Reviewing DePaul

[DudeAnon]

DePaul should be booted from the league. They are a complete joke run by complete morons. DePaul fans, I feel for you, but I no longer want you in the Big East. I am not the only one. Trust me. Joke.

I am actually with you. It would set a dangerous precedent, but at this point DePaul has shown they are the only school that really does not give a shit about winning.

[Demon22]

I would suggest that there's a reason why this has been the slowest coaching carousel in recent memory.

Furthermore, the most important part of any contract extension isn't how long, it's the amount of the buyout.

If DePaul is about to start a search for a new AD - and I think they are - they're going to get much better candidates if they've got a men's basketball coach on a non-guaranteed contract than if they've already committed to someone new for the next five years.

[adoraz]

There are two very possible scenarios:
1. DePaul has a good season next year (makes the NCAAT) and the recruits stay on. All is forgiven.
2. DePaul has a bad season next year and the recruits leave. DISASTROUS contract.

Currently their 2021 class is ranked #4. Obviously won't be ranked that high once more recruits commit to other schools, but great if they can hold who they have.

Side note: odd they didn't offer Rick Pitino.

[adoraz]

I would suggest that there's a reason why this has been the slowest coaching carousel in recent memory.

Furthermore, the most important part of any contract extension isn't how long, it's the amount of the buyout.

If DePaul is about to start a search for a new AD - and I think they are - they're going to get much better candidates if they've got a men's basketball coach on a non-guaranteed contract than if they've already committed to someone new for the next five years.

Are you aware of the buyout number, though? A lot of us St. John's fans expected Mullin to forgo the final year of his contract, but he fought for it despite not coaching (year 5). That was just for one year, not the 3-4 that DePaul could be looking at if things don't go well.

[Demon22]

No, it's not surprising that a school that's currently on probation didn't hire the most notorious cheater in college basketball.

Are you aware of the buyout number, though? A lot of us St. John's fans expected Mullin to forgo the final year of his contract, but he fought for it despite not coaching (year 5). That was just for one year, not the 3-4 that DePaul could be looking at if things don't go well.

This was the last year of Leitao's contract - it was due to expire at some point in the next week or two.

He had no leverage. No other school was going to hire him at this point. My educated guess is that he's got one guaranteed year and no buyout. DePaul essentially gave him one more "prove it" year.

[GoldenWarrior11]

DePaul got hit hard yesterday on social media regarding the extension. Like Demon said, the details behind the scenes are what really matter. The extension covers the number of years that incoming recruits will have through their senior year; it gives security/affirmation in recruiting. The buyout *should*, in theory, be much lower because Leitao was not leaving DePaul for any high major/major job, nor was he moving for any other job since the openings are scarce. As long as the buyout is little-to-nothing, both sides still win.

HOWEVER

As been hammered home here and elsewhere for years, the root of the problem lies in the athletic department. Some are expressing optimism that once JLP is gone, everything will be fine and men's basketball can finally take the next step. Rumors are swirling that JLP will even be leaving by this summer. However, if anyone (including DePaul fans) believe she will be fully removed from the program are kidding themselves. JLP has been a part of DePaul for 45 years (only 19 as AD). She is firmly entrenched within the school far beyond athletics (not unlike JT from Georgetown, except - you know - he was an elite name in men's basketball). There is no way DePaul's next AD comes from outside the school (it will be an internal candidate, likely still from within her inner circle). She might not be AD-in-name much longer, but she will still have significant influence over the AD. Her friends/relatives/family members will still likely be retained within the AD. Is that change? Hardly.

The basketball revenues released by Equity in Athletics paint a very revealing picture about the state of DePaul Athletics. Men's Basketball expenses/revenues do not eclipse $7 million annually (dead last in the Big East); Women's Sports expenses/revenues are nearing $9 million annually (top-half of the BE). That is what roots and fuels so much of the internal success of DePaul Athletics.

For a league founded and branded on elite-level men's basketball, the continuing refusal to allow someone to come-in and "fix" the men's basketball program is stubbornly astonishing. Wainwright, Purnell and Leitao, again, have all failed. I struggle to come up with an AD that has failed three hires of an athletic department's top revenue sport and not even be on the hot seat. All it does is reveal the priorities of the said institution I suppose.

I want DePaul to succeed. I want them to be a contender for the tournament. I think fans just care more than the school does, unfortunately.

