Our Defensive Coordinator situation...?

[formerlurker]

The BCU guy who writes for the New London paper states that Spanos may be pondering legal action against UConn.

I can’t find the article but there was something on The Athletic the other day that said Edsall said he only left campus for the Summer months and it also mentioned Spanos was suing UConn.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

The BCU guy who writes for the New London paper states that Spanos may be pondering legal action against UConn.

Legal action because UConn was 2-22 under Edsal and Spanos for two years? Spanos was always pondering things, even when calling plays.

 

[AD DB Burner]

The BCU guy who writes for the New London paper states that Spanos may be pondering legal action against UConn.

For what? Paid leave?

 

[huskymedic]

This was the unattributed comment in The Day:

“The Athletic also alluded to the departure of former defensive coordinator Lou Spanos, who took over as interim coach after Edsall stepped down — and then left the program for what was described as personal reasons two weeks before the season opener.

“We haven’t seen him since the day he left,” Mora told The Athletic. “He’s just in the rearview mirror.”

Except that several sources say Spanos is pondering a lawsuit against UConn and the football program, which may cost the university, already awash in the athletic department’s financial woes, more money in payouts. Stay tuned on that one.”

 

[Dove]

Any word on what we're doing here other than the previous rumors closer to around the time Spanos took a leave of absence. I know there was speculation here and there, but nothing concrete... Any updates???

20 minutes

 

[uconnfan68]

This was the unattributed comment in The Day:

“The Athletic also alluded to the departure of former defensive coordinator Lou Spanos, who took over as interim coach after Edsall stepped down — and then left the program for what was described as personal reasons two weeks before the season opener.

“We haven’t seen him since the day he left,” Mora told The Athletic. “He’s just in the rearview mirror.”

Except that several sources say Spanos is pondering a lawsuit against UConn and the football program, which may cost the university, already awash in the athletic department’s financial woes, more money in payouts. Stay tuned on that one.”

He's still digesting their loss to us.

 

[huskymedic]

He's still digesting their loss to us.

Attention seeking behavior…

 

[CONN78SEJ]

This was the unattributed comment in The Day:

“The Athletic also alluded to the departure of former defensive coordinator Lou Spanos, who took over as interim coach after Edsall stepped down — and then left the program for what was described as personal reasons two weeks before the season opener.

“We haven’t seen him since the day he left,” Mora told The Athletic. “He’s just in the rearview mirror.”

Except that several sources say Spanos is pondering a lawsuit against UConn and the football program, which may cost the university, already awash in the athletic department’s financial woes, more money in payouts. Stay tuned on that one.”

That’s crazy. Mora could get him a job in the NFL if he wants it, then everyone is happy.

 

[Palatine]

After the Ollie decision where the university lost even though there was proof Ollie broke NCAA rules, everyone should sue UConn. Our lawyers obviously stink.

 

[Buffett10]

Lou is a trash coach who should’ve been shown the door when Edsall got fired

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

So Dimauro can't find out why our QB situation was what it was (When was Millen surgery, is Millen expected to be fully healthy?, what about tyler P?).....but he is all over Mora's comments on Edsall and rumor of a Spanos lawsuit.

Hard not to think his priorities aren't to trash the program.

 

[Alum1620]

So Dimauro can't find out why our QB situation was what it was (When was Millen surgery, is Millen expected to be fully healthy?, what about tyler P?).....but he is all over Mora's comments on Edsall and rumor of a Spanos lawsuit.

Hard not to think his priorities aren't to trash the program.

Well he has straight up stated basically it is and the calls himself BCgenius on twitter while he takes shots at the school and calls people who went to UConn idiots. He has attacked Mora multiple times and seems to defend Edsall even when there is no reason to

 

[Scrutineer]

Well he has straight up stated basically it is and the calls himself BCgenius on twitter while he takes shots at the school and calls people who went to UConn idiots. He has attacked Mora multiple times and seems to defend Edsall even when there is no reason to

Sounds like "journalism" as it appears to be taught today.
Put some spin on an issue but try to disguise it as a valid story.

Imagine how it must feel to be a BCU fan working in CT and understand it's his way of coping.

 

[CL82]

Oh great. Ollie part 2.

Didn’t Spanos get paid through the end of his contract?

 

[UConnJim]

Didn’t Spanos get paid through the end of his contract?

Yes

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Yes

So what could a lawsuit be about? Defamation? Blocking his ability to run a passive defense?

 

[huskymedic]

Didn’t Spanos get paid through the end of his contract?

Yes

So what could a lawsuit be about?

Unless modified, his contract has another year on it. I imagine there is some posturing underway.

From the LOA announcement:

“Spanos’ two-year contract, which runs through Dec. 15, 2023, was fully executed in April. His salary for 2022 is $327,608, with a bump to $335,000 in 2023. Spanos continues to be paid, UConn said.”

 

[Bongo Fury]

Sounds like unless they pay him off, Mora is the DC next year? I’m okay with that.

 

[CL82]

Sounds like unless they pay him off, Mora is the DC next year? I’m okay with that.

Well, he didn’t do anything this year due to an unspecified illness. How do we know that he is fully recovered?

 

[NowInStorrs]

Must be nice to just not show up to work for almost two years and still get paid as if you had

 

[DW1361]

So it has been confirmed then that the DC Coordinator position is not vacant. All I see here is that Mora is being tight lipped on this and nothing should be read in to that. He simply cannot comment. In the meantime, if Spanos is not expected to return in the foreseeable future then one of our young promising coaches should be made acting Defensive Coordinator while also retaining his duties as a positional coach. This is not uncommon in governmental work.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

After the Ollie decision where the university lost even though there was proof Ollie broke NCAA rules, everyone should sue UConn. Our lawyers obviously stink.

