Does anyone really think....

[RobFromCedarFalls]

Coach Mac is going to leave anytime soon?

Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I don't see him leaving anytime soon, especially to a mid-major like Tulsa.

I see him as a guy who is at his alma mater, raising his family here, and doing a heckuva job building this program into someone who can contend in the future. If I had to choose, I'd stay here. Look at what Gonzaga has done. I think Mac can do the same thing here.

[Lovie Smith]

I agree with you about coach Mac being happy here but like you said he does have a family and more money and more recruiting resources can only make his family life better. I think if the money is equal or close he will stay but could you blame him for leaving if he can double or triple his salary? Let's find a way to pay Mac!

[B.True]

i remember that day back in spring of 2001 being at the press conference when Mac and Farley were announced as the new head coaches at UNI and i thought then that they could be the tandem for at least 8 years. i thought that farley would want to stay as long as he could, but that Mac would eventually get lured away for some heavy dollars....i hope i'm wrong...but i don't see him leaving soon!

[JCPanthers]

I'm a little nervous about what is going on at Indiana and Minnesota. First of all, they are not very good...especially Indiana after supposedly having the #1 recruiting class last year. The boosters are getting restless and in Indiana's case, are still madly in love with Steve Alford.

If one or both of these schools fires their coach, look for Indiana to go after Alford, leaving Iowa without a coach, and opening the door for Bowlsby to hire Mac......however he may not get the chance cuz if Monson is fired at Minnesota look for them to give Mac serious consideration cuz he recruits so well and is well respected in the state of Minnesota.

[AmesPanther]

I agree with JC. Both of those schools can pay money. It would be hard for Mac to turn down triple or more the money.

[RobFromCedarFalls]

I guess in a way I personally would realize that the money I'm currently making is quite a large sum of money, and also keep in mind that money does not make your family. Cedar Falls is a great place to raise a family and I would hope that would play quite a bit. But I guess the large majority of people go for money over other things in life. I suppose I can't assume that Mac isn't in that majority.

[Lovie Smith]

The problem is what Mac is making isn't a large sum in comparison to the other people doing the same job. I undestand 100k + is a large sum to you, me, and most of the rest of the population but in his field it is on the low end. Isn't he the lowest paid coach in the MVC?

[AmesPanther]

Mac's immediate family would move with him, so it's not like he is choosing money over family. In the 2 cases JC listed he would only be moving to Iowa City or MN so it's not even like he is moving far.

I say we are lucky to have such a good coach and we should enjoy everything he brings to the table now. Hopefully he can stick around for a while...

[RobFromCedarFalls]

i agree. i understand it's a small sum compared to other places, i wasn't implying he would choose money over family.

[Panthers to the Bone]

As Jim Valvano told Rick Pitino: "Don't mess with Happiness"

I recently heard Pitino state this comment (or something to the effect of the quote), and Pitino regretted not staying at Kentucky where he was happy (and successful). He left for "greener pastures" to Boston, and was very unhappy for several years, until the Louisville job came open. I thought that was a great quote.

I hope we can keep Mac for quite some time. With a great team coming back next year, I think he would love to see UNI make a deep run in the postseason. If those jobs are great jobs, they will come open down the road again...and after bringing UNI to great success, then maybe he could go. But until then, selfishly, I hope he stays!

[JCPanthers]

Mac getting love from Iowa fans

Found this over at a Hawkeye message board. The thread starts off talking about Indiana's loss to Charlotte, but then quickly changes to the possibility of McDermott becoming Iowa's coach and the great job he is doing at UNI:

http://p078.ezboard.com/fthehawkeyehotspothawkeyebasketball.showMessage?topicID=22158.topic

[RobFromCedarFalls]

I wonder what Mac thinks about it. I'm sure it's come up in conversation.

[Mudrafan]

jobs

Indiana will look for a more established & experienced coach than Mac. Iowa would be a possibility but I don't see Alford leaving unless he puts together several years in a row & then is hired to a higher profile job like Indiana. I think Alford is pretty happy at Iowa. He is also a family man who has a very healthy contract. We will have to raise Mac's salary significantly to keep him away from the Wyoming's of the world let alone Minnesota. Significantly increased attendance & athletic club donations of sizable proportions are in order or we better face enjoying it now while it lasts.

[Panther AC]

Four more years

I've heard Mac's wife say they aren't going anywhere at least until both of their sons have graduated from CF high school. The younger son is still in junior high. Hopefully by that time they will have the same attitude about their daughter, who is now barely in elementary school. The salary enhancements that Rick Hartzell has announced will increase Mac's pay substantially, so as to make jobs like Tulsa, Wyoming, Bowling Green, etc. (which now pay their bb coaches about double what Mac presently makes) much less lucrative. He will eventually be able to coach at a Big 10 or Big 12 school and make $1 million yearly but I know he hasn't accomplished all he wants to at his alma mater and he is really looking forward to coaching in the new arena. I think we'll have him at UNI for four more years at least.

[wloopanther]

I really do not see this as a money issue or a "quality of life" issue. In the art of coaching the idea is to show results and improvements at lower levels and work your way up through the ranks to the more prestigious programs. It is like that in every sport in the world. You start low (Wayne St) work your way up a few more notches (UNI) then you hit your target with a major Division I program. Yeah they money is a lot better, but its about the prestige you have earned yourself as a coach.