November 26, 2006
Where does Jim Leavitt want to coach?
One of the guys sure to get attention at NC State, Miami, Arizona State, or several others schools that will soon have coaching vacancies is South Florida Head Coach Jim Leavitt.
Since building the Bulls football program from a club sport in 1997, Leavitt has grown USF into a legit DI-A, BCS conference team. This weekend Leavitt got his signature win at South Florida, knocking off Big East bully West Virginia... in Morgantown. A lot of teams have gone into Morgantown and left licking their wounds, but Leavitt's squad just lined-up and knocked the 'Eers in the mouth - exactly like they did last year when the Bulls wrecked Louisville's run.
Which begs the question: If Leavitt (61-39) can take a school that didn't have football a few years ago and start knocking off ranked teams in a BCS conference, what could he do at an "A list" program?
Now, to his credit, Leavitt has said that he's not interested in coaching anywhere but South Florida. To some degree, I believe the guy. Let's face it: he's building something at USF & winning in the Big East - so he's got a shot at a BCS bowl without moving. The Bulls are headed to their second straight bowl game and Leavitt says he's happy as he could be... but that hasn't kept him off the radar.
While Schiano may be the Big East golden boy this year, Leavitt has been talked about for the top job at Kansas State, Illinois, and rumored at Alabama & other BCS schools. USF went as far as to extend his contract last year to keep the wolves at bay.
Leavitt is making about $1 million/year ($600K base this year) and is under contract with the Bulls through 2012, but his buyout clause may not scare away teams with deep pockets.
The new terms also increase the buyout of the contract. If Coach Leavitt resigns his position between the effective date and January 1, 2008, the buyout is $500,000. The buyout drops to $400,000 between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2012. There is no buyout if the contract is terminated between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012.
Let's see: Proven program builder who's team's play tough, recruiting experience in talent-rich Florida, coming off another season of knocking off ranked teams despite weaker talent, with a $500K buyout. Hmmm.
Arizona State just spent over two million to get rid of guy, do you think they would back at $500K to get a new coach? Me neither.
Alabama may have to pay Mike Shula for four years if they fire him, do you think the 'Bama boosters care about a $500K buyout? Me neither.
It would appear that Jim Leavitt's phone is going to be ringing this year with some high dollar, high profile jobs. I guess the question is - will he answer the call?
Comments:
Big East Fan said:
posted on November 27, 2006 11:29 AM — 168.216.24.38 — link — abuse?
USF is in Tampa area...they play in Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stadium...Leavitt has enough talent in a 30 mile radius of campus to win the National Title every year. They are now in a BCS conference (2nd or 3rd Ranked conference this season), if he can keep some of that talent home, they will compete. Mike Trangesee is NOT an idiot, he added USF to the BE for a reason..they are a sleeping giant. They already have better facilities and are more competitive than Miami. They may be severel years away from competing for National Title or even the BE title...but they have already proven themselves as a giant Killer in the Big East (Louisville last year and WVU this year) and finished 8-4 and looking towards a bowl bid. USF has added to the depth of a conference that looked like WVU and UL and everyone else.
Remember, The Big East Conference and many of its teams are not living off of tradition...they are building tradition. Leavitt may leave, or he may stay. But for some building your own program and establishing a winning tradition is more rewarding than inheriting someone else's success. That is why you see Bobby Petrino, Rich Rod, and Greg Schiano staying in the Big East...they like the challenge, plus they almost have a lifetime contract at their respective schools if they choose to stay there.
USF Bull Alum said:
posted on November 27, 2006 1:29 PM — 67.78.158.42 — link — abuse?
Hopefully Leavitt will stay. But Big East Fan, all three of those coaches may be gone next year from the Big East. Rich Rod is apparently Alabama's top choice, I still believe Schiano is on his way to the 'U', and Petrino interviews for every job he possibly can.
Leavitt's post game comments sounded a bit too nostalgic to me. sounded like he was gone. The only good news for us is that Alabama is supposedly already talking to Rodriguez and that's where I thought Leavitt would end up.
USF Bull Alum said:
posted on November 27, 2006 2:33 PM — 67.78.158.42 — link — abuse?
Sitting Bull, who got to a BCS bowl winning only 7 games in the Big East?
Rutgers has 10 wins. Louisville has 10 and WV will have 10 if it beats Rutgers. USF has 8.
Big East also only has 8 teams so they play EVERYONE in the conference every year.
Florida does play USF in a few years. That might not be the cakewalk they were hoping for when they scheduled it. Wouldn't be surprised if USF got bumped for Western Carolina.
Big East Fan said:
posted on November 27, 2006 3:03 PM — 168.216.24.38 — link — abuse?
USF Bull Alum if a Big East team goes 7-0 in conference and goes 0-5 Out of Conference they still get the BCS bid...so he was right...All Leavitt needs at USF is 7 Big East wins.
Most conferences you need to win your division in your conference them win 1 game... the conference title game.
GO_NOLES_FORGODSAKE_NCSTATE? said:
posted on November 27, 2006 4:36 PM — 168.82.56.100 — link — abuse?
Two key phrases clue you in to what is being said in that post "conference games" and "winning 7 in the Big East". You don't even have to win 7. No team will have won 7 conference games this year since everyone has at least one conference loss. The winner this year will have won 6 conference games. USF is probably conference champion next year, they have proven they can beat everyone in the conference. I wouldn't use the term Giant-Killer either when talking about a Big East team. When your schedule includes Syracuse, Uconn, Cincinatti.... the next level is Rutgers, South Florida and the top is Louisville WVU... I'm not thinking "Giants" or "Powerhouses". Louisville's spanking of Miami in retrospect says little and lets remember the ACC's little Wake Forest handled Maryland (the marquee win on WVU's schedule this year) as easily as well as two big east teams (Uconn and Syracuse). OOC opponents for all teams read like a who's who of the Midmajors. MAC, C-USA and Sunbelt teams abound. I think Wake Forest vs. WVU would have been fun to watch but I guess (in 3 common games WVU looks better but they both beat all three and I think are about even in quality, I guess since one is rank 15 and the other 16 pollsters agree with that assessment difference being, Wake won games they shouldn't, WVU lost games they shouldn't) it will be Louisville or Rutgers instead.
Zac said:
posted on November 29, 2006 5:03 PM — 209.36.193.14 — link — abuse?
GATORGreg: You're wrong, as usual. SFL/WVU was only half a good game; the half SFL played. I don't know who the kids were wearing the Gold & Blue; they certainly weren't the Mountaineers I'm used to seeing. Pat White can do it without Slaton, but he can't do it all, nor should he be expected to. Like Leak, White is only one part of a larger whole. Unlike WVU, FL got lucky on arguably 3 occasions. But, as Rodriguez has been known to imply, luck is part of the equation to being successful.
As for Jim Leavitt, my hat was off to him last year. This year, they've just gotten that much better. Next year, provided he stays, imagine where they might be. I truly hope those were tears of joy following a deserved accomplishment, and not the shape of things to come. SFL and the entire Big East would miss him.
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Evan said:
posted on November 27, 2006 12:47 AM — 66.57.23.85 — link — abuse?Pretty sure NC State is going after an Offensive minded guy.
no thanks to levitt.