Jim Mora extension

[Bonamassa]

If/when Mora gets his first offer and his response publicly is " My focus is on this week's game, etc., etc.," instead of "as I've said before, this will be my last coaching job", then we can start to worry

 

[Chin Diesel]

No. It’s been 1 year, almost to the day. Let’s see this thru beyond the honeymoon. Remember the last extension we gave to an exciting young coach - hint: we lost breakfast that day when we realized fish cakes was not a RKG.

l love what Jimmy has done, but let’s not panic. Let’s make sure he believes he has everything in place to win consistently. That’s the focus.

Umm, you do realize Mora is 60 with over 30 years coaching experience? Not exactly a young up and comer with no HC experience.

 

[huskymedic]

I'm not saying it's a pressing need this week but I would appreciate it if the AD would reach out to Mora's agent just to see what else can be done rather than sitting back assessing the situation.

Pfft… Mora doesn’t need no stinking agent

-> “With the sun about to set on their third day together in November, Jim Mora and David Benedict stood in the kitchen of Mora’s home in Ketchum, Idaho, and looked at each other.

“He was like, ‘Well, what do you want?’” Mora recalls. “I didn’t have an agent. I said, ‘I’ll take this.’ He goes, ‘I don’t know if we can do that.’ I go, ‘OK, I’ll take this.’ He goes, ‘OK.’”

“I go, ‘Are you offering me the job?’” Mora said. “He goes, ‘Well, yeah.’ I said, ‘OK, well, I’m taking it.’ It was pretty informal. Kathy was sitting over there and we had already talked about the fact that we wanted to do this. It was pretty easy when it got to that point. Then we went out and had dinner and a beer and laughed. We just took a deep breath, and then I went and packed and we got on a plane the next day.” <-

 

[Dizzy21]

Mora also seems to enjoy being around the excellence of the other teams on campus and interacting with the other great coaches. You can't get that at many other places.

 

[shizzle787]

I truly think this is different. He sought out this job and it's turned out to be a perfect fit. You can't buy satisfaction. I don't think he needs to be "locked up."

I kind of agree. If Mora wanted a better job, he could have had one. I think he wanted the challenge.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I’d say no. Give me 2 years with a winning record, that would prove he’s special, Diaco went to a bowl. Pay bumps to keep assistants around might be reasonable though.

 

[CL82]

After the Ollie fiasco no premature contract extensions for anybody ever again.

It’s not the extension, it’s the buyout terms that are problematic. If we make a bowl, though, I wouldn’t mind making some kind of adjustment toward him and the staff.

 

[Patman]

Something is due for mora but I think mora knows the reality and knows he has more leeway here than anywhere else.

He can leave a legacy here. Anywhere else he will be just the next man up.

 

[Palatine]

If he wants an extension, he can have one. It doesn't matter. With his credentials, only teams that afford his buyout will be after him.

All of that misses the point. He's not climbing the ladder at this point. If it leaves it will be because he wants to leave. If he stays it will because that is what he wants. He's good enough that he will be here as long as he likes.

All this is fine with me. We never had to worry that Randy 2.0 would be wooed away. This is much better.

 

[ZooCougar]

If he wants an extension, he can have one. It doesn't matter. With his credentials, only teams that afford his buyout will be after him.

All of that misses the point. He's not climbing the ladder at this point. If it leaves it will be because he wants to leave. If he stays it will because that is what he wants. He's good enough that he will be here as long as he likes.

All this is fine with me. We never had to worry that Randy 2.0 would be wooed away. This is much better.

It’s so nice to have a coach that actually wants to win football games.

 

[Scrutineer]

JM is unlike any other coach we've hired, in that he is all these:
Experienced, successful, older, highly regarded, financially well heeled, a caring teacher of players and coaches and comfortable in his own skin.

First, he doesn't need money except as a yardstick of how much he's valued in his respective position. He knows this isn't a P5 powerhouse, replete with unimaginable pressure and boatloads of money, but believes he should be paid fairly for this level and his performance at this level.

Secondly, he seems to have welcomed the challenge of doing something the world likely felt impossible: making a success of UConn football and perhaps helping UConn gain admission to a major all sports conference.

Finally, he sounds like such a genuinely fine, caring, and thoughtful man he would go down in the history of UConn sports as one of the greatest coaches in school history if he's successful and that may mean more to someone like him than more money at middle of the road schools like Colorado and Arizona State which are being left behind in CR and won't ever reach the top in any sports.

 

[ZooCougar]

And all this came out after I posted. I hadn’t seen it yet.

Mandel loves Mora. Feldman and Mandel had Mora on as a guest right after he was hired. Based on the interview it sounded like he knew those guys on a personal basis.

