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

you could have just gone with that last paragraph.

 

Why? Because she at least partly salvaged some of the mess that both she and Stricklin helped create, and then he didn't hire her until the moment it would be awkward to not to do so?

If he had trust in her abilities as a coach -- and he was competent in evaluating such things -- he would have hired her earlier. The fact she was doing a good job has been on display since at least January -- that's why everyone, including opposing coaches, was wondering why he hadn't done it yet.

Instead he waited until the last moment before the SEC Tournament. Now, he might have had good reasons for that. But it feels like he waited until he couldn't wait anymore -- if she weren't hired, her status and why was going to be the primary Gator-related talking point at the tournament.

Like I said, I'm happy she was hired. I think the team plays hard for her -- something that was lacking under her previous boss. But I also think this was as close to a no-brainer as it gets back in January, and Stricklin still waited to make her prove herself a month longer.

 

Lot of conjecture in there.

 

As an assistant. Doubt many girls commit to schools tonplay for an assistant.

 

No brake pumping here even with the slide to end the seson, no one other than Carol Ross has more SEC wins in a season (Amanda Butler tied her once). I'm glad Scott Sterling pulled the trigger. I'll admit I haven't paid close attention to the Lady Gators since Brandi McCain and Vanessa Hayden, but I'm optimistic about the future.

 

Yeah, that makes no sense. You don't want a distraction during the season so you allow it to be the conversation for the last month, and then you think that this thing that you considered a distraction earlier won't be a distraction during the crucial part of the season. There's no logic there.

Stricklin completed Mullen's contract in a day. He did Napier's in a week. The only person who's contract dragged out was Chip Kelly, who he didn't really want in the first place.

But, again, happy it's worked out. Hopefully she won't require the same level of tolerance and patience from the AD as her predecessor. It changes my opinion of Stricklin or this situation not one iota.

 

You were wrong...plain and simple. No shame in that, happens to everybody. Not being man enough to admit it, not so excusable. Own it.

 

ESPN got the details of Kelly's contract: 5 years @ 740k/year (total $3.7MM with no buyout)

Florida coach Finley gets new $3.7M contract

Seems fair. I believe that'll put her around middle-of-pack in terms of SEC HC salaries, so it's nice to see at least that level of commitment to the program.

 

yeah that seems about right. I really hope we are working on keeping a Julie Plank, I have mentioned it before but I really believe she’s a large part of Kelly’s success. Hopefully she’s locked up too.