I believe that the problem is that the coaches at UConn are included in the professors Union at UConn for some reason (I don't think that is the case at any other University I am aware of). So there are very strict rules and arbitration standards in the Union contracts that are relevant for professors and university professionals, but are also applied to the coaches contracts that make them huge problems in the Athletic Department. That is how Ollie got his money despite his NCAA infractions, and why we get stuck having to pay all of our fired coaches forever and are responsible for even more costs on top of the contract itself.

The terms of the Union agreements with the State should not be applied to athletic coaches, but for some reason at UConn they are. They need to change it somehow, but I am sure the Union will not allow it. It is an albatross for the Athletic Department--and honestly, not sure the Athletic Department wants to fight it--as I believe all of their contracts are handled the same way--so they would be harming their own personal self interests. But from a State and fan perspective, it is not great.

In fact, I believe since the coaches contracts are part of the Union deal, I believe the coaches are considered State Employees and are earning against the State Pension as well. So coaches who are here long enough are not only getting their contract terms, but also building a State Pension that we have to pay out to them in retirement. I am not 100% sure, but I believe I have heard that as well.

 

[Rich]

So it has been confirmed then that the DC Coordinator position is not vacant. All I see here is that Mora is being tight lipped on this and nothing should be read in to that. He simply cannot comment. In the meantime, if Spanos is not expected to return in the foreseeable future then one of our young promising coaches should be made acting Defensive Coordinator while also retaining his duties as a positional coach. This is not uncommon in governmental work.

Mora told him to stay away from the team, though he can still collect his paycheck is my understanding. Like a cop being put on ‘light duty’ (office work) while allegations of improprieties are being investigated, but here it’s purely personality conflict, along with control.

Mora decided he couldn’t work with Spanos but Spanos was under contract so you get this limbo stuff. UCONN ain’t the private sector where ‘at will’ controls.

 

[businesslawyer]

Why are we bending ourselves into pretzels to ignore the obvious responsibility for this? Jim Mora had a great first year here, but he is the one who blew this. Not the school, not the school's lawyers, and not anyone else. He had a prior relationship with Spanos, first choice or not he brought Spanos in to be his DC and was fine with the school giving him a two year contract up front, and then he's the one who decided he had to go before the season even started. Mora still had a great first year, but the inability of some of you to accept the obvious as to responsibility for this is bizarre. Coaches are allowed to be doing great jobs and still be called out for mistakes that are theirs.

 

[Exit 4]

Mora told him to stay away from the team, though he can still collect his paycheck is my understanding. Like a cop being put on ‘light duty’ (office work) while allegations of improprieties are being investigated, but here it’s purely personality conflict, along with control.

Mora decided he couldn’t work with Spanos but Spanos was under contract so you get this limbo stuff. UCONN ain’t the private sector where ‘at will’ controls.

Conclusion....there shall be no more 2+ year contracts at UConn in the athletics department.... of course, there will be some exceptions perhaps over in basketball, but I see no reason in football and other sports.

 

[huskymedic]

Conclusion....there shall be no more 2+ year contracts at UConn in the athletics department.... of course, there will be some exceptions perhaps over in basketball, but I see no reason in football and other sports.

Why hamstring recruiting qualified Coordinator candidates w/ a year to year contract mandate?

It’s a cost of during business.

 

[businesslawyer]

LOL. Come on. You think you're in a better position to determine when we have to give multi-year contracts to get someone we want, and when that person is worth having as opposed to the best person you could get who would come on a one year contract, than the Athletic Director and head coach do?

 

[uconndogs]

Why are we bending ourselves into pretzels to ignore the obvious responsibility for this? Jim Mora had a great first year here, but he is the one who blew this. Not the school, not the school's lawyers, and not anyone else. He had a prior relationship with Spanos, first choice or not he brought Spanos in to be his DC and was fine with the school giving him a two year contract up front, and then he's the one who decided he had to go before the season even started. Mora still had a great first year, but the inability of some of you to accept the obvious as to responsibility for this is bizarre. Coaches are allowed to be doing great jobs and still be called out for mistakes that are theirs.

This is exactly right. And from all appearances Mora owned up to the solution and took over the defense which had an excellent year. But, biz is right, as a manager and leader you own your hires.

 

[Exit 4]

Why hamstring recruiting qualified Coordinator candidates w/ a year to year contract mandate?

It’s a cost of during business.

Most of these coaches are in places for 1-3 years. Didn't think we gave out many multi year contracts as it is. For every one of them their value goes up in a good year (and they ask for more money, always) and flat in a down year (no one asks for a reduction), making the extra years always meaningless.

As for cost of doing business, doesnt seem to be the case for the vast majority of FBS programs....having to pay out multi years on non head coaching positions when released.

 

[Exit 4]

LOL. Come on. You think you're in a better position to determine when we have to give multi-year contracts to get someone we want, and when that person is worth having as opposed to the best person you could get who would come on a one year contract, than the Athletic Director and head coach do?

LOL - who said that? Not me. I never said I was in any position to make any such judgement. I merely presented what might happen going forward...fewer multi year contracts.

If every member of the football staff can contest every firing thanks to the state's wonderful labor laws, then I'm inclined to pay a bit more for single year contracts to avoid multi year contracts which suddenly have become guaranteed contracts for everyone.

Of course, markets will end up doing what they do.