How Conference Realignment Affects You
Posted June 14, 2010
As a Coach, you have worked hard for years to get where you are. Suddenly, conferences realign and the job you have drastically changes. But what exactly do these changes mean for you? For better or worse conference realignment raises many questions for coaches:
What if your University is playing in a larger more competitive conference, are you entitled to a salary increase? Are you going to receive any of the extra money the school will receive? Will you receive extra years on your contract to give your team time to adjust?
Conversely, what if your University finds itself in a smaller conference or playing weaker competition? How secure is your job and can the University afford to pay you? Will there be renegotiations with the school? These are just some of the many questions that conference realignment raises, and every coach and University will be affected differently.
Some people think that contracts only matter during the bad times (i.e., when a coach is getting fired or there is some dispute). However, that is too simplistic. Contracts are entered into so that in any situation (good or bad) there is no question as to the outcome (at least as it relates to the parties).
Currently, most (if not all) coaches’ contracts do not have specific paragraphs related to the consequences of conference realignment. The problem is that leaves all of the questions asked above with no answers. As a coach, you could be in a job that you did not sign up for and at the mercy of whatever decisions the University makes. So how do you protect yourself?
For starters, you should stay informed about where you and your University stand on the issue of realignment. It is important to understand your University’s attitude, as well as any potential or current plans. If you are currently a head coach, then now is the time to try and negotiate some language regarding realignment. If you become a head coach in the next couple of years, then realignment language should be negotiated for and included into your first contract.
Provisions regarding realignment have not currently been negotiated in coaches’ contracts, so what will happen should realignment occur (be it more years on your contract, or a raise in salary, etc.) will have to be discussed with your AD.
For more answers and information please contact me on my cell at (803-319-1757) or email me at MSolomon@behblaw.com.
