In what is becoming common fashion in the world of college basketball, UWM head coach Bruce Pearl, fresh off leading his team to a Sweet Sixteen appearance, has used the mid-major as a catapult and has accepted the head position at the University of Tennessee.??
In a decision heavily motivated by an increase in money, Pearl, who received the Horizon League Coach of the Year honors three of his four years on the job, is leaving the program he brought into the national spotlight.
The pay increase unfolds like this: Pearl's base salary at UWM last season was $275,000, not including other incentives. His new five-year offer is worth $800,000 per year, and with outside appearances, Pearl looks to make just over $1 million dollars a season.
UWM is a team on the rise and returns four starters from last year's group that won the Horizon Conference Title. They also finished the year with a 26-6 record and qualified for their second NCAA tournament appearance in three seasons. Additionally, Pearl's son is entering his senior year at Nicolet High School and will presumably have to leave his school and friends for the move to take place.
However, the southern hospitality Pearl expects to find in Tennessee may also provide some much-needed shelter for a man who is still feeling the effects of a decision he made almost 20 years ago.
Pearl taped a conversation with highly touted recruit Deon Thomas, who eventually signed with Illinois. Though the school was exonerated of the charges, the NCAA found it guilty for a lack of institutional control and placed Illinois on three years probation.
The issue resurfaced again about a week ago as when UWM met the Illini in the NCAA Tournament. Pearl once again had to address the situation, and was scrutinized heavily by the national media.
Regardless of those issues, just how appealing is the job Pearl is set to take over'The chance to rebuild a struggling Division I major is appealing, but the head coaching position of the Volunteers has been in turmoil for years. Former Marquette head coach Kevin O'Neil didn't last long after he bolted from Milwaukee in search of greener pastures, and Pearl will become their sixth coach in the last 16 seasons.
Secondly, basketball programs oftentimes have to take a back seat to football at major universities, but Pearl and his group would fail to be even the hottest basketball ticket on campus.
Women's head coach Pat Summit is a living legend, a pioneer in the world of coaching and has built one of the elite programs in college sports. And once again, her name surfaced as a potential candidate when the men's position became vacant.
The topic of a women's dynasty provoked my life-long dream of?? becoming a practice player with the Lady Vols. I would even be inclined to do it for free, just to watch those girls perform and be involved in something so rewarding on their campus.
But in response to a recent invitation to fulfill a similar position here, I humbly decline. The complimentary pair of Adidas shoes and lesson in self-improvement is better suited for someone else with time to burn.
For now, I can only dream of becoming one of the \few good men"" in Tennessee.
Feel free to contact Jonny Mac at jrmcnamara@wisc.edu
