What would stop the NCAA from...

[Mountain Mustang]

...Acting like every professional sporting league and change the system to not allow coaches and universities to completely disregard contracts? You don't see this in any form or fashion on the Pro level and I don't understand why the college level doesn't work the same way.

Mark Cuban isn't allowed to even make mention of wanting a player/coach that is under contract with another team or he'll get fined and righfully so.

If June Jones (or any coach) signs a 5 year contract then he should be obligated to complete the contract. He shouldn't be allowed to pursue other opportunities and other universities shouldn't be allowed to contact him about their job opening. They should be required to complete the term of their contract and once they do they can be a "free agent." Why is this a bad idea? The coach knows he's locked in to the deal and will be less likely to look for the next best thing until his contract expires.

The system is setup in a way that makes it very uncertain for recruits to know what their coach is going to do, and it's a system that is solely about progression for the coach moving to the next level versus honoring a commitment. I understand there are buyout clauses but honestly, they don't make that much of a difference because other schools have shown a willingness to pay that money.

Someone please explain to me why this system is setup like it is, and if it will ever change.

[mustangxc]

The current system benefits the Michigans, Virginia Techs, and the SEC, that is why.

[Junior]

ridiculous ideas. next you'll be claiming that the BCS is not a perfect system and that perhaps a plyoff would be better.

i would say that this is somewhat considered in the coach's contract by certain buyout provisions, such that if a coach leaves prior to completing his commitment the new school will typically pay the old school a certain amount.

[SMU_Alumni11]

Moutain Mustang, should the university have to comply as well. I agree with you because that provides stability. The only issue of giving all the power to the university is that they can force coaches to take 20 year contracts and then the university decides when to cut.

[redpony]

They could always put a max limit of 5 years. At the end of the term the coach is a free agent and can sign a new contract or go elsewhere. Of course that would be way to logical for an organization like the NCAA. Besides, they would probably enforce it with the same gusto as they enforce their other rules.

GO PONIES!!!

[SMU 86]

That is why they have buyout clause. Arkansas hired Bobby Petrino while still under contract and Bama hired Saban while still under contract. They just had to buyout the contract.

[Mountain Mustang]

Just as in the NBA for example, the player can't contact other teams about playing for them officially and the team can't comment or contact the player officially untilt the player is a free agent. The university doesn't have all the power, the coach can simply choose not to accept the terms of the contract or negotiate the terms to a length that both sides agree upon. The school could then fire the coach for lack of performance, and pay him out accordingly if they decided to before the contract was up, they could let it expire, or re up the contract before it expires.

Junior, I know it's not a revolutionary idea, but it's something that doesn't get discussed nearly as much as other modifications to the system and it's particularly relevant to our situation. I mentioned the buyout, but as I said that doesn't seem to be much of a hinderance these days. It's one of the many stupidities in college sports.

Mike Leach utilized the system to his benefit several times at Texas Tech before he got canned even going so far as allegedly calling Auburn himself to politic for their job only in hopes of raising his salary. Shouldn't be allowed. If you sign a contract you should be obligated to serve out its length.

[SMU 86]

In the NBA or NFL while players can't contact other teams coaches and assistant coaches can. But they usually inform the owners when they do.

[SMU 86]

I am glad we don't have Mountain Mustang's rule in place because might be in situation where we are trying to hire a Head that is currently employed. If this rule were in place we could only get coordinators.

[redpony]

But if that rule were in place we wouldn't be looking for a new hc.

GO PONIES!!!

[mr. pony]

At least at Hawaii, Jones kept it a secret until after their bowl game, didn't he? Here, it appears he's fine with causing upheaval, etc.

[PoconoPony]

The general rule of law is that a contract must be honored to the time and terms of the contract. Never-the-less, sports contracts have evolved onto themselves to be the exceptions to virtually all normally established contract laws. In the pros the generally held concept is that it is ok not to fulfill a contract so long as the the new position is considered to be a promotion or career enhansement. Hence, you do not normally see in the pros one team trying to hire the head coach of a rival team and for that matter staff members under contract. However, if a person under contract is sought for an outside position it is generally with the consent of the currently contracting team and is normally for a career elevated/enhansing position. This would include a small market head coach sought by a big market team. Obviously, there are even exceptions to these generally established rules.

In the case of college sports there are currently no rules and it is really a disgrace that the merry-go-round of coaching switches cripples programs to the benefit of other programs. The only real protection a college has is to implement buyout clauses and contact protocols. Colleges are somewhat like the owners of pro sports franchises wherein they take all the risks and are held to all contract details and the coach can merely walk away at their own volition. But as the Irish are want to say, " If it is meant to be, it is meant to be."

[SMU 86]

But if that rule were in place we wouldn't be looking for a new hc.

GO PONIES!!!

We would not have had JJ either.