Ha, ha, ha, as Chuck Murray was tracking a couple big spenders with deep pockets and Cow Hampsha roots earlier in this thread. But, I cannot envision any big donor wanting to see one’s name attached to buying out a poorly performing coach’s contract, which would be unseemly and a horrible look for both the donor and the institution. And I am sure that the same applies for the Alfond family, as in spending for facility upgrades and the like rather than salaries. I think that our relatively new AD is managing coaching situations the best way possible.
To be clear, I was definitely in favor of a buyout last summer, and I thought/still think any enterprise with an eight-figure operating budget can find $230,000 in between the proverbial seat cushions without breaking a sweat. That guys like DiLorenzo, Faro, Fleury and Lupoli (among others) are investing legacy-level money into developments across Southern NH - with some of them having UNH ties - only increases the opportunities available to UNH for further development and revenue/resources (DiLorenzo is the Key Auto Group donor). Money doesn't have to be specifically earmarked into the "Buy Out MS7" line item. Of course, most donors will not want to be seen as the heavy hand behind cutting ties with coaches of whatever program they favor. But if part of the money goes into the AD's budget without strings attached, you can do a lot of things with it - including personnel decisions.
I suspect AD Rich just didn't have the stomach to go the early buyout route, and (as with Herrion) made the conscious decision to let the head coach enter the final season of their contract, with no assurances beyond that. I may have disagreed, but I do respect that decision; AD's will develop a reputation for having little patience, or too much (Blue Skies), and maybe she wants the reputation of being patient and fair minded so as not to scare away quality potential future hires? I get it. She certainly seems to have focused MS7 like no one before to get the results that have eluded him up to this point, in what has been a very mediocre UNH coaching career.
As we all know, last March she ended up firing Herrion, after another decent season, and falling short of making a deep run into the AE tourney. They obviously were never going to be an NCAA qualifier, short of winning the conference, and that's never happened here before. Wherever the "bar" is set for UNH Men's Hoops, Herrion was the guy who lifted the program from abject failure to consistent mediocrity, and there is credit to be given for that. He was here, what, twice as long as MS7's entire coaching tenure? So Herrion in the end was given lots of time and does leave the program MUCH better than where he found it. But he just couldn't kick on to get to the next level, so Rich (probably correctly) decided he'd had his chance, thanked him sincerely for his services, and brought in someone else who she thinks can get to the next level with the program. He's doing pretty well so far.
MS7 has to be judged on a much stricter curve than Herrion, just like Santos will be with Football, and now Weinrebe will be with soccer. These are all programs that have experienced success on a national scale (Football at a lower "D2" level of course) under their predecessor coaches, so none of these hires can hope to survive for the long term with mediocre results, like Herrion did. That's why winning records, and trips to HEA weekends in Boston, and to the national tourney, will all factor into the final decision. Job One is get the winning record thing out of the way, and then coach like your job depends on getting the team to the TD Garden and into the national tourney. Because it very well may (and should IMO) depend on that. That was the bar set by Holt long ago, and it was the one Umile nudged up even a little bit further in his tenure.
Souza is a popular guy in the HEA circles because he's been around awhile, and (to be fair) he hasn't made any enemies yet - which probably is an indictment of the competitive state of his program. There are a lot of other folks in similar positions who would rather see Souza stay on forever, if he's not a threat to their own programs. The coaches at lots of other HEA destinations also probably benefit by being able to count on finishing ahead of one more program, and then be able to point to MS7's record and continued employment as reasons justifying THEIR continued employment. But while being a "loveable plucky loser" type may still float in North Andover, where there are no delusions of D-1 grandeur (yet) ... as many of you have already pointed out, expectations in Durham have always been different. And THAT is the bar Souza will be measured against this March.
But don't be surprised when other McMahon's surface to sing MS7's praises. Just ask yourselves ... "Why?"
