University of Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle receives contract extension

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per STrib:

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents voted Thursday to approve a three-year contract extension for Athletic Director Mark Coyle.

Coyle, the Gophers AD since May 2016, has received positive endorsements from University President Eric Kaler and others during his time. Some regents argued in favor of postponing the vote on the new contract, however, at least until the board's December meeting. They said they have not had enough time to review the contract carefully, and some suggested the next president the university selects might want to have some say on a high-profile member of the U's leadership team. Regent Darrin Rosha noted outgoing University President Eric Kaler made an athletic director change seven months into his tenure.

Regents said they had gotten a heads-up that a new contract might land on their Thursday meeting agenda earlier this week, but they had not seen it until shortly before the meeting.

"A decision like this really ties the hands of the incoming president," Regent Michael Hsu said, adding he takes Coyle at his word when he has said he is loyal to the university.

But other regents and Kaler argued for swift action to lock in Coyle. "It's an opportunity to send a strong message to a valuable member of our community," Kaler said.

He and others said the move will ward off efforts by other institutions to recruit Coyle and ensure continuity as a new president takes over next summer. Kaler is stepping down in July, and the university is searching for his replacement.

"When you have someone who is the best in his industry and his vocation, you need to keep them," said Regent Dean Johnson.

http://www.startribune.com/universi...-coyle-receives-contract-extension/496969891/

Go Gophers!!
 

Waiting for heads to explode......
 



but they have to ward off those efforts by other institutions to recruit Coyle. Apparently there are no "tampering" rules for AD's.

Look, I have questions about the way Coyle handled the boycott, the firing of Claeys and the hiring of Fleck. But, hiring coaches is a relatively small part of an AD's job. Most of the day-to-day stuff takes place out of the public eye. For all I know, Coyle may be really good at the detail stuff - scheduling - finances - etc - that we don't see. if the powers-that-be think he's doing a good job and want to keep him around, it's their decision.

Or, if you want to be cynical, it's Kaler trying to provide some job security and financial protection for 'his boy' before Kaler leaves - because the next Prexy may not think Coyle is so great, but he or she may also be reluctant to make a change if Coyle has a long-term contract.
 


but they have to ward off those efforts by other institutions to recruit Coyle. Apparently there are no "tampering" rules for AD's.

Look, I have questions about the way Coyle handled the boycott, the firing of Claeys and the hiring of Fleck. But, hiring coaches is a relatively small part of an AD's job. Most of the day-to-day stuff takes place out of the public eye. For all I know, Coyle may be really good at the detail stuff - scheduling - finances - etc - that we don't see. if the powers-that-be think he's doing a good job and want to keep him around, it's their decision.

Or, if you want to be cynical, it's Kaler trying to provide some job security and financial protection for 'his boy' before Kaler leaves - because the next Prexy may not think Coyle is so great, but he or she may also be reluctant to make a change if Coyle has a long-term contract.

I wonder if you as an AD could come in, throw down the gauntlet on player / staff behavior or something.... and by doing so effectively be making yourself far more marketable to any school that is desperate to look good and clean their own image.
 

The funny thing to me is his two big hires were pretty much no-brainers. Fleck was by many rated as the top coaching prospect at the time he was hired, and Motzko was a very popular and common sense choice for mens hockey. I think many ADs would have made the same hires.
Whalen is a bit more of a risk but a popular choice.
 

"...There's something happening here...what it is ain't exactly clear
retiring prexy is stepping down...wants to take care of his butt smooching clown
3 year contract extension at how many bucks? Snake is hissing and is so tightly coiled...man, how this sucks...

it's time to STOP children contract's signed. What is on the bottom line?

One regent with a brain over there...Hsu says "...I got to beware..." Johnson says he just doesn't care...
Dick Pitino and PJ Fleck: forever paychecks will collect. With Big Ten winning percentages starting with a two...
Their year ZERO seasons will start all anew and soon the fans will all cry bo hoo hoo hoo

It's time to stop season ticket holding fans...the admin boys keep kicking the can...stuff is going to hit the fan...not much of a plan.