It’s a small thing but it’s like we hit the jackpot with this guy. Mora is a made man in this business and he brought us some credibility. And someday maybe even an identity.

 

[ZooCougar]

JM is unlike any other coach we've hired, in that he is all these:
Experienced, successful, older, highly regarded, financially well heeled, a caring teacher of players and coaches and comfortable in his own skin.

First, he doesn't need money except as a yardstick of how much he's valued in his respective position. He knows this isn't a P5 powerhouse, replete with unimaginable pressure and boatloads of money, but believes he should be paid fairly for this level and his performance at this level.

Secondly, he seems to have welcomed the challenge of doing something the world likely felt impossible: making a success of UConn football and perhaps helping UConn gain admission to a major all sports conference.

Finally, he sounds like such a genuinely fine, caring, and thoughtful man he would go down in the history of UConn sports as one of the greatest coaches in school history if he's successful and that may mean more to someone like him than more money at middle of the road schools like Colorado and Arizona State which are being left behind in CR and won't ever reach the top in any sports.

Well said.

 

[NEforceUConn]

I'm not saying it's a pressing need this week but I would appreciate it if the AD would reach out to Mora's agent just to see what else can be done rather than sitting back assessing the situation.

Disagree.

Any agent is going to immediately say more cash.

 

[ZooCougar]

It’s not the extension, it’s the buyout terms that are problematic. If we make a bowl, though, I wouldn’t mind making some kind of adjustment toward him and the staff.

If the staff are on one year contracts then there is no way some of them won’t get raises. Hilliard and Sammis for sure.

 

[Slick]

Yes, contract extension and pay raise are in order. If we happen to finish the season 6–6 and are invited to a bowl game he will be on peoples radar, and we will be back to square one looking for a coach.

He is already on everyones radar. He has totally rebuilt our program from the bottom up. He did not go the route and hire his cronies. He interviewed and hired a lot of extremely young,african american coaches and they have produced. The players love him and respect him. Hopefully he will stay long enough to see us get picked up by a P5 conference.

 

[NEforceUConn]

He is already on everyones radar. He has totally rebuilt our program from the bottom up. He did not go the route and hire his cronies. He interviewed and hired a lot of extremely young,african american coaches and they have produced. The players love him and respect him. Hopefully he will stay long enough to see us get picked up by a P5 conference.

From your text to God’s ears/eyes.

 

[Slick]

Disagree.

Any agent is going to immediately say more cash.

I believe that Coach Mora did not use an agent. He negotiated his contract with AD Benedict himself.

 

[ZooCougar]

Agreed. I was gonna say he is doing this more for fun than a career ladder. Thought he was living in Idaho and spending time in Ketchum (Sun Valley).

That said, I am sure AD David Bennett is well aware of what would be appropriate under the circumstances and will make that happen.

In the Mandel and Feldman interview, he said that he was disappointed with the opportunities that came his way after UCLA. Ultimately he decided to not coach until his youngest left for college.

His last half of his time at UCLA he dealt with a bad divorce and he was clearly distracted which is understandable. But it seems like a lot of people wrote him off forever.

I’m glad Benedict was open minded.

 

[cttxus]

unnecessary concern.
obviously, mr. mora examined his life recently, and decided the next chapter was going to be aboot doing something for fun, and no longer just aboot career ladders. UConn fit his criteria perfectly, and so he decided 'yeah, im doing that.' a gentle float down the river of semi-retirement, with enough juice to make him want to get out of bed in the morning to coach up some young folks, mebbe win some big games, and, all around, do something worth his while, and have a blast in trying.
mebbe, just mebbe, his attitude could change if the world, watching his results, came along and offered a pantload of jingle to grab him, but i doubt it. even if it was gumby gold, i still doubt it cuz for smart people, peace of mind is priceless. i think that geno's situation (he could go anywhere and get paid fort knox cash) is a guiding light for coach mora.

^^^ I can only speak for myself here as someone who's been in the highly competitive business world for 40+ years and nearing (I hope) the way less turbulent end of my career, but this is spot on.

And not to put too much amateur psychology into it but, what he said in his post game comments about Jackson Mitchell's play in the 4th quarter leaving a legacy at UConn may be where his head is at, too. Coach Mora does not want his coaching career to end with what what happened at UCLA.

I say he stays at UConn until he's proven the doubters wrong and he's done something truly extraordinary and legacy-worthy to end his career, like turning UConn football into a top 20 contender and motivating many around him to excel and succeed along the way (while gently floating down the river of semi-retirement as it were).

 

[businesslawyer]

Maybe a bit of apples and oranges here. Mora has a track record as a head coach that Ollie never had.

