I’ve been out for work since about 6 this morning and only got home a short while ago. I know what I missed. Now, I’m here and the decision was made to pop open one of my Dogfish 120s.
AD Heather Lyke’s press release was short and to the point.
University of Pittsburgh Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced today that Kevin Stallings will no longer be the Panthers’ head men’s basketball coach.
“I want to express my appreciation to Coach Stallings for his commitment to our program,” Lyke said. “In moving forward, we have tremendous expectations for our men’s basketball program at Pitt and I believe we can achieve great things within the Atlantic Coast Conference and nationally. A national search for the next Pitt head coach will begin immediately.”
The relief for Pitt fans is palpable.
I don’t take joy in Stallings’ dismissal. Watching this team crash and burn so hard has been painful, sad, frustrating and several more adjectives of your own choosing. To say nothing of whatever Pitt has to pay for him to be on his way.
While rare for a coach to be fired — absent scandal — after only two years, what stands out with Stallings’ departure is the lack of hand-wringing pieces on a school/fans being too impatient. Being unreasonable. Thinking too highly of themselves.
Going 0-for-the-conference will do that.
Now the speculation turns to who’s next.
Can we dispense with Sean Miller? Please? Between the fact that he clearly doesn’t want the gig, and his legal/NCAA questions. Please don’t waste anyone’s time.
Also, Brandin Knight needs to be a head coach somewhere else first. Sorry. Love Brandin. But that is too big a leap to take.
In general. Let’s skip the alumni route for the time being. Okay? Thanks.
Otherwise, let the speculation and rampant rumormongering begin in earnest.
Future will be better. I can already feel the energy. It will be important to be patient. My guess is that the next coach will set us on a good path forward but will are looking at 4-6 years b fire we see real progress.
It was a great decision to cut the cord now beforehand re permanent damage control as done to the basketball brand (see football)
There are those on the national media stage stating Pitt paid $10 million for the buyout (Jay Williams of ESPN) when in fact that is not known, other than it was mentioned as being in his contract as the buyout figure.
There is no doubt Pitt was losing big at The Pete in more ways than ticket sales. If KS was retained, that was only going to get worse next season.
The other fact we don’t know is, how much did the booster base contribute to help Pitt make this decision. I’m speculating somewhere around $7 million (again, we don’t know but follow my math). HL has this in her back pocket to negotiate with knowing that she needs some of that to hire the new coach. The 9am meeting might have gone Lyke this –
KS – “I’m not settling for anything less than my buyout amount in the contract”.
HL – “We’ll then Kevin, we may need to settle this in court as we have information from several credible sources that … “
KS – “ Your b()[l $#/TT/n& me. I’ve done none of that.”
HL – “We are willing to buy you out for this amount.”
KS – “No way, you are F—-ing out of your mind if I’m settling for that.”
HL – “Then we’ll see you in court.”
KS – “Wait, if I settle now, I want this information sealed in Narduzzi Lyke files and nothing will be leaked out publicly, nor privately to defame my reputation.”
HL – “We wish you well on your flight out of Pittsburgh.”
We may never know…
Dunlap saying Lyke is trying to fire for cause over the spat in Louisville. Zero chance he got that from a Pitt source, and he’s the only one with any source saying it – so I’m guessing someone on Stallings’ side is putting this out there. Wish he and others would try to verify their information before putting articles out there.
Poni has been throwing s*** against the wall for three days now, and last night he said that Chris Jent was in Pittsburgh meeting with Heather Lyke. Again, he’s the only one with the information, so who knows.
I guess I need to go back to the old Paul Zeise (from before he went off the deep end) adage with these things: “Everybody’s lying.”
Pitt’s next head coach will be judged on Jamie’s success not Kevin’s, let’s hope Pitt’s next head basketebocoach can bring the same excitement Jamie brought to the Pete regardless if he doesn’t win the “big one” because we know what the alternative feels like. H2P!
Heather know Stallings was gone weeks before the firing. If she was sitting on her hands I would have no respect for her. She’s had a list for weeks now no doubt.
