Update, December 4: ESPN reports the deal is finally done.
Florida’s public Jim McElwain negotiations could pressure CSU to cave on $7.5M buyout
How will the Colorado State coach be able to recruit effectively if he stays in Fort Collins, with players fully aware he tried to leave?
Florida is clearly recruiting Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain for its vacant head coaching position. Athletic director Jeremy Foley’s flight was tracked to Colorado, and he was photographed meeting in McElwain’s home.
“We’ve had very productive conversations with Coach McElwain and his wife Karen and those continue,” Florida’s official account tweeted Wednesday.
But those talks seem to have hit a snag, according to reports. The issue? A $7.5 million contract buyout, which Florida appears likely to have to pay CSU in order to hire McElwain.
“At this point, any potential deal is on hold until there’s some sort of resolution with the buyout issue,” a source told ESPN’s Brett McMurphy.
But could Florida's very public courtship of McElwain actually assist the Gators in their effort to get the buyout number reduced? Perhaps.
Colorado State’s players have seen the reports that Florida would have taken their coach but for the buyout. Given that, if he stays, how hard would they play for a coach whom they believe wants to be somewhere else?
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Perhaps more importantly for Colorado State’s long-term future, how will recruits have confidence that McElwain is going to remain as the Rams’ head coach? Even if Florida does not take McElwain, opposing recruiters will be quick to suggest that McElwain is not long for Colorado State and that another big school will pay the amount in the future.
The tactic would be similar to the one used by rival recruiters when they point out that a coach has not received a contract extension and that his contract runs for fewer than four years. They’ll make recruits wonder whether McElwain will be there for the duration of their potential careers.
If Colorado State’s administration senses this, could it lead to a reduction of the buyout in an effort to make the best of an untenable situation? If so, perhaps there is some strategy for Florida’s courtship of McElwain being played out in such a public fashion.
