Florida Atlantic announced this week that Mike Jarvis will be their new basketball coach. This is the same Mike Jarvis whose St. John’s program deteriorated to the bottom of the Big East. The same Coach Jarvis whose program was put on NCAA probation for paying players. The same Coach Jarvis whose George Washington program detriorated in his last copuple of years to the bottom of the Atlantic 10.
Not that I don’t believe in second chances, but give me a break. Once again college administrators have proven that if you have a successful record on the court (Jarvis did have good seasons early in his tenure at both schools) then what happens off the court doesn’t matter. After a two-year stint working with Athletes in Action (Christian organization), his image has been rehabilitated. But come on! Isn’t it time that college presidents walk the walk?
Until these college presidents stop hiring coaches who have broken serious NCAA rules, the whole system will remain a sham. Remember the president of Georgia when he hired Jim Harrick after his rules violations at UCLA? He extolled how Harrick had learned his lessons. Obviously, he didn’t learn them well enough because he was part of the biggest scandal in Georgia basketball history.
Now I am not saying that Jarvis has not learned his lessons or doesn’t deserve another chance, but there are too many coaches out there with proven integrity who should be given the same chance. However, there is one thing that Jarvis has proven and that is he can win games. And that is all that matters to most college administrators!
Crazy Coaching Move, Part 2: Kansas State announced today that they have signed Associate Head coach Dalonte Hill to a five-year contract worth $420,000 per year. Are you kidding me? That’s more money than what 90% of the head coaches make in Division I. And for what? He delivered Michael Beasley. The one-year wonder who helped Kansas State make the NCAA tournament, where they won a single game.
His salary is more than the the combined salary of the entire assistant staff at Kansas. And they won a National Championship. And they have reloaded with NBA talent. Meanwhile, K-State is left without a single potential NBA player on their roster or incoming recruit with any buzz of a NBA future. Couple that with an irresponsible DUI charge during the season and it makes you wonder what the new Athletic Director at K-State was thinking. That type of money should be left for proven coaches who are the whole package. For a great cost comparison check out the article by Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star.
