State Ethics Office Rules Corey Edsall Can Coach Only This Year At UConn; Ethics Laws Broken

[Exit 4]

Perhaps we should ask for an audit of all summer internships in our state government. Think we'd find anyone familial ties to current politicians?? If so, why are those legal and this isn't?

You would net hundreds of family hires across this state....hundreds. Albeit, I don't think there would be too many where the hire is a direct employee, but as far as getting a family member a position in the government in "the next department over" - there is plenty of that. Government buildings are loaded with cousins/family members/etc and that is not by coincidence.

 

[UConnDan97]

Unreal. Absolutely unreal.

We finally have a solid Twitter presence. We finally have a solid West Coast recruiting presence. Both, in my opinion, happen to be brought to us by Corey Edsall. Idiots. The whole lot of them. Idiots.

Well, we have 1 year to figure out how to pass legislation that allows for an exemption for sports teams, which is exactly where an exemption should exist IMO. They are essentially saying that Luke Walton could coach a CT basketball team but could not have Bill Walton coach the bigs. Or that Rex Ryan and Rob Ryan couldn't be on staff together. Or Peyton Manning couldn't bring in Eli to be the quarterbacks coach. Or a host of other examples of high level professional folks that couldn't come here because we are stupid...

 

[HartfordHank]

We all know nepotism never happens with state employees right? joke.

In Massachusetts you never see a State Official's child working for the State Official. He has his good friend in a different department employ his family members. The guy who hired the First Official's family has his family working for the First Official in his department. No nepotism there!

 

[huskymedic]

Here is the actual agenda, advisory opinion and the draft recommendation for the July 20th Mtg.

http://www.ct.gov/ethics/lib/ethics/ceab_agendas/2017/ceab_agenda_july_2017.pdf

http://www.ct.gov/ethics/lib/ethics/advisory_opinions/2017/draft_advisory_opinion_no._2017-2.pdf (pages 22-24 a fun read)

>>More than just showing that sons who serve as assistant coaches for their fathers have a habit of scaling the coaching ladder, that list also shows that the father-son coaching scheme at issue here isn’t uncommon in the world of college football. As to how it is justified, Mike Price, the former head coach of the University of Alabama, whose sons served as his assistants, stated: “‘That’s a good question; how can I answer around this?’ . . . . ‘Most of the time, the head football coach gets to make his staff selections without consulting anyone. It’s like the captain gets to pick his crew.” Or as put by Bobby Bowden, former head coach of Florida State University, whose son served as his assistant: “‘A lot of guys go into the family business’ . . . . But I’m in a profession where you can’t—unless you get special permission. So I got special permission. I imagine all of these guys did, if they were at a state university.”<<

http://www.ct.gov/ethics/lib/ethics/advisory_opinions/2017/draft_recommended_order_ao2017-2.pdf

 

[JMick]

What a F'ng embarrassment. Everyone who made this decision needs to be fired.

 

[CTMike]

What a F'ng embarrassment. Everyone who made this decision needs to be fired.

I agree with the sentiment, but the ire probably should be at how the ethics rules were written, not the people who were evaluating if this was against the rules.

 

[mikedog10]

The state is tripping over itself in order to shoot it's own foot... this story is nauseating. Can someone please tell me that we will get this straightened out and not embarrass ourselves here?

 

[huskymedic]

Can someone please tell me that we will get this straightened out and not embarrass ourselves here?

Not without a Legislative change/remedy before end of December it appears. @CTMike is correct - it's pretty clear the way it's is currently written (We don't have the statutory authority to grant such "special permission" in this instance). UConn tried an end around that got stuffed after a short gain.

 

[huskymedic]

>>Taking a quick look at the USA Today database of assistant coaches salaries from 2016, that $95,000 salary would rank Corey right around the 800th out of the 963 coaches they have salary information on. Corey’s compensation and experience would be right in line with other coaches in that pay range.<<

>>I think we can all understand, and (at least in a sense) appreciate why the law was formed in the first place, which was to prevent a person holding a state job from giving someone of their relation a job that they’re not qualified for, but this isn’t that. While there may have been better candidates on paper as far as experience, Corey wasn’t just handed the job fresh out of college. As many coaches do, he worked as an intern and graduate assistant before eventually getting an chance to work with his father – an opportunity that they likely both dreamed of for years. In this instance, to say that you can’t hire someone because he’s your own blood is, in my opinion, incredibly short-sighted, and is clearly not in the spirit of why the law was put into action in the first place.<<

 

[Chin Diesel]

Two questions.

This does say it's a draft opinion, correct?

Second, what is the enforcement mechanism is UConn just disregrards it?

 

[Uconngal]

While I understand the need for anti-nepotism laws I struggle with this ruling. Those laws are intended to protect us from relatives without skills being given jobs that they aren't qualified for. In this case Corey is qualified for the position having coached elsewhere and this is pretty commonplace in coaching circles. Sometimes I think there are some who just don't want this program to succeed. Frustrating.

 

[huskyinfl]

I agree with @2Infinity audit the state! All these small towns and fire / police do this stuff.

Good football will bring revenue to the state.

Randy should ask for a 150k raise and have Corey volunteer.

 

[huskeynut]

State Ethics board is worried about nepotism! The state government is full of problems and they have this as their priority? Why didn't they start with Malloy and company.

So glad we moved out of CT. The state is an embarrassment.

 

[huskymedic]

UConn Statement from UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz.

