Topic: The reason Donnie left, period!

[Johnnyherd]

Our contract was 5 years at 450,000 per year.

UCF signed him to 5 years at 1,000,000 per year.

I don't buy all this "he was mad, we can't win, the cupboard is bare, Hamrick ran him off, blah blah blah". 

It's a $5,000,000.00 contract offered to an unproven coach, it's not rocket sceince. 

[mxman870]

Our contract was 5 years at 450,000 per year.

UCF signed him to 5 years at 1,000,000 per year.

I don't buy all this "he was mad, we can't win, the cupboard is bare, Hamrick ran him off, blah blah blah". 

It's a $5,000,000.00 contract offered to an unproven coach, it's not rocket sceince. 

Money talks,,,,BS walks. I do not like this situation we are in one bit. But who can blame the man for thinking of his family and future? I really don`t think loyalty is in the Funk and Wagnle anymore. Sad days folks.

[Buffalo Bop]

I don't blame him for taking the money, but going to an east division rival instead of a major program is hard to swallow.

[wvmafia]

I don't blame him for taking the money, but going to an east division rival instead of a major program is hard to swallow.

Nailed it there. 

This isn't about us not having or not being willing to pay the money...as nice a guy as DJ is...he's simply not worth the contract ucf gave him.  Sometimes in life if we are lucky, we get an offer that is impossible to pass up...that's what happened to DJ.  I don't blame him.

[thunderingon]

If you offered me double my salary, a nicer office and better employees to move my family to Florida away from "home"...I wouldn't go.  Just sayin.  I don't blame him if for chasing money if it is about the money, but we believed him when he talked about being "home". 

Word of caution...please dont take anymore coaches at their word...including Doc. 

[W0lfman]

I'd leave to for that kind of money.  The thing is I dont fault the AD for not trying to keep him...he hasnt done anything that would warrant a million dollar contract.  UCF is out of their ever lovin minds to pay him that.  Hell they could've got someone much more accomplished for a of million bucks.

[DJdaHERDfan]

well they felt he was worth it and they are the ones signing the check.
More power to them.

Good Luck Jones and thanks for the good season.

Now, let's get over this and move on to who will be the new coach for bball and talk some spring football!!!

[MarshallGrad]

Some day, everyone (some reluctantly) will come to accept there is nothing that exits a coaches mouth that you should ever apply to either truth or a warm and fuzzy feeling. I don't say that with any negative conotation. I accept what is as what is. If you believe the next guy's words, you are just incapable of combining memory and rational thought to form an opinion - or you live on feelings.

Watch one coaches pre game and post game interview then catalog it and replay it once a week for 20 years if it is really important for you to hear the sage and deep thoughts and words of the guy paid to coach your team.

The odd behavior is not the coach speak, it is the believing it.

[guru shudu moonday]

^^good post^^  its the art of talking a lot without saying much. 

[parshall2marshall]

"It's all about match-ups."

Good recruiter, good motivator. Not so much X's and O's IM most humble O.

Replaceable ? Heck yes.

Hard feelings ? Heck no.

p2m

[herdgameplan]

We won already by the tune of $500,000.00! Not a bad little kitty to help with the search and new hire.

[herdfan429]

Not so fast on the 5 yr 5 mill deal.  I read where it is for only 650/yr

[field pass]

Yeah but for a million a year, why hire DJ?  No offense I think he is a good coach for the money we spent.  But for a million a year, I would want someone better or more proven.

I understand the circumstances though.  UCF has exploded into a school with 50k students and with the revenue they will have coming in they will eventually be giving Florida and Florida State a run for their money.  UCF will get into the BCS fairly easy if they use their money to build athletics.  It would be hard to not.  They are bigger than Ohio State right now.  They dont have as many alumni right now but still. 

[lexkyherdfan]

Not so fast on the 5 yr 5 mill deal.  I read where it is for only 650/yr

That is my understanding also.  There are incentives that could get it to a Million I assume.  Shoot at MU he had $250K in incentives to get his contract from $450K up.  If he was going to a bigger conference I would be happy for him but to go to UCF and say the same speech...it is pretty sad. 

