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This is a win win deal.

Fleck gets rewarded, we've set the bar high now for the next hire (whenever that day comes, that we will pay well), I'm assuming there is a WMU favorable buy out structure in place if coach Fleck excels and moves on. There is probably a Fleck favorable buy out structure if we ever thought about terminating. So that should give him a lot of comfort based on commitment.

Now it's time for WMU to finally take the next step on the field, and win a couple MAC titles the next 6 years.

So much for all that talk we were hearing about "losing donors"

These lines (from the video / interview I posted last night) are the sort of comments that make me love PJ and how he represents WMU:

Quote:"We want you to sit there and say 'Western Michigan is just like Boise State' and you can sit there and have a lot of pride in your institution. Not because you went there, not because there was a few successful seasons, I want you to sit there around the dinner table, no matter where you live, and say 'I'm a Western Michigan Bronco' and everybody can understand what that means nationally."

Quote:"It's really probably one of the greatest days of my life because people truly believe in you," he said. "All my life I've had people believe in me and take a chance on me and Kathy Beauregard was one that really did that. I wouldn't be sitting where I am today, I'd be teaching sixth-grade social studies if it wasn't for the people that believed in me and saw things in me that other people couldn't see, took a chance, weren't afraid of change, and weren't afraid of failing.

"I've had a lot of people tell me in my life 'I'm afraid of what mistakes you're going to make' well those aren't the right people for me because that's not what my life's about. Kathy Beauregard, Dr. Dunn and Western Michigan took a chance on me. I owe them everything and we're going to work even harder to get this program to where we said it would be."

Love it.

I want to begin this post by saying that this is in no way a rip on Coach Fleck. What he and his coaching staff have done to quickly turn around this program is a great accomplishment.

That said. When I heard last night that they had giving him a new 6 year contract worth $800k per year, I was baffled. There was really no reason to do so. PJ just finished year 2 of a 5 year deal, that already paid him nearly double what the previous head coach was being paid. Ultimately, he still has an overall losing record and while the current trajectory shows that changing, I'm just not sure that THIS was necessary. Are they worried about him jumping ship to a "bigger" job? If so, then I don't know that $800k is really going to keep him here anyways. If WMU has another big year in 2015 and lets say gets to or even wins the MAC Title, then I can see PJs stock being high and one of the P5 schools calling. If they want him, $800k is a drop in the bucket. So in my opinion, you just doubled a coaches salary after his 2nd season, with 3 seasons left on the original contract, when I don't believe there was really any threat of him leaving now anyways and the raise still isn't going to ultimately keep him here if it comes down to money in a year or 2.

Just my opinion.

Now I also heard that WMU is only on the hook for a portion of the increase and that donors are apparently helping pick up the tab. I have NO IDEA who, how many, or how much those donors are contributing, just what I heard. So maybe it isn't quite as much of an investment out of the WMU Athletic Dept coffers as is seems.

Finally, I also saw someone mention now getting that scoreboard done. While I completely agree that the scoreboard needs to be updated, upgraded and/or just plain redone. We got talking last night about the $3million price tag to do so. I am interested to hear where those funds ultimately come from. Will there be big donations made for this? Because if it is based on ticket sales to pay for, lets look at the math a bit.

$3million. Say it gets paid for over a 10 year span. 5 home games per season. So approx. 50 total home games. 15k - 20k attendance on average.

That's $60,000 per game.
and if we say 20k attendance on average. That's $3 per ticket will go to pay for the new scoreboard over a 10 year span.

So do we see an increase in ticket prices to pay for PJ and a new scoreboard? Can they afford to do that when regardless of team success, they struggle to come close to filling Waldo? Will they jack the prices up for the MSU game next season like they did when they thought everyone would flock to see VaTech?

Just some of the conversations we had around the poker table last night.

Waldo,

Do you have a negative gene that rears it's ugly head wherever something good happens at Western????? Couldn't wait a day or two for this wonderful news to sink in before the negative crap comes out...
I'm happy as hell form everything that's happening with Bronco sports in the immediate future!!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone

Go Bronco's

What did he really do to earn this contract? He's 9-15 and has beat one winning team. You just paid him for no reason. He's not leaving this year, and 800k won't stop him from leaving if a P5 school comes calling.

It was a raise they didn't need to give him.