[adoraz]

No, it's not surprising that a school that's currently on probation didn't hire the most notorious cheater in college basketball.

Are you aware of the buyout number, though? A lot of us St. John's fans expected Mullin to forgo the final year of his contract, but he fought for it despite not coaching (year 5). That was just for one year, not the 3-4 that DePaul could be looking at if things don't go well.

This was the last year of Leitao's contract - it was due to expire at some point in the next week or two.

He had no leverage. No other school was going to hire him at this point. My educated guess is that he's got one guaranteed year and no buyout. DePaul essentially gave him one more "prove it" year.

Forgot about the probation, but extending the coach who led to that probation isn't great either. If anything, DePaul had an easy way out. Few colleges would extend a mediocre coach on probation.

If DePaul can easily get out of this a year from now then great, but from what I've seen generally that sentiment is from optimistic fans. Hopefully it's the case and if so then I'd expect some leaks given the unusual nature of the contract.

[OmahaGuy]

DePaul got hit hard yesterday on social media regarding the extension. Like Demon said, the details behind the scenes are what really matter. The extension covers the number of years that incoming recruits will have through their senior year; it gives security/affirmation in recruiting. The buyout *should*, in theory, be much lower because Leitao was not leaving DePaul for any high major/major job, nor was he moving for any other job since the openings are scarce. As long as the buyout is little-to-nothing, both sides still win.

HOWEVER

As been hammered home here and elsewhere for years, the root of the problem lies in the athletic department. Some are expressing optimism that once JLP is gone, everything will be fine and men's basketball can finally take the next step. Rumors are swirling that JLP will even be leaving by this summer. However, if anyone (including DePaul fans) believe she will be fully removed from the program are kidding themselves. JLP has been a part of DePaul for 45 years (only 19 as AD). She is firmly entrenched within the school far beyond athletics (not unlike JT from Georgetown, except - you know - he was an elite name in men's basketball). There is no way DePaul's next AD comes from outside the school (it will be an internal candidate, likely still from within her inner circle). She might not be AD-in-name much longer, but she will still have significant influence over the AD. Her friends/relatives/family members will still likely be retained within the AD. Is that change? Hardly.

The basketball revenues released by Equity in Athletics paint a very revealing picture about the state of DePaul Athletics. Men's Basketball expenses/revenues do not eclipse $7 million annually (dead last in the Big East); Women's Sports expenses/revenues are nearing $9 million annually (top-half of the BE). That is what roots and fuels so much of the internal success of DePaul Athletics.

For a league founded and branded on elite-level men's basketball, the continuing refusal to allow someone to come-in and "fix" the men's basketball program is stubbornly astonishing. Wainwright, Purnell and Leitao, again, have all failed. I struggle to come up with an AD that has failed three hires of an athletic department's top revenue sport and not even be on the hot seat. All it does is reveal the priorities of the said institution I suppose.

I want DePaul to succeed. I want them to be a contender for the tournament. I think fans just care more than the school does, unfortunately.

Well stated

[Demon22]

As been hammered home here and elsewhere for years, the root of the problem lies in the athletic department. Some are expressing optimism that once JLP is gone, everything will be fine and men's basketball can finally take the next step. Rumors are swirling that JLP will even be leaving by this summer. However, if anyone (including DePaul fans) believe she will be fully removed from the program are kidding themselves. JLP has been a part of DePaul for 45 years (only 19 as AD). She is firmly entrenched within the school far beyond athletics (not unlike JT from Georgetown, except - you know - he was an elite name in men's basketball). There is no way DePaul's next AD comes from outside the school (it will be an internal candidate, likely still from within her inner circle). She might not be AD-in-name much longer, but she will still have significant influence over the AD. Her friends/relatives/family members will still likely be retained within the AD. Is that change? Hardly.

I think Jeanne will have a say over who the next AD is. And she probably should have input, for a number of reasons.

There's no one on staff currently at DePaul who's remotely qualified to become the AD. The next AD will come from outside the department.

I struggle to come up with an AD that has failed three hires of an athletic department's top revenue sport and not even be on the hot seat.

I don't know what to say to you if you don't think Jeanne's on the hot seat.

[Demon22]

The NCAA has granted DePaul's Jalen Coleman-Lands an additional year of eligibility.