Re: Maine Summer 2013 - Pizza Season
A few things:
I talked to a friend of mine who is very close to Leaman who said he is quite happy at Providence. Sure, if Maine were to throw oodles of money at him he could change his mind, but Maine doesn't have oodles of money to throw at anyone.
I think Leamans No Comment leaves the door open, depends on his contract though. Maine isn't buying him out but there may be an escape clause? Jack Capuano may have enough money, pro coach to a college coach, just don't see it.
Many out there in the hockey world are starting to feel/believe one thing.
Shawn Walsh was Maine hockey. It sucked before he got there and outside the first 3-5 years after he left, has done so again. TW did have a nice run at first but prettty much off what SW had built.
It isnt like Maine has ever done anything without his fingerprints on it.
People talk like it would be a step up for NL to leave PC and go to Maine? PC pays about 70K more, private school that can do what they want fund wise(Basketball revenue assures that) and the fact is, it is a better college by a wide margin. Just dumped 20 million+ into the facility with zero discussion. Maine cant do that without an act of God+
Why would someone leave PC for a 70K+ pay cut, private, far superior college with private funding in place? They wouldnt
I think the "no comment" earns Leaman a possible raise and/or extension at PC, as another poster mentioned previously. See Umile, Dick and UMass-Amherst circa 2001.
Unless UMaine has adjusted its payscale, and with Leaman reportedly still having 4 years left on his PC deal, I'm not sure his moving to UMaine at this point makes sense? Two years ago, I'm sure he'd have been all over it. But with all the positive momentum he's got going on and off the ice at PC - plus moving his family yet again - not so sure now.
Stranger things have happened no doubt, but I would really be quite surprised - shocked even - to see Leaman move again this quickly. But if I were on the UMaine committee, I'd definitely be making a call to Leaman to test the waters, and if there was interest, I would put him at the top of my list.
to begin with this from the writer for the Projo (best I could get on line for quotes was via twitter:
Mark Divver @MarkDivver 16 Apr
. . .'I'd like to be in Providence for as long as I can.'' Said he couldn't comment on possible extention to contract, which has 4 yrs left
Mark Divver Mark Divver @MarkDivver 16 Apr
Talked to Nate Leaman today about openings at Maine, Ohio St. He said, 'I haven't received any calls. I don't plan on receiving any calls...
to begin with 2 points. Clearly he was being evasive about the contract extension.....however from what I know there are discussions (take it for what it was worth, when they hired Leaman, they had to hire a basketball coach at the same time, they finished that, then went about getting Leaman....Last week they finished extending the basketball coach.) Again my understanding is that this is something that is not being negotiated in public (as was the case with the basketball coach who is more high profile). That pretty much drives point 2 depending on how negotiations go assuming all is being done in good faith I suspect the contract the Maine coach gets (and the UConn coach) plays into what type of contract is negotiated. I really believe the Quinn signing is a major comparison for him since it was Quinn who was the other finalist.
As far as I know neither Leaman nor the BBall coach have buyouts. If they find a situation that is a step up Providence would not stand in the way (has happened with several basketball coaches in the past most notably Rick Pitino). However in each case it was a clear step up (Pitino pros, Barnes to ACC, Gillien to Virginia-ACC). Protocal is you ask permission before you speak with the coach (most likely you can send out feelers since it is such a small world). The question becomes how far does PC go to enforce the contract. My guess is if you are talking what would be mostly viewed as a lateral move without oodles of $$$ being attached I'd say they would enforce the contract. If a Big Ten school came calling and dropped fantasy money, different story.
I tend to agree with Hokeydad here and his points. Actually from what I've heard and if your 190K figure for Whitehead is right the difference is even larger then what he implies. Providence has paid their coaches well (well above what results they got). Pooley actually was not significantly off from those numbers when he left in '05 based on and extension signed before the 01-02 season. Providence paid a premium for Army when they brought him in from the pros which with his extension got him close to the difference Hokey was talking about. Two years ago when they made the decision to get an experienced coach their starting point topped what Army got and that did not get a rise out of Leaman, they paid a true premium to get him. As someone said for him to move now its to a big time program since basically to pay the premium to get him, you make him just about the top paid coach or the pros with their monopoly money. Also to Hokey's point they are redoing the arena and plans they are using now are far more hockey friendly then the original plans and that is due to the work Leaman has done to raise the donations. There is a kind of ownership there