(12-19-2014 09:46 AM)WheresWaldo42 Wrote:  That said. When I heard last night that they had giving him a new 6 year contract worth $800k per year, I was baffled. There was really no reason to do so. PJ just finished year 2 of a 5 year deal, that already paid him nearly double what the previous head coach was being paid. Ultimately, he still has an overall losing record and while the current trajectory shows that changing, I'm just not sure that THIS was necessary. Are they worried about him jumping ship to a "bigger" job? If so, then I don't know that $800k is really going to keep him here anyways. If WMU has another big year in 2015 and lets say gets to or even wins the MAC Title, then I can see PJs stock being high and one of the P5 schools calling. If they want him, $800k is a drop in the bucket. So in my opinion, you just doubled a coaches salary after his 2nd season, with 3 seasons left on the original contract, when I don't believe there was really any threat of him leaving now anyways and the raise still isn't going to ultimately keep him here if it comes down to money in a year or 2.

Say Fleck was getting looks and WMU was getting calls from other A.D.'s asking for permission to speak with him... would you keep his contract the same and not touch it, or would you consider re-negotiating a new contract in order to keep him here?

Original contract
2015: $392,500 ($336,000 buyout)
2016: $392,500 ($210,000 buyout)
2017: $392,500 ($147,000 buyout)

New contract (since we don't know all the details of the contract yet, let's just pretend the buyout is conservatively the same ratio)
2015: $800,000 ($680,000 buyout)
2016: $800,000 ($550,000 buyout)
2017: $800,000 ($425,000 buyout)
2018: $800,000 ($375,000 buyout)
2019: $800,000 ($300,000 buyout)
2020: $800,000 ($250,000 buyout)

Don't be so focused on whether or not the buyout does enough to deter a P5 school. That's not the point of a buyout (maybe some, but not all). What it ultimately does is protect WMU. It's a win-win for all parties involved.

So they more than doubled his contract while still only getting peanuts for a buyout. Whaaa?

(12-19-2014 10:04 AM)7 Wrote:  What did he really do to earn this contract? He's 9-15 and has beat one winning team. You just paid him for no reason.

Why does anybody get a raise? To reward positive results, promote a healthy working environment, and protect your investment.

You can say he's 9-15, but that paints a completely different picture of 1-11 in his first season, and 8-4 and in a bowl game in season two with two top MAC recruiting classes coming in.

I am curious as to the ACTUAL buyout numbers... based on the fact that a majority of this contract is coming directly from donors... From what i have read the University is only on the hook for 200k~ of it... therefore I believe any buyout is probably only based on the portion of his contract NOT directly related to donors. Just curious... There is probably some sort of clause in there that treats the buyout based on the overall compensation... would be interesting to know the details.

Agree, I am really anxious to see the buyout numbers.

(12-19-2014 10:23 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:04 AM)7 Wrote:  What did he really do to earn this contract? He's 9-15 and has beat one winning team. You just paid him for no reason.

Why does anybody get a raise? To reward positive results, promote a healthy working environment, and protect your investment.

You can say he's 9-15, but that paints a completely different picture of 1-11 in his first season, and 8-4 and in a bowl game in season two with two top MAC recruiting classes coming in.

Double his contract for winning 8 games in the MAC? You know he didn't take over a 1 win team. They went 1-11 largely because Fleck had no idea what the hell he was doing.

1-11 in 2013
9-15 overall
His wins are against teams that are a combined 34-74
0-4 vs. two top teams in the MAC West (NIU & Toledo)
0-5 vs. P5
1-1 vs. FCS

He's done nothing to deserve that big of a raise. WMU takes on all the risk for pretty much no reason. It's dumb.

(12-19-2014 10:30 AM)7 Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:23 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:04 AM)7 Wrote:  What did he really do to earn this contract? He's 9-15 and has beat one winning team. You just paid him for no reason.

Why does anybody get a raise? To reward positive results, promote a healthy working environment, and protect your investment.

You can say he's 9-15, but that paints a completely different picture of 1-11 in his first season, and 8-4 and in a bowl game in season two with two top MAC recruiting classes coming in.

Double his contract for winning 8 games in the MAC? You know he didn't take over a 1 win team. They went 1-11 largely because Fleck had no idea what the hell he was doing.

1-11 in 2013
9-15 overall
His wins are against teams that are a combined 34-74
0-4 vs. two top teams in the MAC West (NIU & Toledo)
0-5 vs. P5
1-1 vs. FCS

He's done nothing to deserve that big of a raise. WMU takes on all the risk for pretty much no reason. It's dumb.

You have to understand that based on what is being reported... the University is not on the hook for much more if anything... this contract sounds more like a fiscally healthy couple of donors working with the AD and Prez to make sure Fleck sticks around and add's a few more years to finish what he started...

(12-19-2014 10:30 AM)7 Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:23 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:04 AM)7 Wrote:  What did he really do to earn this contract? He's 9-15 and has beat one winning team. You just paid him for no reason.

Why does anybody get a raise? To reward positive results, promote a healthy working environment, and protect your investment.

You can say he's 9-15, but that paints a completely different picture of 1-11 in his first season, and 8-4 and in a bowl game in season two with two top MAC recruiting classes coming in.

