As reported by Mlive.com, John Beilein, 54, will replace Tommy Amaker as the University of Michigan’s men’s basketball coach. The announcement was made on Tuesday, April 3rd. In accepting the position with the University of Michigan, John Beilein will become the highest paid head basketball coach in the history of the University of Michigan.
As reported by Mlive.com, Beilein will earn $1.3 million per season. The deal for the former West Virginia coach includes a $200,000 base salary and $1.1 million in other compensation each year, an athletic department official with direct knowledge of the contract told The News.” (Ann Arbor News Article by Nathan Fenno on Mlive.com) Beilein’s contract also includes a $2.5 million dollar buyout of his contract with West Virginia, which was set to run through the 2012 season. As reported by Mlive.com, it is still unclear as to how the buyout will be financed.
According to University of Michigan officials, hiring John Beilein is an attempt to bolster an underperforming University of Michigan men’s basketball team and turn it into a national powerhouse. In recent years, the University of Michigan’s men’s basketball team has been unable to successfully compete against conference rivals and national contenders Michigan State University and the Ohio State University. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Mr. Beilein can effectively turn the program around.
His unprecedented contract with the University of Michigan also raises questions as to the whether it is ethical to break the long contract with West Virginia, as well as whether it is ethical for a men’s basketball coach at a Big Ten University to make such a large amount of money when college athletes remain unpaid. Salaries for university coaches are approaching the sums that were once reserved for professional coaches.
As Beilein prepares to leave for Michigan this week, there is much work to be done in preparing for next season. With tight competition in the Big Ten men’s basketball conference, Beilein needs to be prepared to answer critics if he fails to lead the University of Michigan’s men’s basketball team to the NCAA tournament next season. “The contract – the richest ever for a Michigan basketball coach – includes a series of bonuses if the university advances to the NCAA Tournament. Michigan hasn’t played there since 1998. Beilein gets $25,000 to advance to the tournament, $50,000 for the Sweet 16, $100,000 for the Final Four and $150,000 for the national championship.” (Ann Arbor News Article by Nathan Fenno on Mlive.com) Michigan fans will be watching closely.
