FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BoBo]

Interesting story about the Boston College Head Coach and former UWW football player and alum:

"Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski has been told he will be fired if he interviews for the head coaching vacancy with the New York Jets, which is scheduled for Monday, according to sources...He has been head coach at Boston College the past two seasons, with the team finishing first in the ACC's Atlantic Division each year."

BC went through with it.  Thoughts?

Jadodzinski Fired

[BC AD] DeFilippo..."I love Jags..."

Random thoughts and possible conclusions to the statement above:

1.   ...apparently not enough if my life depended on it.
2.   ...but the football coach here [at BC] isn't going to control the AD like he does at other schools!!
3.   ...but I brought him to this dance, and damn it, I'm suppose to get the last tango (or waltz)!!
4.   ...but who does that fool think he is? I'm the infamous Gene DeFilippo for christs sake!! Nobody does this to me!!
5.   ...but that was two years ago!!
6.   ...but 11-3 the first year, 9-5 this year, next year?...anymore questions?
7.   ...but I guess Boston is not a big enough stage for him...let him go to the Jets...one of the highest profile teams in the NFL...in the largest and most influencial media market in America, if not the world..but I still love him!!
8.   ...but, we at Boston College would love to pay him the remainng 3 years on his contract to prove a point...!!
9.   ...and find some brainless guy that will bow down to me like a peasant does to royalty.
10.  ...but I will not be made into a fool.  Oops, too late.


Bad karma to the Eagles? - Harvard 82 at #24 BC 70.

[Small but Slow]

The Jagodzinski/DeFillippo standoff (pissing contest) is an unfortunate battle of wills between two men who hold the future of the BC football program in their hands.  I can see each man's point, but can't believe they couldn't work out something.  BC had better hope they can find a quality replacement for Jags.  I also wonder about the message this issue sends to recruits.

[retagent]

The question the AD has to ask himself is if he wants a coach that will keep BC a winning program, why would he think that such a coach would not become desired by other institutions, or NFL teams? And if that coach has any career desires, why wouldn't that coach entertain such offers in an effort for either self fulfilment, or a better lifestyle for him and his family. I guess you could always hire a lousy coach and have a losing team, and not have such problems. That may be where you are forcing yourself, because if other good coaches see this seemingly desperate attempt to keep a coach from advancement within his profession, very few will want to coach there in the first place.

[Mr. Ypsi]

A contract OUGHT to be a contract.  If the coach was prepared to bolt whenever the grass looked greener, he shouldn't have signed for five years.  (And as a UM fan, I am peeved at the ethics of both Rodriguez AND UM.)

I'm totally with the AD on this one.

[BoBo]

A contract OUGHT to be a contract.  If the coach was prepared to bolt whenever the grass looked greener, he shouldn't have signed for five years.  (And as a UM fan, I am peeved at the ethics of both Rodriguez AND UM.)

I'm totally with the AD on this one.

So, in the same way, an employer school shouldn't have the right to fire a coach when there is a contract in place and there are no violations of the contract language.  The BC AD is on record as saying he was firing Jags "without cause." Firing him because they have a different vision of the future is so lame. He went on to say Jags would be paid at least some of the money remaining on his contract.  BC should be required to pay ALL the money remaining on the contract for breaking the deal.  Doesn't sound like there was any restrictions in the contract preventing Jags from interviewing for other positions.  If there was, I'm sure it would've been brought up by DeFillippo. This all sounds like a knee jerk reaction to the Rodriguez/Michigan debacle you mentioned, Mr. Ypsi.

A major college coach must sign a 5+ year contract in order to attract top recruits...anything less than 5 years would be a disaster.  IMO, most coaches are not making plans on breaking new contracts while the ink is still wet (unless your surname is Petrino or Sabin  ) & I doubt Jags was here. Sure, from all indications, many of these major college coaches have egos the size of jupiter (and salaries 10+ times that of the President of the USA), but you'd have to be an awfully good clairvoyant to know greener pastures lie ahead when signing a contract.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander?!!

[Mr. Ypsi]

A contract OUGHT to be a contract.  If the coach was prepared to bolt whenever the grass looked greener, he shouldn't have signed for five years.  (And as a UM fan, I am peeved at the ethics of both Rodriguez AND UM.)

I'm totally with the AD on this one.

So, in the same way, an employer school shouldn't have the right to fire a coach when there is a contract in place and there are no violations of the contract language.  The BC AD is on record as saying he was firing Jags "without cause." Firing him because they have a different vision of the future is so lame. He went on to say Jags would be paid at least some of the money remaining on his contract.  BC should be required to pay ALL the money remaining on the contract for breaking the deal.  Doesn't sound like there was any restrictions in the contract preventing Jags from interviewing for other positions.  If there was, I'm sure it would've been brought up by DeFillippo. This all sounds like a knee jerk reaction to the Rodriguez/Michigan debacle you mentioned, Mr. Ypsi.

A major college coach must sign a 5+ year contract in order to attract top recruits...anything less than 5 years would be a disaster.  IMO, most coaches are not making plans on breaking new contracts while the ink is still wet (unless your surname is Petrino or Sabin  ) & I doubt Jags was here. Sure, from all indications, many of these major college coaches have egos the size of jupiter (and salaries 10+ times that of the President of the USA), but you'd have to be an awfully good clairvoyant to know greener pastures lie ahead when signing a contract.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander?!!

Yes, that would be my position.

And I'm disappointed the AD made the "without cause" statement - seems to me that seeking to break the contract is "cause".

