Official Dambrot Contract

[UAZipster0305]

The UA Athletics Department has made the official announcement:7 YEAR DEAL!!!http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...0&ATCLID=877797

[johnnyzip84]

Obviously, this is well earned and totally justified! Great things are right around the corner!! GO ZIPS!!!!

[The Hip Zip]

Great news but I'm very curious to know if an escape clause is included should a major program comes calling.

[GoZips88]

Here's a link to today's Akron Beacon article ...ABJ Article

[zipper]

This is great news. If we can pay KD appropriately, I don't think he'd go, even for the big bucks.

[Big Zip]

I've mentioned it before and I'll throw it out again, I don't understand long term contracts for Mid Major coaches. Long term contracts can only hurt you they can hardly help you. I know we all want to believe KD won't leave to go coach another bigger school should they come calling, but I'm not totally sure. With this in mind, if he fails at all you can't fire him or risk having to pay him for the remainder of the contract (see Hipsher and Owens). On the flip side every Mid Major in the world when asked if a big school can talk to their coach says -- "Ummm yeah sure take him we don't need him anyway." It's like signing a non-compete and your company waiving it when the competition comes from the number one company in your market and your company just decides to waive the non compete.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I've mentioned it before and I'll throw it out again, I don't understand long term contracts for Mid Major coaches. Long term contracts can only hurt you they can hardly help you. I know we all want to believe KD won't leave to go coach another bigger school should they come calling, but I'm not totally sure. With this in mind, if he fails at all you can't fire him or risk having to pay him for the remainder of the contract (see Hipsher and Owens). On the flip side every Mid Major in the world when asked if a big school can talk to their coach says -- "Ummm yeah sure take him we don't need him anyway." It's like signing a non-compete and your company waiving it when the competition comes from the number one company in your market and your company just decides to waive the non compete.

In general I agree with you. In Dambrot's instance however, I think the long-term contract is a good thing.With Hipsher and Owens, they were given such contracts after very mediocre seasons. It wasn't the contracts that were bad, it was just a bad move to extend them. The administration was so used to pathetic performances (see the end of the Crawford/Faust eras) that mediocrity was cause for a celebration. I like the Dambrot contract because it puts him in top 1/3 of the MAC coaches, salarywise. That's where he should be. Once he wins the MAC tourney and wins an NCAA game or two, then he should become the top paid MAC coach.Dambrot also needs to feel some "love" from the University. Mike Thomas hired him, not Rhoades. And I don't think it is any secrect that Dambrot want all that happy with the crowds this season...and that he didn't feel the University was doing all that much to "pimp" his overachieving team. This extension shows Mack appreciates what he's done and is committed to him for the long haul.It also means a lot to the players and recruits. Mike Bardo was quoted in the PD today saying how happy he was to have every expectation to play for the same coach throughout his college career. Without a contract extension after a 26-win season, I don't think players or recruits would feel too secure about their coach's status.I think this extension was a win-win-win-win. For the team, for the fans, for the University and for Dambrot.

[UA Fan]

I don't think the admin is too concerned about having to fire KD for excessive losing and thus having to carry the remaining years. Given his past mistakes I'm sure the contract includes outs for UA in case of anything similar. And given his expressed interest in staying here it is probably a good time to lock him up at reasonable rates before his value goes up due to our coming run of and NCAA appearances. The biggest risk of him leaving (in frustration) would be if the scheduling situation and/or MAC gets any worse.