Double his contract for winning 8 games in the MAC? You know he didn't take over a 1 win team. They went 1-11 largely because Fleck had no idea what the hell he was doing.

1-11 in 2013
9-15 overall
His wins are against teams that are a combined 34-74
0-4 vs. two top teams in the MAC West (NIU & Toledo)
0-5 vs. P5
1-1 vs. FCS

He's done nothing to deserve that big of a raise. WMU takes on all the risk for pretty much no reason. It's dumb.

Why do you care?

(12-19-2014 10:35 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:30 AM)7 Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:23 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:04 AM)7 Wrote:  What did he really do to earn this contract? He's 9-15 and has beat one winning team. You just paid him for no reason.

Why does anybody get a raise? To reward positive results, promote a healthy working environment, and protect your investment.

You can say he's 9-15, but that paints a completely different picture of 1-11 in his first season, and 8-4 and in a bowl game in season two with two top MAC recruiting classes coming in.

Double his contract for winning 8 games in the MAC? You know he didn't take over a 1 win team. They went 1-11 largely because Fleck had no idea what the hell he was doing.

1-11 in 2013
9-15 overall
His wins are against teams that are a combined 34-74
0-4 vs. two top teams in the MAC West (NIU & Toledo)
0-5 vs. P5
1-1 vs. FCS

He's done nothing to deserve that big of a raise. WMU takes on all the risk for pretty much no reason. It's dumb.

You have to understand that based on what is being reported... the University is not on the hook for much more if anything... this contract sounds more like a fiscally healthy couple of donors working with the AD and Prez to make sure Fleck sticks around and add's a few more years to finish what he started...

Ah. Well then I would say that's a dumb move by the donors (although it's their money), and good for WMU for being the ones who benefit from it lol.

Still weird/dumb, but that's not WMU's problem.

(12-19-2014 10:36 AM)wmutkelaw Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:30 AM)7 Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:23 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:04 AM)7 Wrote:  What did he really do to earn this contract? He's 9-15 and has beat one winning team. You just paid him for no reason.

Why does anybody get a raise? To reward positive results, promote a healthy working environment, and protect your investment.

You can say he's 9-15, but that paints a completely different picture of 1-11 in his first season, and 8-4 and in a bowl game in season two with two top MAC recruiting classes coming in.

Double his contract for winning 8 games in the MAC? You know he didn't take over a 1 win team. They went 1-11 largely because Fleck had no idea what the hell he was doing.

1-11 in 2013
9-15 overall
His wins are against teams that are a combined 34-74
0-4 vs. two top teams in the MAC West (NIU & Toledo)
0-5 vs. P5
1-1 vs. FCS

He's done nothing to deserve that big of a raise. WMU takes on all the risk for pretty much no reason. It's dumb.

Why do you care?

Because NIU actually has a coach who has accomplished something in his 2 years who they're likely going to have to give a raise to?

(12-19-2014 10:30 AM)7 Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:23 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:04 AM)7 Wrote:  What did he really do to earn this contract? He's 9-15 and has beat one winning team. You just paid him for no reason.

Why does anybody get a raise? To reward positive results, promote a healthy working environment, and protect your investment.

You can say he's 9-15, but that paints a completely different picture of 1-11 in his first season, and 8-4 and in a bowl game in season two with two top MAC recruiting classes coming in.

Double his contract for winning 8 games in the MAC?

Re-read.

"Weird" "dumb"? All it has done is excite a community.

(12-19-2014 10:38 AM)7 Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:36 AM)wmutkelaw Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:30 AM)7 Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:23 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 10:04 AM)7 Wrote:  What did he really do to earn this contract? He's 9-15 and has beat one winning team. You just paid him for no reason.

Why does anybody get a raise? To reward positive results, promote a healthy working environment, and protect your investment.

You can say he's 9-15, but that paints a completely different picture of 1-11 in his first season, and 8-4 and in a bowl game in season two with two top MAC recruiting classes coming in.

Double his contract for winning 8 games in the MAC? You know he didn't take over a 1 win team. They went 1-11 largely because Fleck had no idea what the hell he was doing.

1-11 in 2013
9-15 overall
His wins are against teams that are a combined 34-74
0-4 vs. two top teams in the MAC West (NIU & Toledo)
0-5 vs. P5
1-1 vs. FCS

He's done nothing to deserve that big of a raise. WMU takes on all the risk for pretty much no reason. It's dumb.

Why do you care?

Because NIU actually has a coach who has accomplished something in his 2 years who they're likely going to have to give a raise to?

So you are upset with our donors and admin b/c your school will have to buck up?

7 acts like a scorned ex-girlfriend, awfully jealous of PJ. Get over it!!