Mitch will be a candidate at Nova and UVA. I can’t see Earl going lateral back home, as he will be an ACC or Big Ten coach in 1-2 years. Hence, I see MacConnell at Princeton and if Mitch stays MacConnell at Columbia, Klatsky or Langel should end up getting Penn. This will be the year of coaching changes which impacts the Ivy. It has been a while.
Whence derives these conclusions?? Industry scuttlebutt and rumors? Personal surmise? Not that I disagree. And, BTW, what about Jones?
James should get a look by Nova unless Nova dances. None of this is rumors.
If Mitch gets back to the Dance and wins a game (or more), then he’s going to get some big time offers. Then again, I suspect he got big time offers after the Sweet 16 run in 2023 and he still stayed put. Jones has stayed put too despite all his success.
The NIL rat races are causing many old school coaches to retire. As long as their salaries are solid, Jones, Henderson and Amaker might be perfectly happy where they are. The Ivy may become less competitive nationally, but from a coach’s standpoint, it’s less drama.
Tommy didn’t get Duke due to Coach K intervening with the University President. Every other coach at a high level (even in Ivy) would run backwards to earn 6x, even in the NIL era.
Can’t speak for Mitch. But, a successful coach in the Ivies, especially at Princeton, has a nice gig. The money may be a fraction of a Power 5 school. But there are numerous qualitative advantages. The town community, with an exceptional school system is a plus for family. The stability and relatively long tenure of head coaches in the Ivies as well as shared values about the role of college sports with coaches in other sports creates a community unlike those at schools where job security is lower due to demands for more immediate success. Add to all that a group of intelligent student athletes who as a group are likely more mature and coachable and you have a highly satisfying work environment for a coach who measures job satisfaction as more than simply the largest paycheck. Many exceptional Ivy coaches have resisted the lure of higher $ to coach elsewhere in favor of their Ivy position where they can focus on what they love most about coaching in a high quality community.
Random comments:
- Princeton alumni/coaches have not had much success outside the Ivies: Carmody, Robinson, Thompson, Johnson, Brennan. Even Mooney, although long of tenure, has not taken Richmond to the next level. Johnson in particular, had he not left, might be happily ensonced and beloved at Princeton.
- I recently read or heard an interview with Jones in which he expressed past disappointment over lack of big offers, and is now not looking to leave Yale.
Bad info here. Lots of it. Brian Earl will be in the ACC or Big Ten in 2 years. I will leave the rest alone, but let’s see who Nova hires…
You could have shortened this post into 2 words, Pete Carril, because he is the only one who has not directly or indirectly sought other positions. No one is saying that $500,000 is fine, but 3.8 million doesn’t work.
Coach Jones: “At that point, I thought there’s no way I’d still be here at Yale,” he said. “I thought an opportunity would come that would be an opportunity to change the lives of my family, generational wealth, all that kind of stuff. But those opportunities never came. I’m happy to be where I am. I work at a great place with great people.”
Yes, sir. Have heard that language by all the coaches who I rep. I don’t rep James.
If you are saying you represent college coaches in
negotiations with schools, I have to give greater weight
to your views.
I am surprised, however, about your certainty about Earl.
I am a huge fan, but he has never made the tournament.
A BIG 10 or ACC school will not win the press conference
with that kind of hire. Time will tell.
I represent and have represented over 30 D-1 coaches, including Ivy coaches. Brian is on a fast track. A very fast track. His work is legion. His offense is being copied. The likely current opening are: Columbia, Penn, Rider, Minnesota, Villanova, UVA (obviously), Indiana, Murray State, UMBC and many more. You should probably google Richard Kent NIL and follow me on Twitter.
Sounds like your clients spell their names with dollar signs. True , the money offered by big programs these days is obscene and can sway most any coach. But there are some (not many) talented coaches who are happy in their positions and have other overriding values.
Also, with piles of $, come high expectations, high pressure and little patience or job security. Also, not all great coaches want to spend every waking hour on their work life. Some actually have families as well as other interests. You already mentioned Pete Carril.
Overriding values? Huh. How about a lawyer who bills 2500 hours and has less family time and earns 5 million as opposed to billing 1500 as a solo and earning $350,000? Bad values. Weird.
Pete lived in a bygone era.
Carroll was many things, but not a big family guy.
Nice to have info from an insider.
I’m as big a Brian Earl fan as anyone. After Johnson left P, I favored him over Mitch. (Although I have come to admire Mitch quite a bit.) And Earl’s offensive model can work anywhere: good ball movement and play 10 guys who can shoot the 3. Can work without 5 star recruits.
But he’s in his first year at W&M, so if I were looking, I’d give him at least 2 more years to prove himself.
Of the programs you list, Minnesota, Villanova, UVa, and Indiana are all programs that want someone who can take them deep into the tournament on a regular basis. NIL collectives want ROI.
In that regard I think Jones is the best Ivy pick.
Earl is hot in the industry, very hot. Minny simply want to make the tourney. UVA is in bad shape. Not going anywhere soon. I still say that Mitch and Odom will be standing at the end in the UVA search. The Ivy opt out of House is devastating and not sustainable. It looks like the Ivy and the NEC will be the only opt outs. The top Ivy coaches know this full well.