Probably doesn't want to deal with the state pension office.
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Tom Burman's Contract - Performance Incentives Removed in 2022
- Thread starter OrediggerPoke
- Start date
OrediggerPoke
Well-known member
My guess is June 30, 2027.
You are probably correct, but why?
It is not as if Burman has had such a successful career that he deserves to ride out his contract to the end in a show of respect for his past accomplishments.
Is it money? If $400-500k is enough to keep us from making a change that gives us a chance to actually compete, then it's time to admit that we just don't have the finances to compete at this level anymore.
WyomingCoog
Well-known member
Lot of ifs here....but IF that's the case and IF Jay is canned......The one thing I can almost be sure of is that Reeves will get his guy for the next HC. It will be 100% his decision and he'll be running point on the process.
OrediggerPoke
Well-known member
Personally, I don’t see Sawvel being canned until after the new AD is in place.
Reeves is not the AD and if he gets ‘his guy,’ then we’ve effectively eliminated a very large chunk of potential AD candidates.
OrediggerPoke
Well-known member
To let Burman announce his ‘retirement’ as opposed to a firing. The BoT has a lot of close relationships with Burman and they are very unlikely to agree with a firing after Burman has been in the position for 20 years.
Best case scenario that I see - Maybe an ‘early retirement’ effective Dec. 31, 2026 and the university pays out the remaining 6 months of the contract. That might satisfy all parties.
Agree here.
Reeves should absolutely take the lead on hiring the next AD, but then it is largely the AD's job to take over the coaching search.
There is nothing wrong with Reeves having input and being involved with the coaching search, but the new AD should be the one leading that search. If you don't trust the AD to make the right hire, then you didn't make the right hire for AD.
The more I see about his contract , the more I wonder who was ultimately in charge of negotiations. Honestly Wyoming did pretty well in 2022- Arizona bowl invite, NCAA invite for Men's BB and an NIT bid for Women's BB but those accomplishments did not justify doing away with any incentives. If any thing they should have re-enforced the concept that his salary would be based on continued performance.
One problem is if you are in the market for a new coach the time to hire is immediately after the season. If Burman is allowed to linger in the position, then Sawvel is likely not going away until the end of 2027.
OrediggerPoke
Well-known member
That’s what I’d like to know too.
Was is the BoT leading the effort? I am personally a bit doubtful that Seidel led the effort (although he signed the agreements).
WyomingCoog raises interesting questions regarding the role of the General Counsel Tara Evans. Was she the lawyer reviewing the contract or was she actually negotiating the substantive provisions in the separate role of ‘Vice President?’ My mind is still spinning how a single person could be the VP and the General Counsel in the University setting.
WyomingCoog
Well-known member
Agree, which makes the scenario I was using not very likely....but, if Jay is fired and not Tom, that would be the case. So the most likely may be that neither or both go. Doesn't make much sense to fire Jay, have Tom lead the new hire and then let him walk a few months later. If Jay goes, Tom stays and leads the hire, then Tom probably isn't leaving.
OrediggerPoke
Well-known member
I believe 2027 is most likely a lost season. The new AD could fire Sawvel during the 2027 season and start the HC search early to get a leg up on the competition seeking head coaches at end of 2027 season.
WyomingCoog
Well-known member
Yeah, my scenario was based on a soon Jay firing, needing a new coach in place by Dec and the possibility of Tom leaving in July. Timing on all of these dominos is tricky. Ore's idea of an early exit for Tom would be beneficial. My point was if Jay is gone and Reeves knows Tom is leaving in July....he's not going to let Tom do the hiring. All of which makes this much trickier than everyone on here and social media likes to make it sound when they say everyone should be fired immediately.
Mid/Late October seems to be the current timeline that schools use for firing head football coaches now....but with AD questions in the air, that timeline presents some problems.
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WyomingCoog
Well-known member
Reeves signed a four year contract.....I don't see him signing up for another season like this year. So a dumpster fire year (2026) and a lost season (2027) for 2 of his 4 years? I just don't see that happening.
Then he needs to get rid of Burman NOW and have a new AD in place by the time this football season ends. If Burman, Sawvel, or both are still in place into 2027, then you can consider next season lost as well.
LanderPoke
Well-known member
Most likely scenario
LanderPoke
Well-known member
This. There is literally zero downside to not firing Burman yeaterday
East Tennessee Cowboy
Well-known member
so punt this season AND next?
Indeed.
If we want to have any chance of being competitive next year, we need a new AD in place no later than the end of next month. Then you can let Sawvel go at the end of the season and look for a new coach.
First step…fire Tom Burman!
OrediggerPoke
Well-known member
I believe that is the likely scenario. Do I like it? Hell no.
But a worse outcome would be firing Sawvel and paying him his $2.5 million+ departing gift and having this current athletic department leadership in charge of hiring the next coach and setting us back another 5-8 years.
