Starting To Also Think It’s Time

[NorthKCHawk]

Almost all coaching contracts have a duty-to-mitigate clause which stipulates that the employee has to make a good-faith effort to find a job of a comparable level to receive the buyout, and the biuyout is offset by the salary they receive at the new job. It's why penn State is getting away from Franklin for only $10 million. He couldn't just offer to go coach Iowa City West for $20K. If Kirk got asked to retire would he really go out looking for a job and mess with all that at his age?

I doubt the contract is actually set up that way. I doubt he has a duty to mitigate, but the contract likely has an offset provision that says that if he does get another job that would offset some of the buy out. Even if he had an actual duty to mitigate the buy out, all he has to do is send his resume to some universities. No one is going to hire a coach of his age (unless he moves to NC, and leaves Mary for a 27-year old influencer). Unless KF somehow doesn't care about the money, which if he is forced out, he will, this will cost Beth a pretty penny.

 

[haydensly]

I doubt the contract is actually set up that way. I doubt he has a duty to mitigate, but the contract likely has an offset provision that says that if he does get another job that would offset some of the buy out. Even if he had an actual duty to mitigate the buy out, all he has to do is send his resume to some universities. No one is going to hire a coach of his age (unless he moves to NC, and leaves Mary for a 27-year old influencer). Unless KF somehow doesn't care about the money, which if he is forced out, he will, this will cost Beth a pretty penny.

This was my thought. When Brian Kelly was fired by LSU they tried to get him to settle for less. He refused and has filed a lawsuit. He is 64 years old and probably done with coaching. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up having to fork over the entire amount because they have no leg to stand on.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

No chance Kirk will be fired or forced out. That is not going to happen.

Now, if he were to stay and the team takes a complete nose dive next season, perhaps Beth would "encourage" him to consider retiring early, but those that think she might fire him are delusional. Kirk has more than earned his right to go out on his terms and she knows that.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

I doubt the contract is actually set up that way. I doubt he has a duty to mitigate, but the contract likely has an offset provision that says that if he does get another job that would offset some of the buy out. Even if he had an actual duty to mitigate the buy out, all he has to do is send his resume to some universities. No one is going to hire a coach of his age (unless he moves to NC, and leaves Mary for a 27-year old influencer). Unless KF somehow doesn't care about the money, which if he is forced out, he will, this will cost Beth a pretty penny.

That's what I was thinking too. There are also ageism issues to consider from a risk standpoint. These break ups can cause indigestion for both sides.

If Beth is making a move, I'd guess she is assuming they'll need a $25M parachute for Kirk.

And I can't really see her messing this one up. She's too smart and too good. That's why I am skeptical anything would be leaking out. If Iowa is making the move - which is still somewhat hard to believe given they had remote playoff chances 6 days ago - Beth would make it clean and fast, endless praise for Kirk and all he's done, full buyout, etc.

And if Kirk was approached about stepping down gracefully, with a retirement gift short of $25M, I'm not sure he'd take it too well. Not unless he was fully ready for that step himself. I'm guessing Iowa has no appetite for a messy divorce.

 

[Fryowa]

I doubt the contract is actually set up that way. I doubt he has a duty to mitigate, but the contract likely has an offset provision that says that if he does get another job that would offset some of the buy out. Even if he had an actual duty to mitigate the buy out, all he has to do is send his resume to some universities. No one is going to hire a coach of his age (unless he moves to NC, and leaves Mary for a 27-year old influencer). Unless KF somehow doesn't care about the money, which if he is forced out, he will, this will cost Beth a pretty penny.

Someone would pay whatever it ends up being. It’s also never paid out all at once. Even if they had to buy out the entire amount which I'm not convinced of, the yearly payout would be just under $6.5 million per year. That's not anything that would cripple the program.

 

[Fryowa]

And I can't really see her messing this one up. She's too smart and too good. That's why I am skeptical anything would be leaking out.

I get where you're coming from, but there is no such thing as an air tight ship. Not even the Pentagon can prevent things from leaking.

Add in a bunch of VERY ego-driven, VERY rich people being involved, and you're going to have stuff being texted and whispered about. It's the way it is.

You know what they say about how 2 people can keep a secret, right?

 

[HuckFinn]

Maybe I am way off base, but how did this thread move from KF retiring to getting fired?

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Maybe I am way off base, but how did this thread move from KF retiring to getting fired?

Fryowa is reporting an inside scoop. Iowa is targeting a candidate that presumably will only be available for a short window. His best guess, spit-ballin' estimate is 93% that Iowa hires this mystery candidate.

 

[Fryowa]

Fryowa is reporting an inside scoop. Iowa is targeting a candidate that presumably will only be available for a short window. His best guess, spit-ballin' estimate is 93% that Iowa hires this mystery candidate.

Maybe I am way off base, but how did this thread move from KF retiring to getting fired?

