"Nothing yet on Buzz"

[Sooner23]

From the Milwaukee paper....

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/118803149.html

I was told today that there is nothing new on the Buzz Williams contract front.

Nothing really to read into one way or another there -- it's likely the two sides are still working on the parameters of a new deal to keep Williams in the fold for the long haul.

The guess here is it's going to be a deal worth more than $2 million annually. How it will be structured -- whether it's another rollover contract, how much the buyout will be and so on -- will probably be the major sticking points. He's currently signed to a six-year rollover deal paying him $1.6 million. That figure is scheduled to jump to over $1.7 million in the coming months.

Undoubtedly, Williams would like the buyout in his new contract to be lower than the figure that it would take to get him out of his current deal: $3.8 million, all told. It's standard in contracts for the buyout to drop every few years in order to afford the coach some flexibility as time goes on, so looking for something like that to be included wouldn't be out of the ordinary from Williams' standpoint.

MU, from its vantage point, has no problem paying the going rate for a hot young coach like Williams. The school proved that with Tom Crean years ago. The key will be structuring the deal in such a way that it can protect itself somewhat in the coming years, as Williams will likely be a popular name for most coaching vacancies that pop up each off-season, just as he is now, and like Crean was.

Both parties appear to be on the same page, and Williams after MU's loss last Friday appeared in no way interested in moving on. Things can obviously change, and nothing is set in stone until an agreement is announced. But my guess is something will come together at some point over the course of this week, and the carousel can finally stop spinning in Milwaukee.

Williams' staff could take a hit, though, as assistant Aki Collins has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the head job at Fairfield, and Tony Benford could be a possibility for some openings as well.

Both have done a solid job for Williams, especially with regard to recruiting.

 

[seniorsooner]

I'm sorry but buzz Williams is in no way worth that much money. If Marquette wants to pay him that much, more power to them.

 

[sooner8]

For some reason I still think he will be OU"s next coach!!Go Sooners!!!!!

 

[JBaker]

I'm sorry but buzz Williams is in no way worth that much money. If Marquette wants to pay him that much, more power to them.

I would be ok with paying him 2.

 

[seniorsooner]

I guess. But what has the guy really done to deserve that much?

 

[JBaker]

I guess. But what has the guy really done to deserve that much?

Proven he can recruit and make the NCAA 3 times straight with a little bit of success.
If $2 million is what it takes, and we can afford it, then I say go for it.
Can't put a price on winning.

 

[seniorsooner]

I hear where you're coming from, I just think some of these coach derbies are starting to resemble an EBay auction

 

[colston15]

Good coaches are like good free agent pitchers, the few that are available will be overpaid.

 

[seniorsooner]

Good analogy.