The administrators just don't give a damn...
They take care of each other when ever they can...when they come...and when they go...extending contracts on their way out the door
and they assume that the fans just won't know...but, I doubt if they even care...that so many fans are no longer there.
the system's broken and they really don't get it... and their egos would never permit it

Dean Johnson really MUST go...he GENERALLY ministers in a fog... he and his buddies live high on the hog. No rival trophy again this fall..
I guess that pretty much says it all...)
 
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The funny thing to me is his two big hires were pretty much no-brainers. Fleck was by many rated as the top coaching prospect at the time he was hired, and Motzko was a very popular and common sense choice for mens hockey. I think many ADs would have made the same hires.
Whalen is a bit more of a risk but a popular choice.

The thing with Fleck was ... he got the money and ok to do it. Not something we seemed to get in the past.

But yeah they were easy picks.

I still wonder about Whalen long term but yeah popular for sure.
 



The funny thing to me is his two big hires were pretty much no-brainers. Fleck was by many rated as the top coaching prospect at the time he was hired, and Motzko was a very popular and common sense choice for mens hockey. I think many ADs would have made the same hires.
Whalen is a bit more of a risk but a popular choice.

Even if they are "No Brainers" like you say the AD still has to bring them in.

Shaka Smart was a "No Brainer" but the U couldn't get him.
 


Brownie, heckuva job.

Guys like this know where the bodies are buried.
 




Great move by Dr. Kaler! Very smart. [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

"...There's something happening here...what it is ain't exactly clear
retiring prexy is stepping down...wants to take care of his butt smooching clown
3 year contract extension at how many bucks? Snake is hissing and is so tightly coiled...man, how this sucks...

it's time to STOP children contract's signed. What is on the bottom line?

One regent with a brain over there...Hsu says "...I got to beware..." Johnson says he just doesn't care...
Dick Pitino and PJ Fleck: forever paychecks will collect. With Big Ten winning percentages starting with a two...
Their year ZERO seasons will start all anew and soon the fans will all cry bo hoo hoo hoo

It's time to stop season ticket holding fans...the admin boys keep kicking the can...stuff is going to hit the fan...not much of a plan.

The administrators just don't give a damn...
They take care of each other when ever they can...when they come...and when they go...extending contracts on their way out the door
and they assume that the fans just won't know...but, I doubt if they even care...that so many fans are no longer there.
the system's broken and they really don't get it... and their egos would never permit it

Dean Johnson really MUST go...he GENERALLY ministers in a fog... he and his buddies live high on the hog. No rival trophy again this fall..
I guess that pretty much says it all...)

Nice...a little Robert Zimmerman twist.
 

What's more amazing or alarming? (1) The fact Kaler and Coyle secretly plan a regents ambush. or (2) That the regents themselves just willingly roll over and agree to endorse the deal without investigation, thought, preparation, research, or canvassing of opinions of the people they represent....maybe hearing some discussion before they decide.
 

What's more amazing or alarming? (1) The fact Kaler and Coyle secretly plan a regents ambush. or (2) That the regents themselves just willingly roll over and agree to endorse the deal without investigation, thought, preparation, research, or canvassing of opinions of the people they represent....maybe hearing some discussion before they decide.

 


Department is in good shape with Coyle at the helm. Good move
 

You know you've got a good gig when the three most important divisions you are responsible for (football, mens hoops, mens hockey) all have bad years, and you get extended anyway.
 

You want stability? Get people who are committed to the success of the athletic department. Football in particular. We are going to miss Kaler. He has been committed to Gopher Athletics from the get go. Let's hope the next AD follows suit.

Unfortunately, we all have a bad taste in the handling of the sex scandal and the boycott. I think there were lots of lessons learned there.
 

I would be fine with the extension - IF there was a proviso that Coyle had to take public speaking lessons or work with a public-relations specialist to improve his public persona. Every time the guy tries to make a statement in public I cringe. Again - for all I know, he may be great at all the behind-the-scenes stuff - but I'm somewhat amazed that Coyle has risen to this level of his profession without learning how to become more comfortable in front of a mic or a camera.
 

