AJC: Tubby won't leave, get out the gold card

[blue2dabone]

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weighs in on the Tubby Smith debate today:

It's hard to imagine Smith leaving against his will. The former Georgia coach (1995-97) has won or shared five SEC regular-season league championships and five SEC tournament titles. Meanwhile, he's won 70 percent of his NCAA tournament games, including a national championship with the Wildcats (1998).

And making a coaching change would be an expensive proposition for Kentucky. Smith is contracted through the 2011 season, is due to receive $1.5 million longevity bonus in April and the school is obligated to pay him $1 million for every season left on his contract if he is dismissed, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Hmm. Well, if UK fires Smith, he will have one heck of a golden parachute.

[tcot]

That is not good $$$ wise. But they can make it up if the new coach is winning. I still say bombs away.

[seymour]

tcot said:

That is not good $$$ wise. But they can make it up if the new coach is winning. I still say bombs away.

4 years at $1 mil each plus $1.5 bonus this year plus $2.5 bonus at the end of eight. $8 million. It sounds cheap when it is someone else's money. I am sure that they would be able to settle for a reduced amount, but no matter, I don't think it would be a good deal.

The bleachers are still full. They had no problem funding the Practice Facility, everything financial looks great.

BTW, my memory says that the buyout clause was in OTS's original contract and was omitted from the 8 year extension. If true, we will owe him another $4.0, total of $12 mil. Anyone know for sure?

[MyBlueHeaven]

There is no buyout clause according to Barnhardt. But, there are performance factors both "on and off the floor" also according to Barnhardt. Define that to mean what you may.

[blue2dabone]

xusybbut said:

There is no buyout clause according to Barnhardt. But, there are performance factors both "on and off the floor" also according to Barnhardt. Define that to mean what you may.

I have his contract on my hard drive. There are no performance factors that qualify as "cause" for Kentucky to dismiss the coach. All those factors are essentially moral turpitude, i.e. NCAA major violations, felonies, violation of University rules, etc.

Bernhart signed his contract. He knows what is in there. All the "performance factors" are bonuses for Smith doing well. There are no consequences at all for loosing games.

Barnhart is not trying to send some kind of coded message here. The contract is simple, straightforward, and iron-clad. For Heaven's sake, it is only 14 pages of 12 point, double-spaced text with 1.5" margins. I'll bet it isn't 1500 words in total.