[NU Sports] coaches leaving

[Jonathan Hodges]

I think you (at least partially) nailed an answer:

> 3. They are uncertain of RW's future.

It is probably true that they are moving on to better opportunities
(moving up to a higher position, more pay, etc.) just as most do at
some point in their careers.  But the fact is that Walker's contract
runs out in 2007 and the University has not extended that, despite
recent successes.  After the 2000 Big Ten Championship, the University
jumped all over him and signed him to a contract extension to that
2007 year, so one would think that they would do the same to keep him
around if they are happy with the recent stability to the program
(i.e. 6+ wins for 3 straight years and 2 bowl appearances).  What does
this mean?  Maybe the University is waiting to see what happens this
year (or, if you are one of the nay-sayers, maybe they have already
decided not to renew his contract and are waiting it out right now). 
In any case maybe the assistants (and possibly some recruits) saw only
1+ years left on the contract of the head coach with no sign of a
renewal so they decided to move on voluntarily before they are forced
to (especially if they have another offer on the table).

Of course my opinion is that Walker should stay - he has brought
positive stability to a program that never had any before except for
one two year span.  He has also shown he can develop players no matter
what kind of recruit they are - he has sent numerous players to the
NFL and has had leaders develop on the field every year (see Kustok,
Anderson, Wright, Herron, Basanez, Durr, McGarigle, etc.).  In terms
of recruiting - NU should be competitive between its peers (i.e. Duke,
Stanford, Vanderbilt) and should recruit to its needs - not just to be
a "top recruiting class."  I think that the record of the past few
years shows that even these "inferior" recruits can compete in the Big
Ten (14-10 record, with wins over some of the big programs).

Jonathan



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Jonathan W. Hodges
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