I would be fine with the extension - IF there was a proviso that Coyle had to take public speaking lessons or work with a public-relations specialist to improve his public persona. Every time the guy tries to make a statement in public I cringe. Again - for all I know, he may be great at all the behind-the-scenes stuff - but I'm somewhat amazed that Coyle has risen to this level of his profession without learning how to become more comfortable in front of a mic or a camera.

He's not even comfortable shootin the sh!t with a fan at a ballgame. Dude was hard to hold a conversation with last year when he came into our suite at the barn (we were gifted the tickets as part of a gopher loyalty program). You could tell he was forced into coming and shaking our hands and he didn't want to be there or talking to any people in general.
 

I would be fine with the extension - IF there was a proviso that Coyle had to take public speaking lessons or work with a public-relations specialist to improve his public persona. Every time the guy tries to make a statement in public I cringe. Again - for all I know, he may be great at all the behind-the-scenes stuff - but I'm somewhat amazed that Coyle has risen to this level of his profession without learning how to become more comfortable in front of a mic or a camera.

It is surprising that of all roles, he's that far off in that area.

I mean I'm awkward and would not be good at being a public face of an athletic department.... but i'm also not the face of an athletic department.
 

For what it's worth...plus some later additions that didn't fit the mold...

Stephen Stills.


Maybe these later additions that didn't fit into "For What it's Worth..." is what he was laughingly referencing.

"...The administrators just don't give a damn...

They take care of each other when ever they can...
when they come...and when they go...
extending contracts on their way out the door

and they assume that the fans just won't know...
but, I doubt if they even care...that so many fans are no longer there.

the system's broken and they really don't get it... and their egos would never permit it…"

Perhaps that was the Robert Zimmerman-esque twist that PMWinSTP was kidding me about.

That part didn't really fit into the old Buffalo Springfield number. (I saw Buffalo Springfield in the summer of 1967 at the Aquatennial (sp?) in a concert that featured Jefferson Airplane & Buffalo Springfield.

BS had Steve Stills, Neil Young and Richie Furay. They were active from 1966 to 1968 and then the rest is history for Stills and sometimes Young. Furay played in POCO, I believe...among other bands.

I think Robert Zimmerman was from somewhere up in Northern Minnesota, if I am not mistaken. All my apologies to Bob, Jacob, the BAND & Wallflowers and any of their kin or partners in crime....
 
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Coyle wouldn't have landed Smart at the time he came up as a candidate.

I could have signed PJ with the money he was given. I give the president and regents more credit for that than Coyle.
Even if they are "No Brainers" like you say the AD still has to bring them in.

Shaka Smart was a "No Brainer" but the U couldn't get him.

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk
 

I would be fine with the extension - IF there was a proviso that Coyle had to take public speaking lessons or work with a public-relations specialist to improve his public persona. Every time the guy tries to make a statement in public I cringe. Again - for all I know, he may be great at all the behind-the-scenes stuff - but I'm somewhat amazed that Coyle has risen to this level of his profession without learning how to become more comfortable in front of a mic or a camera.
He's actually gotten a lot better at this IMO. I went after him hard here for the Claeys firing and for how he seemed to initially under sell our new facilities, but he was fine at the Motzko and Whalen pressers. I think unfortunately because you only get one chance at a first impression, Coyle will always have alot of ground to make up here.
As far as hiring coaches, can't really complain there, he was able to get his top targets without hiring a search firm and to convince the BOR to pay up. This maybe a small part of his job, but it's where he will be judged the most. Kind of like how Saturdays are a small part of Flecks job, but it's where he's judged the most

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Coyle wouldn't have landed Smart at the time he came up as a candidate.

I could have signed PJ with the money he was given and being the only Power5 Conference school willing to let him include/deface/bastardize the University of Minnesota uniforms with his personal branding. I give the president and regents more credit for that than Coyle.

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk

FIFY
 




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