There is this outside the box thought

I'm guessing JC would be VT HC for a very reasonable(in coaching terms) amount of money, say 3 million. Why would he accept that much below the going rate? What are his other options at that salary level? at his school? I personally don't think that would reflect badly on us - some would and I get that. Just using a business thought process and reacting to the situation.

Take the savings and add half a million+ to each of our coordinator budgets and I think he could bring in good people, who could bring in good staff as well.

You are still saving a +/- couple million (split it into staff budget/position increases) and are not facing a HC buy out.

In a long term system like that those good coordinators would likely turn over quickly to other HC jobs, but you'd have budget to go get another good one and you could sell consistency to recruits with JC - who IMHO would be very good at that aspect.

If for some reason JC is a deer in headlights as the real top dog and doesn't get the job done, you have a year or so to evaluate two good coordinators for the job and their fit at VT.

If it works, then the budget will be there to gradually increase JC to norms.

[Post edited by RTFC at 11/29/2021 12:32PM]