Assuming CJF doesn't stay at VT forever (pretty much a given regardless this year or down the road) We will be buying out a contract either this year or a couple/few years down the road, so extending him at better contract terms, when VT has the leverage, would be better than waiting until any coach is extremely successful and extending with less favorable terms.

The question people ask is, Why would CJF do this? Uh... what are his options? Maybe he has an ace in the hole - maybe he has a lower level P5 willing to take a HC chance on him. But I'd guess his best options are back to G5 level HC or a P5 OC. I get he doesn't have to work, but that's not the way coaches are wired.

Guessing that's about 2.5 mil+ salary cut give or take. I know I'd take a lesser buy out for a guaranteed 2.5 mil. additional salary. Might negotiate some better incentive payments.

This isn't an argument to keep CJF - just seems to me that negotiating an extension is just a matter of numbers that could be worked out - maybe even actually to VT's advantage - and not really that big of a deal.