BleedGopher
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Source says Gophers men's basketball coach Tubby Smith offered Oregon job for $2 million a season
Ducks reportedly contacted Minnesota coach last week about deal worth more than $2 million a year
By Marcus R. Fuller
University of Minnesota men's basketball coach Tubby Smith has been offered the University of Oregon job, but hasn't accepted it, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Pioneer Press on Sunday.
The offer is believed to be in excess of $2 million annually. Smith, who led the Gophers to a 21-14 record and a second straight NCAA tournament appearance in his third season this year, currently earns a salary of $1.8 million a year.
Oregon representatives contacted Smith directly last week about the job, a person close to Smith said Friday. But Eugene, Ore., television station KEZI-TV reported Sunday that Smith wasn't a candidate and that the university hadn't spoken to him.
The Oregonian newspaper reported that former Oregon athletics director Pat Kilkenny, who is heading the search to replace former Ducks coach Ernie Kent, was in New York on Sunday, possibly meeting with Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon.
Smith was out of town recruiting for the Gophers over the weekend. On Saturday, he watched Lew Wallace High School (Gary, Ind.) junior forward Branden Wallace score 22 points and grab 11 rebounds in a 65-62 overtime loss in the Indiana Class AAA state title game at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
After Minnesota's 65-54 loss to Xavier in the first round of the NCAA tournament on March 19 in Milwaukee, Smith said he was not a candidate for another job despite rumors of his name being linked to positions at Auburn and Oregon at the time.
"I'm very pleased with what we've accomplished here. I'm pleased with where we are in the program," Smith said. "I'm looking forward to coming back to Minnesota."
Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi met with Smith last week about the university's commitment to the basketball program. Maturi, who could not be reached for comment Sunday night, said they didn't talk about the rumors or whether Smith was staying or leaving.
Maturi said he was open to giving Smith a raise to show appreciation for the program's success the past three seasons. But Maturi said he likely wasn't going to try to match offers from other schools.
"He and I don't discuss that, because it's done between lawyers," Maturi said Friday. "Certainly, I'm not going to discuss in the press what we have or have not done. I think Tubby knows that we're committed to him in a very significant manner."
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_14777082
Go Gophers!!
Ducks reportedly contacted Minnesota coach last week about deal worth more than $2 million a year
By Marcus R. Fuller
University of Minnesota men's basketball coach Tubby Smith has been offered the University of Oregon job, but hasn't accepted it, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Pioneer Press on Sunday.
The offer is believed to be in excess of $2 million annually. Smith, who led the Gophers to a 21-14 record and a second straight NCAA tournament appearance in his third season this year, currently earns a salary of $1.8 million a year.
Oregon representatives contacted Smith directly last week about the job, a person close to Smith said Friday. But Eugene, Ore., television station KEZI-TV reported Sunday that Smith wasn't a candidate and that the university hadn't spoken to him.
The Oregonian newspaper reported that former Oregon athletics director Pat Kilkenny, who is heading the search to replace former Ducks coach Ernie Kent, was in New York on Sunday, possibly meeting with Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon.
Smith was out of town recruiting for the Gophers over the weekend. On Saturday, he watched Lew Wallace High School (Gary, Ind.) junior forward Branden Wallace score 22 points and grab 11 rebounds in a 65-62 overtime loss in the Indiana Class AAA state title game at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
After Minnesota's 65-54 loss to Xavier in the first round of the NCAA tournament on March 19 in Milwaukee, Smith said he was not a candidate for another job despite rumors of his name being linked to positions at Auburn and Oregon at the time.
"I'm very pleased with what we've accomplished here. I'm pleased with where we are in the program," Smith said. "I'm looking forward to coming back to Minnesota."
Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi met with Smith last week about the university's commitment to the basketball program. Maturi, who could not be reached for comment Sunday night, said they didn't talk about the rumors or whether Smith was staying or leaving.
Maturi said he was open to giving Smith a raise to show appreciation for the program's success the past three seasons. But Maturi said he likely wasn't going to try to match offers from other schools.
"He and I don't discuss that, because it's done between lawyers," Maturi said Friday. "Certainly, I'm not going to discuss in the press what we have or have not done. I think Tubby knows that we're committed to him in a very significant manner."
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_14777082
Go Gophers!!
Let it be clear, if Tubby leaves, Maturi didn't know until it was too late and there's nothing he could have done about it. 