The Search Goes On

It has been two weeks since Mark Snyder has resigned from the Head Coach position at Marshall University, and the rumors have not ceased as to who would be his replacement. Some even suggested that former coach Bob Pruett return to be the guy to take over after Snyder, after being the predecessor to Snyder.

Personally I hoped this was a myth that Pruett was even in consideration for the job, and a joke that he actually wanted to come back. Well, according to a story in the Herald-Dispatch, I was wrong.

Thankfully University President Stephen Kopp ruled this option out and showed some ability for higher reasoning.

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In related news, Butch Jones made the trip to Huntington this week. During the trip he met with Athletic Director Mike Hamrick, presumably to not discuss the weather.

The search is down to five viable candidates and President Kopp seems to think the University will have a new coach picked by Christmas.

This leads to a slight problem in the area of CMU Coach Jones. Your assistants, and coordinators, not so much of an issue here. Coordinators and assistants can quite often get out of their roles quite easily and wouldn't set the University back too much.

Jones on the other hand has the ever critical buyout in his contract. One that will increase if he leaves before the end of the season. Which in the contract is defined as anytime before the final game for the Chippewas. That date just so happens to be the end of the first week of January, when they play in the GMAC Bowl.

Jones' buyout almost doubles from around $400,000 to the neighborhood of $700,000 and for a cash strapped Athletic Department, this could be an issue.

Only time will tell though who will be the next guy at Marshall, as much as I and everyone else want to know who that guy is, we're going to have to wait. That is the best thing for everyone to do, because the search is critical for the future of the University. Rushing things along will cause the school to end up with what it did the last time the school had to rush things.

Mediocrity - Marshall fans should sit back, relax and wait for the process to carry out under it's own power and pace. Otherwise the "We Play For Championships." slogan is going to only become more laughable.

That's my two cents.