The real message of this thread is that nobody knows what's going on. "People in the know say no chance" vs. "He's basically already hired."
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The real message of this thread is that nobody knows what's going on. "People in the know say no chance" vs. "He's basically already hired."
I am putting my confidence in Dr. Mark Keenum's decision on this. I think he probably knows what best for our university and our athletic department, and he is very passionate in wanting MSU to succeed in all things at the greatest level it can be.
I really have no idea about how Cohen would do as AD. I'm selfishly worried about baseball.
But it's the money issue that doesn't make sense to me. So we couldn't/wouldn't pay Stricklin 1.2 mil, but we are going to promote our baseball HC who makes near that much...and then make a HR hire that would demand over a mil?
Am I missing something?
I would be fine with Cohen as AD for all the positive reasons pointed out so far. I have made hiring decisions in my company and often times the current employee who has worked their tale off is much better than the outsider with more experience because they want to succeed for your company first, not necessarily just for themselves.
An assistant coach? A whole new coaching staff? Right before college baseball NSD?
What a nightmare.
I do agree with you that if Cohen becomes the AD we won?t get near the ?home run? hire that some people in this thread have predicted we would get. And I would guess that Butch is probably on the higher end of who we probably could get.
And last time we had a head coach at MSU with no college head coaching experience? Try 1975. Jimmy Bragan.
There's no way this ends well.
If Cohen gets AD, then there's any number of disasters that could happen. Most have been mentioned already.
If he doesn't get it, is he going to pout like Mullen? The fact that he even wants it at his age tells me he isn't 100% happy with his dream job.
My source on this, and it's a decent one, said we offered up to 1 million for 4 years, the maximum time allowed under state law. Florida offered 1.5 for 5 years. That's a 4 million dollar contract vs a 7.5 million dollar one. That's a no brainer for anyone and it was all about money.
Same source says that the preference going into the search is for a sitting AD. He said that that doesn't mean Cohen won't get it if he actually wants it, just that he will have to overcome that preference. My source says it could happen but it's a long shot.
Sorry RocketDawg, but Keenum's blood runs "true maroon," as did Zacharias'.
Portera, on the other hand, was not of MSU bloodlines and had no allegiance to the university other than what was required to draw a paycheck (hence he left) and now we've got a significant upgrade to someone who is loyal.
Two weeks ago, Nobody blamed Stricklin for his decision because of the salary upgrade he was getting. He could have just as easily had a change of heart and decided to stay with his alma mater, but no. Cohen and his intensity could be very useful when lighting a fire under coaches and holding them to account when needed, and we know he bleeds maroon.
This dude seemed to do okay with the job and he was JUST AS qualified as Cohen. LSU actually became the LSU we know today during his tenure https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skip_Bertman
Around 20% of all AD's have ever been a coach. Not a head coach but a coach period. The business has changed a lot and that path as an AD, not a great AD but just to get the job, is diminishing. Now there have been a few really good ones still in the last decade or so. Alverez has done a really good job at Wisconsin. (Although being wrapped up in the Sapario Ponzi scheme to the tune of $600,000 was a concern). Yow was a former coach that has had a long career as an AD as well. Bergman did well. There have been several who have not done well. But the vast majority are coaches who had been coaching for a long time and had been involved with the AD office for a long time as well. Yow spent 5 years at Florida as an assistant AD before getting her first AD job and didn't coach during that time. I can't think of one who actually left in the middle of their prime coaching career to become AD. Its just really concerning to me. You look at guys like Rob Mullen s at Oregon whose background is accounting, auditing, deputy director of athletics at Kentucky. Or ex-CEO types like the guy replaced or the Michigan AD. Bellotti tried it for a year and he had rough go of it with some off the field issues and firing of the longtime basketball coach that was somewhat of a split and the passion to be involved with his sport caused him to resign after just a year. And Bellotti had been groomed for a year or a little more to take over when Kilkenny retired. I just have reservations that this would be a good move for either Cohen or the athletic department.