Coach Mac

[HandDownManDown]

I can’t see any way there will be heat on Fredrickson if Mac decided to move on. You don’t see presidents get treated that way at places other than UNC or Kentucky. Blossom either, for that matter.

It might be a situation where it’s a contributing factor to some degree, but that really can only be determined in hindsight.

[DC_JAY]

I can’t see any way there will be heat on Fredrickson if Mac decided to move on. You don’t see presidents get treated that way at places other than UNC or Kentucky. Blossom either, for that matter.

It might be a situation where it’s a contributing factor to some degree, but that really can only be determined in hindsight.

+1. Creighton is a university with a basketball program, not the other way around. I could see it cooking the AD's goose, but not the president's.

[ILikeStuff]

So what am I missing? Does all this come down to money? Or is it that he doesn't want to work with Hendrickson and Blossom?

The plantation comment was March 2021, Blossom was hired later in the year, and Mac's contract extension was March 2022. It was my understanding that the goal of that contract was to get Mac to retirement. So what has changed? The way the plantation comment was dealt with has not changed, Blossom is still AD, Hendrickson is still president, Ras is still not here.

I guess my point being - if this is only about money - why wasn't this dealt with 2 years ago? I absolutely agree that he should be compensated like a top 25 coach - but why didn't that happen 2 years ago? If this is about needing to smooth over the Hendrickson/Blossom beef with MORE money - 1) why couldn't this wait until April (when hopefully you have even more bartering chips) and 2) are we doomed to repeat this exact conversation every two years because while money might help people get along, it sure as hell doesn't fix the underlying relationship issues.

[bluejayfan00]

So what am I missing? Does all this come down to money? Or is it that he doesn't want to work with Hendrickson and Blossom?

The plantation comment was March 2021, Blossom was hired later in the year, and Mac's contract extension was March 2022. It was my understanding that the goal of that contract was to get Mac to retirement. So what has changed? The way the plantation comment was dealt with has not changed, Blossom is still AD, Hendrickson is still president, Ras is still not here.

I guess my point being - if this is only about money - why wasn't this dealt with 2 years ago? I absolutely agree that he should be compensated like a top 25 coach - but why didn't that happen 2 years ago? If this is about needing to smooth over the Hendrickson/Blossom beef with MORE money - 1) why couldn't this wait until April (when hopefully you have even more bartering chips) and 2) are we doomed to repeat this exact conversation every two years because while money might help people get along, it sure as hell doesn't fix the underlying relationship issues.

"Yesterdays Price is not Today's Price"

[NUgradCUfan]

I can’t see any way there will be heat on Fredrickson if Mac decided to move on. You don’t see presidents get treated that way at places other than UNC or Kentucky. Blossom either, for that matter.

It might be a situation where it’s a contributing factor to some degree, but that really can only be determined in hindsight.

+1. Creighton is a university with a basketball program, not the other way around. I could see it cooking the AD's goose, but not the president's.

It would become a president's issue if it's true he's a major reason why a head coach for the bread winner program whose success was bringing in a lot of cash for the university left. Public perception would not be ideal, considering, being completely honest, basketball is what's drawing attention to the university.

You think I have the slightest clue what Gonzaga specializes in academically? I literally have no idea.

[Chicagojayfan]

So what am I missing? Does all this come down to money? Or is it that he doesn't want to work with Hendrickson and Blossom?

The plantation comment was March 2021, Blossom was hired later in the year, and Mac's contract extension was March 2022. It was my understanding that the goal of that contract was to get Mac to retirement. So what has changed? The way the plantation comment was dealt with has not changed, Blossom is still AD, Hendrickson is still president, Ras is still not here.

I guess my point being - if this is only about money - why wasn't this dealt with 2 years ago? I absolutely agree that he should be compensated like a top 25 coach - but why didn't that happen 2 years ago? If this is about needing to smooth over the Hendrickson/Blossom beef with MORE money - 1) why couldn't this wait until April (when hopefully you have even more bartering chips) and 2) are we doomed to repeat this exact conversation every two years because while money might help people get along, it sure as hell doesn't fix the underlying relationship issues.

"Yesterdays Price is not Today's Price"

I'm thinking it's a combination of these things. The President/AD may have done a deal at a lower cost because Mac wanted to prove himself, but even then he was underpaid versus performance. The last 2 years have shown even better performance than before, and at the same the price for the best coaches has gone way up (Cooley getting 6M a year should be a clear sign that the times have changed)

Fastest way for an AD to get fired is to screw up the coaching situation at the top program at a school
Harder for Presidents to get fired, but from a couple of people I know with Tenure the reviews on that side aren't all enthusiastic either. Public relations issues like basketball teams have a way of highlighting other perceived issues

It's a great sign that Mac is mentioned on these coaching searches. It means we have a Great coach and successful program. I think it makes a ton of sense for Mac to want to say here, and it makes a ton of sense for the President and AD to do what it takes to make sure he stays happy here. Logic doesn't always stop people from doing things, but in this case, I'm hoping logic wins out

[#RollJays]

Mac is bigger than the President and AD.

[HandDownManDown]

Mac is bigger than the President and AD.

Even though I’m someone who fully realizes the link between on-court success can enrollment success, this is 100 percent wrong. If you don’t believe me, ask any professor. Or ask most big school-based donors (those that give millions).

No schools head coach is bigger than the President.

[cujay4life]

Fr Hendrickson is not going anywhere. The number of Jesuit universities with a Jesuit president is dwindling to almost nonexistent. Most are being run by laypeople because there are not enough Jesuit options to go around. That means more than most realize.

Not to mention that the Jesuit presidents get paid nothing for being president. FH shows as 0 pay on the tax form. Go check other Jesuit school filings and see what a comparable layperson president makes. In general you’d expect to pay about $500k, given what Creighton’s provost makes. If you think the board of regents is going to force the university into spending a half a mil for a new president because the basketball coach left, then I don’t know that you have “logic” being applied at all.

The hate on FH is mostly nonsensical as well. Nobody ever gives any specifics of reasons they don’t like him. The thought he wanted Mac fired and Bruce put an end to that is laughable. If you’ve ever talked to FH, being about himself would not be something you walk away with. He’s guided the university to record enrollments of increasingly higher quality students. He’s navigated the university to a position of strength when the dwindling number of kids entering college is putting many universities into precarious positions, many at risk of closing. This general hate on him is utter nonsense.

[Bluelulu]

Why is this even a topic of conversation? Have I missed something that is more than speculation and conjecture?