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Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

This is not multi-million dollar college football here. $150k is real good money (I'd love to make it!) but at that level there are other important factors for a family. And Mel is making a decision for his family--they have lived in Ann Arbor for decades. They have a home they like. They have a large network of friends, familiar places to go, things they enjoy. It's hard to uproot all that to go to an out-of-the-way place for a tough job that pays decently but not so much that you will be set for life. Who knows if he will still have that job in five years? If things go sour, that means they move again--and it might be hard to get a job as good as the one he left. Even if he never gets the Michigan head position, he has a pretty good job now.

MTU has a great history, but a dreadful present; it will take extra work to get the right person in place. Probably some luck. I hope they do, but it's not a slam dunk.
 
Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

davyd83 said:
Many different things could be sticking points. It could be that the financials are fine for Mel, but an escape/buyout clause, assistant salaries, recruiting/travel budgets are all spots that could be tough things to get over.
Click to expand...

The most likely "biggest sticking point" is Mel doesn't want to be another coach in the growing line of Tech alums who leave Houghton with a losing record. He is a saavy enough guy to know what has to be done to change the Perpetual Losing Culture and he isn't being offered the resources, commitment, authority, etc. to make it happen.
 
Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

Caustic Undertow said:
This is not multi-million dollar college football here. $150k is real good money (I'd love to make it!) but at that level there are other important factors for a family. And Mel is making a decision for his family--they have lived in Ann Arbor for decades. They have a home they like. They have a large network of friends, familiar places to go, things they enjoy. It's hard to uproot all that to go to an out-of-the-way place for a tough job that pays decently but not so much that you will be set for life. Who knows if he will still have that job in five years? If things go sour, that means they move again--and it might be hard to get a job as good as the one he left. Even if he never gets the Michigan head position, he has a pretty good job now.

MTU has a great history, but a dreadful present; it will take extra work to get the right person in place. Probably some luck. I hope they do, but it's not a slam dunk.
Click to expand...
I would believe this if you were talking about Eades....Mel's kids are all out of the nest...They're all in college. Moving "the family" isn't that big of a deal compared to a guy like Eades where all of his kids are in High School or soon to be...
 
Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

Some truth in all of this, but imho what happens is often what someone else referred to...
The organization being left gets wind somehow and scrambles around to up the person's pay/ package/ talk him out of it. It has to be a fait accompli, or many times it doesn't happen. I think it's unfair to blame one person though, as really it was multiple sources.

It sounds like Mel was fairly content with the package, job, etc and got cold feet at the last minute. I'm sure he talked to his wife several times over the days he was in Houghton. If she had a problem with it surely she would have said so way before sunday night or monday morning.
I think the problem for us came from ann arbor this morning when David Brandon got back to his desk. I would bet Mel got not just some guarantees, but more money too.

Appears like it's water over the bridge now. I'm not sure Eades is that interested to tell the truth or he would have come to interview already.
 
Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

Sorry for the double post.
Can you imagine Suzanne's reaction when she heard the news? If I were her I'd still be sitting in the closet.
 
Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

been in the car all day and can barely type on the little keyboard.

here is my understanding : (paint store level of sources)

Mel came up, met with team, staff, etc. a deal was struck. or at least Tech thought so. ready for a Monday announcement. then Mel either pulled out or is holding out. athletics department is mulling over what to do.

(non paint store level)

in the business world it goes like this : you get a call, are you interested in the job? or you hear about the opening and apply even if you are happy with your current job. you interview (good practice even if you don't want the job), you meet the staff, get shown around the facilities, get an offer. then you trot back to your old boss and say guess what?? I got another job offer for x amount of dollars and benefits. if the old boss wants you to stay he ponies up the pay or the perk that you would like. or maybe just a percentage of it, but hey, you just got a raise. we saw this a couple of times in our business - I remember a guy who stayed with us for a company car. we would have doubled his salary if we had to.

I have no idea if this scenario is going on.

maybe his wife said no.
maybe he was curious.
maybe he is holding out for more money or perks or different terms in the contract.
maybe Red sent him up to find out the super secrets that go into the Michigan Tech hockey program which they will use to try and win the National Championship next year. ;):)
 
Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

manurespreader said:
Appears like it's water over the bridge now. I'm not sure Eades is that interested to tell the truth or he would have come to interview already.
Click to expand...
Everything I've heard is that Mel was the only one MTU brought to Houghton...not that Eades or anyone else wouldn't come in for a formal interview.
 
Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

So he meets with the team and THEN decides to step away???
 
Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

Shirtless Guy said:
http://bit.ly/hBHjoZ crap
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It's confusing...he told Red no on Sunday like the appears the article is based on, but it appears he's back in Houghton.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="0" height="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sSgPDKG6bB0?autoplay=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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Re: Mel Pearson-Michigan Tech's new Coach

Shirtless Guy said:
Michigan State
Michigan Tech
Providence
Massachusetts Lowell
Clarkson
Click to expand...

Fortunately it sounds like we have the most money to deal in this pack.

Edit: Todd Milewski heard Tech came back with an offer today, but no confirmation.

Now with more relaxing music.
 
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