[TexasHerdFan]

you guys do realize that Donnie did EXACTLY what Billy D did. we gave them both their first head coaching jobs. they stayed for at least 2 seasons. they went off to the state of Florida.

Welcome to Marshall University. The doormat to bigger and better things.

[HerdnClt]

He's probably trying to position himself for the Florida job once Donnovan gets tired of the Florida gig and takes an NBA job. My guess is he is plotting for the future.

[lexkyherdfan]

you guys do realize that Donnie did EXACTLY what Billy D did. we gave them both their first head coaching jobs. they stayed for at least 2 seasons. they went off to the state of Florida.

Welcome to Marshall University. The doormat to bigger and better things.

Texas,

unfortunately Marshall University is going to be a stepping stone.  We are not in a major conference that is getting more than 2 or so NCAA bids.  Until we get our program like Memphis this is going to be how it is.  We have a lot of work to do.  Personally I have no problem if we are winning and getting a new coach every 3-4 years.  It is like this...if we win and our coach gets picked, then we get a buy out and a new coach...then the new coach continues to win.  Winning cures all.

I am not saying Marshall CAN'T be a successful program but we will NEVER be able to compete with the Major programs that have big checkbooks.  We have to just keep hiring good coaches that can/will win.  Make it an even better situation for the next guy.  As we continue to win and get more $$ we can start spending more money on facilities, etc.  Until then get used to the revolving door and enjoy winning no matter who the coach is.  The name Marshall on the jersey means more to me.  If win I don't care who is coaching even if it is Marco.

GO HERD!!

[Marshall Matters]

Texas,

I am not saying Marshall CAN'T be a successful program but we will NEVER be able to compete with the Major programs that have big checkbooks. 

What sucks is that UCF ISN"T a major program.

[wvmafia]

What sucks is that UCF ISN"T a major program.

Agreed...but they have the big checkbook.

[Johnnyherd]

Chuck landon has said 5 year 5 mil...

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x578668994/UCF-deal-too-good-for-Jones-to-pass-up

[lexkyherdfan]

What sucks is that UCF ISN"T a major program.

I agree with that statement.  That was not the point of my post..the point is Marshall University will always been a stepping stone and will continue to be.  Our fans need to get a handle of that and deal with it.  Any school that can write big checks will take MU coaches. 

I agree that UCF isn't a major program but the point was not about UCF.

[lexkyherdfan]

Chuck landon has said 5 year 5 mil...

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x578668994/UCF-deal-too-good-for-Jones-to-pass-up

Chuck Landon has been wrong before and I believe he is again.  I have read some things that the contract would be $600-$650K per year with incentives to get to $1M.  DJ's deal here was about $450 with $250K a year so really his deal could have been said to be $700K per year.  I could be wrong but I will be shocked if DJ is guaranteed $1M per year.  He doesn't deserve it.  He beat up on HS teams this year.  I also find it funny that now our fans are slamming our schedule now after he left but when some of us were talking about it throughout the year people though we were crazy.  My how times have changed.

[HerdCock]

If you offered me double my salary, a nicer office and better employees to move my family to Florida away from "home"...I wouldn't go.  Just sayin.  I don't blame him if for chasing money if it is about the money, but we believed him when he talked about being "home". 

Word of caution...please dont take anymore coaches at their word...including Doc. 

if double your salary is 60k to 120k, i don't blame you.  120k isn't that big of a deal in a large metro area.  however, going from 500 to 1m is a HUGE deal.  with no income tax in florida, he avoids the 6% tax he would have seen here making a million (not that he ever would have made a million here).  DJ has lived most of his professional life in florida, florida is his home.

[herdfan429]

Landon is wrong.

From the Orlando Sentinel

– Jones will get a five-year contract worth about $500,000-$600,000 a year, plus incentives. Tribble said no formal agreement had been reached, but they had to agree to general terms in order for Jones to take the job.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_ucf/2010/03/new-ucf-basketball-coach-donnie-jones-gets-five-year-contract-worth-between-500000-and-600000-a-year.html

[DJdaHERDfan]

After tv and radio and speaking deals plus bonuses earned, it will be over 1 million