Topic: Caldwell to Tennessee

[Flat Tire 2]

Interesting reaction/comments from Smith, to say the least. I wish Kim good luck, but I don't cheer for UT.

I don't blame her for leaving, a $3.75 million contract, that is nothing to sneeze at. She is given a chance that might not come later in career so it would be the smart thing to take the offer. Will she be another Billy Donovan, I don't know and time will tell. UT is certainly lights years away from Glenville.

I will admit, I know nothing about women's basketball coach's buyouts. The $600,000 payout seems to be a good amount and I hope we use it to develop the program. The next hire is critical (as it always is in any sport). The fans have proven that they will support a winning and exciting program. WBB is a program we can grow and to help to increase the overall athletic budget.

[herd2win]

I wish her the best.  She is what we want to see in every coach.  Took accountability, praise her players and never blamed them.  My bet is she will be successful.   She just got a top 5 job.  UT will love her.

[MicDrass1]

Hopefully this motivates rest of our HC to bring in better talent

[herdman22]

I wish her the best.  She is what we want to see in every coach.  Took accountability, praise her players and never blamed them.  My bet is she will be successful.   She just got a top 5 job.  UT will love her.

As long as they at least get to the Elite 8, with a championship or three and a few final fours every year they will live her.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lord Haw-Haw]

I just hope Caldwell's successor is not offered a 7 year contract like she was. That was ludicrous for a mid-major like Marshall. What was our leadership thinking? It's bad enough that they offered a 75 year old coach a 3 year extension. Looks like that they won't be penalized for that.

[gochneaur645]

I just hope Caldwell's successor is not offered a 7 year contract like she was. That was ludicrous for a mid-major like Marshall. What was our leadership thinking? It's bad enough that they offered a 75 year old coach a 3 year extension. Looks like that they won't be penalized for that.

I'm assuming the 7 year contract got us a bigger buyout, and Dan's "extension" apparently wasn't a real extension because it didn't cost us anything to fire him.

[Thundering In MD]

Kudos to those who knew.  I thought it was an unsubstantiated rumor.

[GreenWhite]

I waited until this morning to chime in on this. Felt a good night's sleep would help me rationalize things. What it took to win over Marshall fans may not work at Tennessee. They expect championships there. I imagine she will be expected to win the conference and the national championship on a consistent basis. South Carolina has passed them in the conference and I'm sure that hasn't set well with the UT fanbase. There is going to be a lot of pressure on her to win out of the gate. Her smile and charm will wear very thin if she doesn't produce. Just my.02.

[FilmJunky]

I'll say this on Kim Caldwell. GOOD FOR HER!!! For all the people being negative and hating on whatever platform get real. Let me break it down for you like this.

At 35 years old you're offered triple you salary in the company you work for to be a top person in the company. Do you say no? Only if you're and idiot.

The difference is, in college sports promotions come by bigger schools offering you a job. Kim couldn't move up any more at Marshall. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to lead a school with rich basketball prestige and tradition. Arguably a top 3-5 job in women's hoops with the resources she will have available.

Marshall fans need to realize if a coach is at Marshall for more than 5 years in basketball or football something is wrong. Or if they are not in consideration for bigger jobs after 3-4 years. You know why? It means they aren't good. It's that simple. It's the landscape of mid major / G5 college sports. I say basketball and football because soccer, baseball, and softball are drastically different IMO. Marshall is a stepping stone job in basketball and football and always will be.

So for all you haters out there on twitter, facebook, etc.... Get real. If you want mediocrity like Doc Holliday and Dan Dantoni the last 5 years, you need to look yourself in the mirror.

[FilmJunky]

I just hope Caldwell's successor is not offered a 7 year contract like she was. That was ludicrous for a mid-major like Marshall. What was our leadership thinking? It's bad enough that they offered a 75 year old coach a 3 year extension. Looks like that they won't be penalized for that.

You're gonna have to explain yourself on this one lol Marshall is not out any money at all in this situation. Tennessee is writing us a fat check for 600K. People don't realize this is how many smaller schools fund their athletic department at times.

[elginherd]

I just hope Caldwell's successor is not offered a 7 year contract like she was. That was ludicrous for a mid-major like Marshall. What was our leadership thinking? It's bad enough that they offered a 75 year old coach a 3 year extension. Looks like that they won't be penalized for that.

So to get a good coach you need to assure him/her some type of favorable terms, either in annual pay or length of contract
In hindsight, Spears probably regrets the buyout terms. Another few hundred thousand could've been squeezed out of Tennessee.

[FilmJunky]

Agree. Never expected this to happen. Especially considering Tennessee could have hired essentially anyone they wanted. I'm really surprised they hired Kim coming off a 50 point drubbing at VA Tech. Good luck to her. Can't blame her for taking the money. She must feel like she hit the lottery....lol

Sent from my SM-A546U using Tapatalk

It's more than money. It's prestige, it's honor. It's coaching at the program Pat Summitt built. It's seeing EIGHT national title banners hanging in Thompson Boling. Money helps, but there's only a handful of women's basketball coaches that would say no to this.

Tennessee did strike out on candidate 1 & 2. Was Kim their first choice? I don't think so, but their AD had her as a target from day 1, and he has made some incredible hires at other schools he's been at. It would be hard for Vol fans to question this hire given Daniel White's track record of hiring.

[saherdfan]

I wish her the best.  She is what we want to see in every coach.  Took accountability, praise her players and never blamed them.  My bet is she will be successful.   She just got a top 5 job.  UT will love her.

DD won a first round game in the NCAA.  So much for Kim "Dream Job" !  Lol

[herdfifteen]

I wish her the best.  She is what we want to see in every coach.  Took accountability, praise her players and never blamed them.  My bet is she will be successful.   She just got a top 5 job.  UT will love her.

I was upset Kim left Marshall and I have tried to dislike her, but I can't. She he is a marvelous person and her tribute to Marshall in her introductory speech was one I will never forget. I feel she was a once in a lifetime hire, unfortunately other people recognized those qualities.

[MUonium]

DD won a first round game in the NCAA.  So much for Kim "Dream Job" !  Lol

damn near all of em say it.  at least she won immediately, won big and with big style.  DD matched one year out of ten.

question is, how can Spears duplicate what he saw and what people told him about Caldwell when he was looking for a new HC?  not that it wasn't hard to see but there are factors that make it difficult to duplicate.  for instance, Pickens might have children and a husband who, under no circumstances, want to disrupt this current moment in their lives.

[s1uggo]

Also, have we ever had a head coach in any mainstream sport who was poached for a P5 head job?  Cant think of 1 but it speaks to Caldwell's ability and potential.

Donnan, Donovan,  Tracy , Chaump (ok Navy might not be power 5 but close enough)