(WBK) Kelly Rae Finley: Time to Drop the "Interim"

This poll actually makes sense…..go figure….

 

They lost to LSU, but they also beat Auburn and Arkansas.

 

I hear she has another couple schools her agent is negotiating with . I don’t think she will be here. My source is within Ath Dept .. Specifically men basketball. We won’t pay her .

 

That’s no good. We need to lock her down now.

 

Hope it's not true, but supposedly we could have had Hammon when we hired Cam and wouldn't pay her so I am not shocked if it does come to fruition. However, it is hard to see any school out there right now that would pay her much... not many schools do and none of them are open... yet at least.

 

That would be kind of surprising, depends on who the other schools are I guess. But maybe we go fiscally conservative after pumping a bunch of money into football and potentially looking for a new men's BB coach soon.

 

Sounds like a negotiating ploy from her agent, which is their job after all. What job is open that could pay big money if we don’t?
If Stricklin really chooses not to invest in her I think he is greatly underestimating the alumni support for her, it will be a big mistake. He was handed a get out of jail free card (almost literally) with the Cam mess, even he couldn’t screw it up twice in a year.

 

That’s why there has been no movement on Kell being named permanent HC
Secondly we have a coach for mens basketball.

 

There are definitely jobs out there that are open (Syracuse has an interim, Texas A&M coach is retiring, etc..) or are so obviously going to become open that they could be working behind the scenes (e.g. Virginia, who's coach has basically given up and forfeits half their games). I'm not really sure what sort of salary Kelly would command though with 1 season as a HC? I can't really see anyone offering her $1M+, but who knows?

 

yeah, guess I should rephrase a bit. What big school is open and would dump big money on a coach who’s got one year interim experience? I mean, would A&M for example really pull that trigger? Maybe it’s a better job and we have to outbid them a bit? But have to think they will aim “higher”, at least initially. Or consider promoting internally.
Dunno.

 

I don't believe the conclusion that has been drawn. Not saying she's about to get Dawn Staley money, but like with baseball, I don't think a few hundred dollars here or there is going to be the deciding factor. No inside info, just opinion.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

 

What is the upside on dropping the interim tag at this point (in reference to the fact that the season is coming to a close)? I don't think there's a significant amount of chatter about it, and if it gets to that point, I would imagine the answer would be that Kelly and Scott will talk about that at the end of the season.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

 

Yea, I know, just speculating for the masses.

 

The one problem I see is recruiting with the uncertainty around the program. I'm fine with naming her immediately after the season, but we have not had a commitment to the program since the whole Cam situation broke. We have no 2023 commits and still have open spots for next year. We are going to need someone in place fairly soon one way or another. I'll be happy if we keep her, but if there is a money dispute Striklin better have his replacement ready to go considering the time he has had. I still wouldn't rule out Delisha or Julie as contenders. I'd be happy with any of the 3. Kelly or Julie is more continuity. Delisha is a Gator and rising star in the coaching world. It will be interesting to watch the next week or so. I still think Kelly is most likely, but IF there is an issue then Julie and Delisha would both be on my very short list.

 

If we win these last two games, which we are favored to, that will give us more regular season wins than any team not coached by Carol Ross.

Pay the lady. She came into a bad situation and excelled. By all accounts she is an excellent recruiter, and she has already shown she can coach up the players on the roster. Not Staley or Mulkey money, but Harper money isn't unreasonable at this point. At the very least sign her to what Cam's last contract was, but she is worth more than he was (she is on track to double his season best in SEC wins, if she gets those last two wins, her one year of SEC wins will be as good as his first three combined).

 

The whole "I don't want to discuss or announce the permanent position because it's a distraction" makes no sense. What is a distraction is to NOT address it. That leads me to believe she is looking at offers (or wants to later) from more than UF.

 

Beginning to think the same.