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Editor, News-Register:
"With an 11-11 overall record and 7-10 Big 12 record -- he was inexplicably gifted an extension that kept him under contract through 2026. The new six-year deal is worth approximately $23.85 million.
"Neal Brown Buyout: For unknown reasons, (West Virginia University President Gordon) Gee and former athletics director Shane Lyons gave Brown a contract extension in April 2021. The new deal includes a buyout equal to 100% of the remaining contract if fired before Dec. 31, 2024, which is approximately $12 million if fired after the 2023 season."
"Inexplicably" and "For unknown reasons"!?
How about to provide program stability, help future recruiting and recognizing the impact of the combination of Covid, NIL and the portal along with a more difficult environment in the Big12!?
Not to mention the mediocre state of the program he inherited!
Basing his performance on wins and losses alone without the above considerations considered is (ridiculous), to say the least!
Ever wonder how the Don Nehlen and Rich Rodriquez teams might have fared under the above mentioned conditions?
What would their "learning curve" have been?
It's a whole new world!
So, what's the alternative?
Hire a new coach! New staff! Who? With what objective? More wins? With what cost?
Start all over? With what guarantees? Throwing the baby out with the bath water?
If agreed upon by the University and Brown, would a renegotiated contract serve as a satisfactory, fair resolution to both parties
Here's a rough draft:
WVU extends contract one year at same salary! (Not payable if fired)
No change in current salary structure!
Brown agrees to new, reduced buyout if fired! (Decreases geometrically each year)
Brown agrees to large increase in his buyout for leaving! (He turns program around)
Results:
Provides Brown protection from rival recruiting advantages!
Provides Brown opportunity to build stronger team structure each year!
Provides Brown opportunity to execute "learning curve" lessons learned from Covid, NIL and portal experience!
Provides WVU a more reasonable avenue to remove the coach in a case of disaster performance or other reasons!
Provides WVU an opportunity to execute a better, overall evaluation of the football program in a reasonable time frame !
Provides both parties opportunity to enter into a mutually respective relationship and remove the adversarial negotiation aspect!
Wishing the best for both!
John Capobianco
Cambridge