By definition, a 'contract' should be binding on both parties.  (Full disclosure: my view may also be affected by the fact that my 'retirement' came earlier than anticipated when Eastern Michigan IMO violated my contract.  I turned down a teaching schedule I had already verbally said I could not ethically accept [back-to-back-to-back classes, with a new course at the last 'back' - I know my strengths and limitations, and with zero immediate prep-time that course would have been stealing tuition money from students]; I thought we were still negotiating, the school said I had quit, lawyers said the school had almost certainly out-foxed me.)

[footballfan413]

I see both sides but I think that the AD's actions puts him on a very slippery slope.  As pointed out by retagent, his pool of potential candidates for the present opening but also any future openings has just dwindled as why would a top college coach want to put himself in a position where he would have no administrative support if a pro opportunity presented itself.  I fault him first for not allowing the talks, which may have resulted in nothing, much more than the firing afterward. The goal of any program is to get a great coach with a winning record but with that comes the possibility that they will attract other interest but what is the alternative?  Hire lesser quality candidates to insure continuity?  I have stated before, coaching is a very transient profession, guys who are good advance through the ranks and those who are not successful find themselves looking for new employment.  Administrations/managements break their contracts with coaches all the time firing them for losing seasons, etc,  just look at the openings in the NFL right now.  Coaches live their entire careers with that realization so if the power-that-be have to adjust when a coach wants to move on, well, only fair IMO.  Guess future BC coaches may want to follow Bill Self's lead when negotiating their contract.  Rumor was that when he signed a contract with the U of Illinois, it included an, "out," clause if his dream job at KU became available.  Something tells me that any agent of a top coaching candidate for Jags job will be working the details before his client signs.  The entire situation has to negatively affect the quality of any future BC coaches, IMHO.

On the flipside, nothing pi$$es me off more than when a highly paid pro athlete signs a multi million dollar, multi year contract and then whines and wants it re-negotiated a few years into it!  Like I said, can see both sides.  I guess the point is, if the administration/managent wants to retain their power to fire and terminate contracts with coaches than they must accept the, "two-way street," fact that goes along with it. 

[badgerwarhawk]

Jags isn't going to get the Jet job but don't be surprised if he is the next offensive coordinator of the Seattle SeaHawks. There is probably a good reason he wasn't that concerned about losing the BC job.   Speaking of the Jet, Eric Manginni (sp?) didn't spend much time in the unemployment line.

[voice]

Jags isn't going to get the Jet job but don't be surprised if he is the next offensive coordinator of the Seattle SeaHawks. There is probably a good reason he wasn't that concerned about losing the BC job.   Speaking of the Jet, Eric Manginni (sp?) didn't spend much time in the unemployment line.

BW

I wouldn't rule out Jags at this point for the Jets' job. 

As far as the Seahawks' offensive coordinator job is concerned. Jags was the OC for new Seahawks' coach Jim Mora when Mora was head coach in Atlanta.  Mora still needs to fill the position.

[badgerwarhawk]

Hopefully the Jet gig works out for him because Seattle just named Greg Knapp it's new offensive coordinator. 

[Warhawk 96]

Hopefully the Jet gig works out for him because Seattle just named Greg Knapp it's new offensive coordinator. 

Maybe they'll break his contract to bring in Jags.

[raiderfan1983]

I can understand the AD wanting to show that he is in charge at BC, but I think he would've been better served to flex his muscles at a different time.  What purpose does this serve?  If he has the talks and takes the Jets job, then you're looking for a new coach.  Now, you're looking for a new coach who has no ambition to go up to the next level.

My personal advice for ADs across the country, show your dominance over the department when no one else will notice.  The next time a field hockey coach gives you guff, fire her.  Gymnastics coach turn you down for a date?  Gone.  But for goodness sakes, protect your revenue sports and don't get into a pissing contest that becomes nationwide news.

[Warhawk 96]

I can understand the AD wanting to show that he is in charge at BC, but I think he would've been better served to flex his muscles at a different time.  What purpose does this serve?  If he has the talks and takes the Jets job, then you're looking for a new coach.  Now, you're looking for a new coach who has no ambition to go up to the next level.

My personal advice for ADs across the country, show your dominance over the department when no one else will notice.  The next time a field hockey coach gives you guff, fire her.  Gymnastics coach turn you down for a date?  Gone.  But for goodness sakes, protect your revenue sports and don't get into a pissing contest that becomes nationwide news.

I think firing a gymnastics coach because they turned you down for a date is still nationwide news....and loads of litigation.

[footballfan413]

I can understand the AD wanting to show that he is in charge at BC, but I think he would've been better served to flex his muscles at a different time.  What purpose does this serve?  If he has the talks and takes the Jets job, then you're looking for a new coach.  Now, you're looking for a new coach who has no ambition to go up to the next level.

My personal advice for ADs across the country, show your dominance over the department when no one else will notice.  The next time a field hockey coach gives you guff, fire her.  Gymnastics coach turn you down for a date?   Gone.  But for goodness sakes, protect your revenue sports and don't get into a pissing contest that becomes nationwide news.

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he just forgot those pesky little smileys, 96.  Probably meant it to read:   

"Gymnastics coach turns you down for a date? Gone." 

[Warhawk 96]

I can understand the AD wanting to show that he is in charge at BC, but I think he would've been better served to flex his muscles at a different time.  What purpose does this serve?  If he has the talks and takes the Jets job, then you're looking for a new coach.  Now, you're looking for a new coach who has no ambition to go up to the next level.

My personal advice for ADs across the country, show your dominance over the department when no one else will notice.  The next time a field hockey coach gives you guff, fire her.  Gymnastics coach turn you down for a date?   Gone.  But for goodness sakes, protect your revenue sports and don't get into a pissing contest that becomes nationwide news.

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he just forgot those pesky little smileys, 96.  Probably meant it to read:   

"Gymnastics coach turns you down for a date? Gone." 

Yeah I know he was joking, I forgot my  too. Sometimes I just can't resist being a smart alec.