"Randy Edsall was not a state employee when his contract was being negotiated or when he received his offer letter. He did not become a state employee until he performed work for which he was entitled to be paid. The offer letter makes clear that date was Jan. 3, 2017.

"Individuals hired by the state do not become state employees when they accept an offer of employment; they become state employees when they actually begin their jobs at the state. For example, if someone accepts an offer of state employment, but will not start their state job for six weeks, the code of ethics does not apply to them during that six-week period. It applies when they begin working for the state. This is a well-established precedent in Connecticut which has been understood and applied in cases for decades.

"In fact, the Office of State Ethics confirmed for UConn before Randy Edsall was offered employment that the Code of Ethics does not prohibit a candidate from negotiating employment for a family member as a condition of their own employment.

"In this instance, the advisory board is attempting to hold Coach Edsall and the university to a different standard than others are held to, which defies longstanding Connecticut precedent. An irrelevant case from Michigan is cited in the board’s opinion, rather than Connecticut law.

"The code of ethics does not forbid family members working in the same state departments, offices, or units as a family member who is a state employee. What the code of ethics forbids is a state employee using their employment for the financial benefit of a family member. In this case, employment and financial decisions regarding Corey Edsall – and Corey Edsall’s supervisor – are in the hands of the Athletic Director, not Coach Edsall. By establishing this management plan, the university is in compliance with the code of ethics.

"UConn respectfully disagrees with the board’s opinion, which seeks to apply a different standard in this case than has been applied in other cases in Connecticut for nearly 30 years."

 

[Chin Diesel]

UConn Statement from UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz.

"Randy Edsall was not a state employee when his contract was being negotiated or when he received his offer letter. He did not become a state employee until he performed work for which he was entitled to be paid. The offer letter makes clear that date was Jan. 3, 2017.

"Individuals hired by the state do not become state employees when they accept an offer of employment; they become state employees when they actually begin their jobs at the state. For example, if someone accepts an offer of state employment, but will not start their state job for six weeks, the code of ethics does not apply to them during that six-week period. It applies when they begin working for the state. This is a well-established precedent in Connecticut which has been understood and applied in cases for decades.

"In fact, the Office of State Ethics confirmed for UConn before Randy Edsall was offered employment that the Code of Ethics does not prohibit a candidate from negotiating employment for a family member as a condition of their own employment.

"In this instance, the advisory board is attempting to hold Coach Edsall and the university to a different standard than others are held to, which defies longstanding Connecticut precedent. An irrelevant case from Michigan is cited in the board’s opinion, rather than Connecticut law.

"The code of ethics does not forbid family members working in the same state departments, offices, or units as a family member who is a state employee. What the code of ethics forbids is a state employee using their employment for the financial benefit of a family member. In this case, employment and financial decisions regarding Corey Edsall – and Corey Edsall’s supervisor – are in the hands of the Athletic Director, not Coach Edsall. By establishing this management plan, the university is in compliance with the code of ethics.

"UConn respectfully disagrees with the board’s opinion, which seeks to apply a different standard in this case than has been applied in other cases in Connecticut for nearly 30 years."

Love the comment about using Michigan law/code and applying it to Ct as if it has standing. I saw that in the draft opinion.

Safe to assume the case #, 2017-2 means it's the second case of 2017. Curious as to how much these people make and what their budget is for the year?

 

[huskymedic]

Safe to assume the case #, 2017-2 means it's the second case of 2017. Curious as to how much these people make and what their budget is for the year?

The complaint was filed in beginning of year (?January ?) so I'm not sure what the case numbers are up to now... There were only 3 AO in 2016 but that is only part of what they do.

 

[Skiblets]

Uconn's response is right on the nuts. Is there an appeal mechanism? So glad I moved out of CT for good. Small time thinking permeates the government there

 

[SubbaBub]

This is dumb. Coaches are under individual contracts with the University. Each is signed off on by people who are not coaches. The two contracts are independent of each other and each is executed by people well about Randy's pay grade. Randy can recommend all day and he may even have in his contract the power to hire/fire coaches, but that language is easily amended.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

When you think about all the time and money that are going to be spent on this case it very well could exceed the $95k that Edsall's son is going to make yearly as part of this contract with UConn.

Just a great use of resources. Not like anybody out there who's struggling could use the money. Better served debating whether a guy's kid can coach tight ends at the state U.

 

[NavinRJohnson]

I hope this isn't "Jesus in the Huddle" all over again.
I thought that was stupid.

 

[Exit 4]

When you think about all the time and money that are going to be spent on this case it very well could exceed the $95k that Edsall's son is going to make yearly as part of this contract with UConn.

Just a great use of resources. Not like anybody out there who's struggling could use the money. Better served debating whether a guy's kid can coach tight ends at the state U.

Given the university's plan to appeal/challenge - yes the collective cost of this ethics panel exercise is certainly on track spend more than his salary.

 

[Skiblets]

This should only help recruiting. We can't have nice things

 

[HartfordHank]

When you think about all the time and money that are going to be spent on this case it very well could exceed the $95k that Edsall's son is going to make yearly as part of this contract with UConn.

Hey, hey, hey, why are you opposed to a gaggle of lawyers making a few dollars off the backs of the taxpayers. Do you have something against good honest lawyers making a living?

 

[gioff23]

P6

 

[Stinger92860]

Corey on staff is an ethics issue and in Bridgeport the current mayor spent 7 years in jail on a felony charge.