Not exactly, but close.

I'm saying that I've been told by 3 different people I trust (and who are in a position to know) that Iowa has a coach in mind to hire for next year and are pursuing him pretty hard. That's the only thing I'm reporting.

My 93% thing was just my hunch based on what I've heard.

What I've left up to other people to decide and discuss (if they want) is whether he'll retire, or be "asked" to retire. Obviously both of those scenarios depend on Iowa actually being able to hire this person.

Anything else is conjecture by the board, and if we're being honest, my saying that Iowa is trying to hire someone for next year is conjecture because I haven't provided a name of the candidate or the sources I got that info from. Neither of which am I going to do. It's a "believe it or don't believe it, take it or leave it" thing. I was very upfront in my first posts about it that I could end up being wrong if this person doesn't decide to come here.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

We need at least two pieces of information. This can be on a "background" basis only.

Currently a head coach? Any previous ties to the Hawks?

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Not exactly, but close.

I'm saying that I've been told by 3 different people I trust (and who are in a position to know) that Iowa has a coach in mind to hire for next year and are pursuing him pretty hard. That's the only thing I'm reporting.

My 93% thing was just my hunch based on what I've heard.

What I've left up to other people to decide and discuss (if they want) is whether he'll retire, or be "asked" to retire. Obviously both of those scenarios depend on Iowa actually being able to hire this person.

Anything else is conjecture by the board, and if we're being honest, my saying that Iowa is trying to hire someone for next year is conjecture because I haven't provided a name of the candidate or the sources I got that info from. Neither of which am I going to do. It's a "believe it or don't believe it, take it or leave it" thing. I was very upfront in my first posts about it that I could end up being wrong if this person doesn't decide to come here.

So going off the assumption that Iowa has been actively looking on the downlow and has a person in mind then is it not more likely that it's a done deal that KF has decided to step down and is just waiting till the end of the yr to announce? Not that the school would be pushing him out but that he and Beth have already talked about it and he's told her he's gonna be done?

That'd be a hell of a secret to have kept for however long they've done so. But that would make way more sense to me then if say Beth has been looking all yr to replace a coach that's signed through the 2029 season without knowing if KF intends on retiring or not yet

 

[HuckFinn]

Not exactly, but close.

I'm saying that I've been told by 3 different people I trust (and who are in a position to know) that Iowa has a coach in mind to hire for next year and are pursuing him pretty hard. That's the only thing I'm reporting.

My 93% thing was just my hunch based on what I've heard.

What I've left up to other people to decide and discuss (if they want) is whether he'll retire, or be "asked" to retire. Obviously both of those scenarios depend on Iowa actually being able to hire this person.

Anything else is conjecture by the board, and if we're being honest, my saying that Iowa is trying to hire someone for next year is conjecture because I haven't provided a name of the candidate or the sources I got that info from. Neither of which am I going to do. It's a "believe it or don't believe it, take it or leave it" thing. I was very upfront in my first posts about it that I could end up being wrong if this person doesn't decide to come here.

Thank you

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Not exactly, but close.

I'm saying that I've been told by 3 different people I trust (and who are in a position to know) that Iowa has a coach in mind to hire for next year and are pursuing him pretty hard. That's the only thing I'm reporting.

My 93% thing was just my hunch based on what I've heard.

What I've left up to other people to decide and discuss (if they want) is whether he'll retire, or be "asked" to retire. Obviously both of those scenarios depend on Iowa actually being able to hire this person.

Anything else is conjecture by the board, and if we're being honest, my saying that Iowa is trying to hire someone for next year is conjecture because I haven't provided a name of the candidate or the sources I got that info from. Neither of which am I going to do. It's a "believe it or don't believe it, take it or leave it" thing. I was very upfront in my first posts about it that I could end up being wrong if this person doesn't decide to come here.

Please tell us it's not Fitz. Please.

 

[Seth53]

Replace a guy who is 70 years old with a guy who is....... 65 years old? No thanks.

Seems to have worked for Indiana...

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Same as the people saying Norvell would be a good fit after he tweeted that he was in town for 3 days. Dude’s 62 and Iowa would have to turn right around and start the hiring process again in 4-5 years.

Sort of a head scratcher that anyone would think a Mountain West coach getting fired after going 18-26 would be a good fit at Iowa.

 

[Hawkboys]

You are free to believe me or not, but up until a week and a half ago I'd have said the exact same thing.

It will never get described publicly as a push out, but I can tell you for certain that the Iowa athletic dept is pursuing a certain individual aggressively. That hasn't come from anyone on this board, btw. I have had one person here tell me something that's kinda sorta similar, but I don't take anything said by posters here seriously, myself included.

Whether that individual can be persuaded is up to them.

It's Steve Ferentz isn't it?

You don't have to say anything and violate the trust. Just blink twice and we'll know.