'll probably lose a lot of what they appeared to have built up.

arkansas is a place that seemingly fires people just as it is beginning to trend up. that's what i don't understand.

yes, anderson can get arkansas to the level he's gotten missouri to. i guess what i don't get is what's so appealing about getting arkansas to the level of missouri, when he can just stay at missouri and keep missouri at the level of missouri?? it looks tme like it's a lateral move at best, and it arguably isn't even that. mike anderson had it good where he was. i don't see arkansas as being any better. at best, it's as good.

Anderson spent 17 years at Arkansas as an assistant to Nolan Richardson. I can understand him wanting to return as the head coach this time around. Arkansas is a better job than Missouri, not by much, but it is. Arkansas can dominate the SEC West and make the NCAA Tournament every year.

Also, I don't think Pelphrey was that good of a coach really. His last three years, he went 46-47 overall and 16-32 in SEC play. That'll get a coach fired more often than not at a lot of programs except Dayton.

I think Pelphrey had some kids get into trouble too off the court. Arrests and suspensions were not uncommon under Pelphrey.

[xubrew]

He was an assistant there under Nolan Richardson. I think that's the primary appeal.

true, but that didn't exactly end well, and after seventeen years as the associate head coach they didn't even look at him the first time around.

you're right. that is the primary appeal. i just didn't think he'd be too anxious to back to a place after the way it ended the first time. time heals, i guess.

i like mike anderson, and have nothing against arkansas. i just felt that he had a good thing where he was and didn't see what else arkansas really offered. i'm not mike anderson, though.

[whitesox]

true, but that didn't exactly end well, and after seventeen years as the associate head coach they didn't even look at him the first time around.

you're right. that is the primary appeal. i just didn't think he'd be too anxious to back to a place after the way it ended the first time. time heals, i guess.

i like mike anderson, and have nothing against arkansas. i just felt that he had a good thing where he was and didn't see what else arkansas really offered. i'm not mike anderson, though.

Different athletic director at Arkansas. The athletic directors that fired Richardson and passed over Anderson for Pelphrey are gone- I think that makes a huge difference for Anderson, particularly since the current AD has reached out to Richardson to try to get on good terms with him.

[xubrew]

Different athletic director at Arkansas. The athletic directors that fired Richardson and passed over Anderson for Pelphrey are gone- I think that makes a huge difference for Anderson, particularly since the current AD has reached out to Richardson to try to get on good terms with him.

makes sense. i agree that with mike anderson, arkansas will be ncaa tourney regulars in a very short time.