Quote:
Originally Posted by shinerbock
I agree somewhat. I think Dixon would be a fool to stay at Pitt if he had a chance for the UK job. Now Donovan? Not so sure. Florida is a great all around school (despite my general disdain for the type of people who live in FL) and has just about everything UK has, minus the history. I'm a person who favors the classic type jobs, so I personally would choose UK, but who knows. Unless Donovan has always had the UK job in the back of his mind, I don't see him bolting.
As for deep pockets, I think you're right mostly. However, A&M seems to be a school devoted to building up their program, and they've got the money to do so. I don't think UK will have problems with money either because of the program's elite status, but I don't see them outbidding a school like TAMU if A&M really wanted to keep Billy G at all costs. A&M is somewhat of an oddity, because their financial situation allows them to outbid even the mega programs possessing a higher stature than their own.
For some reason I can't see Donovan coaching at UK. Not saying he won't, just seems like a weird proposition. I think Dixon would be a strong choice.
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All things equal, the question for most coaches is if they want to coach at an elite program now (The University of Kentucky), or do they want to stay were they are and try to build one? Some want to build their own, and they won't even consider coming to UK. Money or not. Others, want the challenge of being coach at a premier program.
Personally, I don't see Donovan coming to UK. However, this is how I see his situation.
As good a coach as he is, I doubt that he can build an elite program at Florida that rivals the traditional basketball schools. But it may not matter. He may feel he doesn't need to prove anything. Especially if he wins a consecutive championship this season. Then again, maybe you hit the nail on the head. UK is a "classic job". The question for Donovan becomes the following. Does he want to coach at a traditional school like UK - where basketball is king? Win a title at UK and he goes down as a legend. Or perhaps he stays at Florida as a well paid and perhaps two time champion yet continues to play second fiddle to the football program. (Nothing wrong with that.) He will always be respected in the college basketball community, but is that enough for him? The whole ego factor.
I'd like to add to the discussion what other UK Alumni and Wildcat fans have been reminding me. Donovan coached at Kentucky (assistant under Pitino) and has ties to the Commonwealth. He was very well respected and well liked during his stay at Kentucky. And Kentuckians were very supportive of him when he took over the Florida program. So while *I* feel that his Kentucky ties may not be enough to get him to leave UF for Kentucky, it certainly may be a factor in his decision. Perhaps more than just how much UK or UF will pay. Cause frankly, he knows both schools will pay.
Now on the subject of Gillispie, I'm sure that A&M can - and perhaps would - surpass UK's salary offer. But frankly, I don't see it coming to that. UK is the kind of program that you either accept their offer or you don't. There isn't going to be a UK offer, then a counter offer by A&M, followed by UK countering etc. The same with any other coach.
So if Gillispie wants to coach at UK, I'm sure he will. But with his Texas ties, I wouldn't be surprised if he stays at A&M (assuming UK offers him the position) and try to build up the A&M program. The whole "home state boy makes good at state school" scenario.
Frankly, I'm not as familiar with Dixon. I know what he has done at Pitt and as such, I'm sure he is on the mythical list. But again, UK isn't just looking for "a" coach. We are looking for "the" coach. The question about Dixon - and Gillispie and or any other coach - is if UK feels they are a fit for UK. Winning records aren't enough.
"When you see Kentucky's fans, you just wonder. You think how wonderful it would be to go to their school. You wish you could trade places for a day, just so you could experience that feeling." - UCLA player Kris Johnson
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