My brother posed a question to me yesterday that got me thinking:
He said, “what if the NCAA was ran like a professional sports organization and had a free agency system with its coaches?”
A free agency system in which coaches could opt out of their contracts only if agreed upon with college presidents. A system, in which if a coach was fired, the university would be obligated to pay out the remainder of his contract.
This of course would mean that a coach would have to stay at the university until his contract is up and couldn’t jump ship and leave. At the end of his contract, he would become a so-called free agent with a chance to go coach as at any institution.
Sounds great right? You get to hold universities accountable if they fire a coach after 2 seasons into a five year deal. You get coaches not backing out on their players and leaving for a “better” job.
I would have to agree that this sounds like a great plan, but let’s remember who we are dealing with:
THE NCAA.
A billion dollar business that has been using students for years. A business that works within the confines of corporate America.
With that being said; why should we limit a gentleman like Mike Rice (Coached at Robert Morris and now is taking the job at Rutgers) from taking a better job? Should you not have the same opportunity as someone else if a better job comes along?
The fact is that every institution is not the same! Bob Morris in Moon Township is not a good job, so why should we hold Rice accountable to stay? If you want loyalty hire someone from the area. He might win you 10 games a year and never make it to the dance but at least he isn’t hurting anyone’s feelings.
I am sorry, I don’t feel sorry for a college athlete that his/her coach leaves them to take a better job. They know going to that institution every year, that there is a chance that may happen. They are still going to get a great education and won’t have to come out 85 grand in debt like some of us.
In closing, congrats to coach Rice for bettering yourself. You turned a program that was a bottom-feeder in the NEC to an NCAA tournament team for the last two years. Now you make the jump to play with the big boys in the Big East. Let’s just hope you got what it takes, because if you don’t I am not too sure RMU will take you back.
Hey don’t worry, I hear Waynesburg University is always looking for a good coach.
was really hoping this article would go a different angle. like free agency for the student athletes. eliminating the one year having to sit out for transferring. sure that would increase the amount of tractors and gym bags full of money floating around. but would really increase the competitiveness of some leagues and maybe bring the big ten some athletes!
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