It's a question worth asking and it's worth trying to get ahead with conversations on how much and how long of an extension. Also definitely need to find out what he wants in terms of facilities, coaching staff salaries, future opponents, etc. We know he wants a bigger walk-on squad for practices during the season.

I’m missing something. How many ‘ships has Mora won?

Having said that, talking about whether to extend Mora, or what to give the program to keep him here, after his start is perfectly reasonable. Just as extending KO after his first two years here was perfectly reasonable. People need to accept that sometimes perfectly reasonable decisions don’t work out.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm about the same age as Mora. He's at the stage I feel that quaility of life matters more than x amount of more money. The jobs that would pay him much more money would also have so many more strings attached that it probably wouldn't be worth it. Maybe what he wants to do is build a program and be an effective coach without having to deal with nonsense like pushy boosters. He has everything he needs to do that here.

 

[ZooCougar]

^^^ I can only speak for myself here as someone who's been in the highly competitive business world for 40+ years and nearing (I hope) the way less turbulent end of my career, but this is spot on.

And not to put too much amateur psychology into it but, what he said in his post game comments about Jackson Mitchell's play in the 4th quarter leaving a legacy at UConn may be where his head is at, too. Coach Mora does not want his coaching career to end with what what happened at UCLA.

I say he stays at UConn until he's proven the doubters wrong and he's done something truly extraordinary and legacy-worthy to end his career, like turning UConn football into a top 20 contender and motivating many around him to excel and succeed along the way (while gently floating down the river of semi-retirement as it were).

You do realize that if the right opportunity with the right money comes along that everything you just said flies right out the window. If your assumptions don’t come true then there is peril. We fail.

I don’t like that. I like being proactive, I like mitigating risk.

 

[ZooCougar]

I'm about the same age as Mora. He's at the stage I feel that quaility of life matters more than x amount of more money. The jobs that would pay him much more money would also have so many more strings attached that it probably wouldn't be worth it. Maybe what he wants to do is build a program and be an effective coach without having to deal with nonsense like pushy boosters. He has everything he needs to do that here.

At this moment in time, yes. A month from now when all these new head coaches in P5 conferences are building staffs and offering more money than we pay our assistants? Well I hope UConn is ready to fight.

 

[noeynox]

It’s so nice to have a coach that actually wants to win football games.

This. Mora talked about not approaching this like a rebuild on day 1. He talked about winning on day 1. He mentioned challenges and in particular the 3 game stretch starting with Syracuse. It was refreshing to not hear about 3 or 4 year rebuilding jobs. Everyone knows these things take time, the head coach doesn't need to remind people of the timeline every interview and he certainly doesn't need to make up BS about things like winning at breakfast.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Now you might say that this could be premature, but hear me out.

Mora’s performance is on the radar now. Last season of there were 130 FBS teams then we would be ranked 131st.

Jobs like ASU and CU are open. He’s a west coast guy.

Do we need to do something about securing him here? Just something to think about.

I think at age 59, HCJM is here to stay. Both Mora and his family really really like Dave Benedict.

 

[giddyup]

Mora wanted this job and went after it hard. I think he has a mission and desires to build a legacy more than build his bank account.

 

[gtcam]

Mora also seems to enjoy being around the excellence of the other teams on campus and interacting with the other great coaches. You can't get that at many other places.

Yeah he can rub shoulders with Geno and JC and that is great. But there are plenty of schools that have a few "great" coaches.
JM is much of what most has said here.
What I see in him is someone who has been around coaching at a high level his whole life. The pro ranks are super stressful as are the P5 positions. He has had his taste in both those situations and have felt the highs and lows. He has started a new life with a new wife, is independently wealthy and has children living on the east coast.
Here at UConn he comes into a situation where there is a history in football but had sunk into a deep black hole. He has the chance to do something that he has a passion for with very little pressure, no way to take it to a place worse than when he came in, receive all the highs and accolades when and if there is a turn around and still have his family near him. It's a win/win. If things don't work out he can walk out non the worse for wear.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I'm about the same age as Mora. He's at the stage I feel that quaility of life matters more than x amount of more money. The jobs that would pay him much more money would also have so many more strings attached that it probably wouldn't be worth it. Maybe what he wants to do is build a program and be an effective coach without having to deal with nonsense like pushy boosters. He has everything he needs to do that here.

Sell it to Hallmark Channel.

 

[UCPharma11]

Mora wanted this job and went after it hard. I think he has a mission and desires to build a legacy more than build his bank account.

Completely respect and agree with that opinion, but when a coach is exceeding his expectations and bringing a palpable exuberance back to the fan base we BETTER make sure we open up the pocket book and pay him accordingly. Nothing should be left up to doubt.