Haith Contract Extension

[TUMU]

Here we are in the middle of July and Haith has not received a contract extension. I'm surprised there has no been an extension by the TU administration. I'm not saying he 100% deserves or doesn't deserve an extension, however, not getting an extension isn't good for recruiting. I'm on the fence myself. I think the 2018/2019 season, year 5, should be enough time to rebuild and win a round of 64 NCAA tournament game. Getting into the NCAA tournament play-in game or even winning a play-in game and then a loss in the round of 64, wouldn't mean NCAA tournament success to me, after a fifth season.

The TU decision makers have their reasons for not extending or maybe an extension announcement will be forth coming in the next few weeks.

I don't know anything about the financial situation at TU or if finances are why there has not been an extension. My thought is if Gragg or the TU basketball money people want to give Haith an extension, it's going to happen soon or the upcoming season will determine when or if an extension is given.

Two years remain on his contract. Hoping an extension or no extension will be a good decision for TU basketball. We need to start winning NCAA tournament basketball games again.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Where's the Scoop lobby when you need it?

 

[astonmartin708]

Haith has said in interviews that he has cautious optimism that this will be his most talented team. Let's see what he can do with it and then we'll think about an extension.

 

[Gold*]

What’s the source on this? I thought the extension was inevitable.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I'm perfectly happy for TU to wait till the season's over to consider the extension. That might change if he is doing really well in nonconference. By Christmas break would be appropriate if so.

 

[lawpoke87]

If Haith believes he has his best team since coming to Tulsa he might be perfectly willing to wait until the season is over to consider an extension as well . I do believe this will be his best Tulsa team fwiw.

 

[astonmartin708]

If Haith believes he has his best team since coming to Tulsa he might be perfectly willing to wait until the season is over to consider an extension as well . I do believe this will be his best Tulsa team fwiw.

Yup. This will be his litmus test. Can he build a tournament team or not? If he does then we pony up the cash or he leaves the program in decent shape. If not, we look elsewhere.

 

[chito_and_leon]

Say he got us to the round of 32. What would the market be for him? What kind of
Programs would be looking to hire him? He’s got a little history with him.

 

[astonmartin708]

Say he got us to the round of 32. What would the market be for him? What kind of
Programs would be looking to hire him? He’s got a little history with him.

I could see a low level big east team growing after him. Or maybe an SEC school without many scruples like Auburn and Bruce Pearl.

 

[lawpoke87]

It obviously only takes one suitor but I would think Haith is going to need a couple of years of sustained success before other schools (which would be a step up from TU) come calling.

 

[chito_and_leon]

It obviously only takes one suitor but I would think Haith is going to need a couple of years of sustained success before other schools (which would be a step up from TU) come calling.

That’s my thinking too. He had the rep as someone who can’t build a team, can only coach up someone else’s players. I suspect he needs either huge success, like elite 8, or a couple years success to get something that’s much better. Especially since turning us around (if he does this year) wasn’t exactly fast. Anyone who hires him has to be ok with slow and steady progress.

 

[JesseTU]

When has extending the contract of a coach to see if the program can improve ever worked out well for a small program? If the coach performs well, they can leave anyway. If they don't do well, the school can get stuck paying out money to someone that isn't meeting expectations (and generally the program withers as a contract runs out or buyout talk picks up).

I hope Haith nails it this season and the extension is a no-brainer.

 

[TU Man]

ongoing TU strategy for any sport should be what a friend of mine has said for years:

five year contract...at the end of it you're either good enough to get hired away, or bad enough that we need to move on

if he gets to the tourney this year, another year or two wouldn't be bad to extend. if he doesn't, it's time to give someone else a shot at a much better salary level. TU can't spend big money every year for the same result a guy making much less would provide.