Hamilton: Larrañaga chose to go; other coaches pay to stay

Forecasting sports stocks as 2024 turns into 2025: The news that Miami mens basketball coach Jim Larranaga was immediately retiring wouldve been big in any other era.

However, these days its merely a blip anywhere outside of South Florida.

And he summed up the current climate for coaches perfectly with one word: Exhausted.

The winningest coach in Miami history, Larranaga steps away after leading the Hurricanes to six NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2023 Final Four, and a pair of ACC regular-season titles.

He took over at Miami in 2011, five years after leading George Mason to the Final Four.

There was some surprise that Larranaga, 75, didnt retire two years ago.

The more recent assumption was he would do so in 2025.

But instead of making one more push for a postseason run, Larranaga called it quits 12 games into this season.

The Hurricanes (4-8, 0-1 ACC) have lost seven of their last eight games, including a 83-79 defeat to Charleston Southern on Nov.

30.

Hes another in a line of coaches whove thrown their hands up rather than try to grind as they always have.

Its a nationwide phenomenon, though the ACC is being hit especially hard.

Virginia mens basketball coach Tony Bennett, 55, abruptly quit in October just before the season started; Wake Forest football coach Dave Clawson, 57, pivoted earlier this month to an advisory role with the university.

Both have cited the impact of the transfer portal, NIL and the evolution from student-athletes to athlete-employees as the reason.

None, however, were quite as blunt as Larranaga as they made their way to the door.

At this point, after 53 years, I just didnt feel that I could successfully navigate this whole new world I was dealing with, Larranaga said, because my conversations were ridiculous with an agent saying to me, Well, you can get involved (with a player) if youre willing to go to $1.1 million.

And that would be the norm.

Meanwhile, some other coaches keep grinding.

They're bending to the ramped-up conditions as they continue to work under increased scrutiny.

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma States football coach since 2005, agreed to a pay cut a few weeks ago on the heals of a 3-9 (0-9 Big 12) season.

The to-be-announced amount deducted from his previous $7.75 million salary will go toward Oklahoma States NIL initiatives and the revenue sharing with athletes, expected to begin next summer.

Gundy, whos periodically been a problem child at Oklahoma State, was coaxed into reworking his contract.

Florida State football coach Mike Norvell, however, could hear loud footsteps behind him and voluntarily reduced his salary.

Norvell will make $5.345 million in 2025, a massive cut from the $9.9 million deal he agreed to only a year ago.

The difference in dollars is going to FSUs Vision of Excellence fundraising campaign for athletics.

So, we now know the price to go 2-10 at FSU is apparently $4.55 million.

And to think ...

a deal was essentially done for Norvell to become Nick Sabans successor at Alabama before FSU backed up an armored car.

Now hes taking that money to help buy a better roster and try to save his job.

Oh, weve also learned the sticker price for missing the College Football Playoff three straight seasons at LSU when you make almost $10 million a year.

Apparently, its $1 million, that being how much coach Brian Kelly is now contributing to the Tigers NIL treasury.

At least LSU had a winning season.

You have to think it's a matter of time before coaches coming off sub-.500 seasons such as Kentucky's Mark Stoops ($9.9 million), Wisconsin's Luke Fickell ($7.7 million) and Auburn's Hugh Freeze ($6.7 million) are pressed to give back some cash.

Because there will be more ponying up when they fall short.

Even the most deep-pocketed universities and boosters have a threshold when it comes to getting a return for their investment.

And coaches essentially swapping checks with their employers getting paid big bucks and then returning it when the heat cranks up won't be sustainable.

Add it to the list of things thinning the profession.

So the question isnt to whether or not to buy stock in the trend of coaches raising white flags, but perhaps instead picking futures options on whos next to go.

Suggestion: Buy in bulk The beefed-up CFPs opening weekend was a bummer if you judge it only by every game being decided by double-digits.

Or if youre still clinging onto second-guessing the selection committee.

Or if youre just a contrarian.

But, final scores aside, the on-campus games were fantastic and meaningful.

They also provided a nice rhythm to December going from conference championships to Army-Navy to the CFP.

Picking the correct field is still a moving target, but itll be further polished perhaps as soon as next year.

Likewise for the format with regards to seeding, etc.

It will eventually work itself out.

In the meantime, consider this: 21 of the 30 CFP games played during the 10-year, four-team era were decided by two or more scores.

That includes a couple of title games decided by at least 28 points.

We didnt chastise the selection committee for picking a bad field when that happened, but instead celebrated the greatness of the champions.

That's the correct approach now as the CFP quarterfinals approach.

Because there are likely more blowouts to come as things from here on out are played at neutral sites.

Everyone just needs to relax.

The playoff rocks.

Suggestion: Buy Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia sued the NCAA , arguing that his two seasons of junior college football hindered his ability to earn via NIL and shouldnt count toward his four years of eligibility.

A judge agreed and hell presumably be back with the Commodores in 2025.

The NCAA is appealing, but also issued waivers for other athletes in similar situations rather than be inundated with a bevy of similar lawsuits.

Thats the smartest thing the NCAA has done in years considering how it regularly falls flat in court.

Its 0-3 since 2021 in cases involving unlimited transfers, NIL regulation and what will lead to millions in revenue sharing with athletes.

Its a nice turn for folks such as Pavia, who likely don't have pro futures.

The money they make could go a long way toward giving them running starts after college sports.

Still, its also more proof that were moving closer and closer to a world where college athletes arent college age.

Remember how charming and quaint it was when FSUs Chris Weinke won the Heisman Trophy at the ripe old age of 28? Suggestion: Dump it all..

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