Hypothetical to consider (there is no inside information around this although I do find it to be rational/possible):
Jim's ideal (or a highly possible desired path) is to coach next year's Michigan team to a national title and THEN go to the NFL.
If you are in charge and tasked with protecting the future of Michigan football, how do you handle the current contract negotiations?
I present that losing Jim next offseason is much more damaging to the expected outcome of the subsequent 10 years than losing him this offseason.
Yes, the ceiling on the 2023 team could lower BUT the leverage you have to hire whatever coach and assemble whatever staff you want is HIGH going into a 2023 season where Michigan will be unanimous top five pick (if not higher).
Wait a year for Jim's departure and you could have another year of recruiting uncertainty for the same reasons as last year. That potentially stacks two mediocre classes and now you are bringing in a new staff without JJ McCarthy, Donovan Edwards, Will Johnson, etc. AND you likely won't have Jadyn Davis coming in either.
If the band-aid is ripped off now you can almost guarantee a floor of 10 wins (still have a legit shot at the title) and get a new staff humming on their messaging and recruiting and try to keep key players and recruits in the fold.
So if you've gamed this out, and you think Jim is likely to return this year based on all of your intel, how would you handle negotiations?
I'd be tempted to, alongside paying Jim big, explore ways to minimize the chances of a January 2024 departure because that could be a massive hit to the program and much bigger than a 2023 departure.
Leaving Jim a wide open door to do this again next year without the carrot of a national title contender to return to - doesn't seem like the type of leadership we'd want out of an ideal AD right? While folks are busy punching the pillows of today, the leaders are supposed to be seeding the ground of tomorrow - right?
Jim's ideal (or a highly possible desired path) is to coach next year's Michigan team to a national title and THEN go to the NFL.
If you are in charge and tasked with protecting the future of Michigan football, how do you handle the current contract negotiations?
I present that losing Jim next offseason is much more damaging to the expected outcome of the subsequent 10 years than losing him this offseason.
Yes, the ceiling on the 2023 team could lower BUT the leverage you have to hire whatever coach and assemble whatever staff you want is HIGH going into a 2023 season where Michigan will be unanimous top five pick (if not higher).
Wait a year for Jim's departure and you could have another year of recruiting uncertainty for the same reasons as last year. That potentially stacks two mediocre classes and now you are bringing in a new staff without JJ McCarthy, Donovan Edwards, Will Johnson, etc. AND you likely won't have Jadyn Davis coming in either.
If the band-aid is ripped off now you can almost guarantee a floor of 10 wins (still have a legit shot at the title) and get a new staff humming on their messaging and recruiting and try to keep key players and recruits in the fold.
So if you've gamed this out, and you think Jim is likely to return this year based on all of your intel, how would you handle negotiations?
I'd be tempted to, alongside paying Jim big, explore ways to minimize the chances of a January 2024 departure because that could be a massive hit to the program and much bigger than a 2023 departure.
Leaving Jim a wide open door to do this again next year without the carrot of a national title contender to return to - doesn't seem like the type of leadership we'd want out of an ideal AD right? While folks are busy punching the pillows of today, the leaders are supposed to be seeding the ground of tomorrow - right?
