Utah State job is open...

[MSU01]

Why can’t we have nice things:

https://www.rrcatcast.com/2023/04/06/da ... -moves-on/

Utah State is a better program than MSU, and it’s not that close. But Utah State is also a stepping stone, if he succeeds there he won’t be there long either IMO.

https://utahstateaggies.com/facilities

https://msubobcats.com/facilities

I don't see a ski training area at USU nor do I see either of these:

https://bigskyresort.com/mountain-sports

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJ ... e&ie=UTF-8

Correct me if I'm wrong or can't locate it, but has USU ever hosed an NCAA Championship event such as the one MSU was hosting when the entire country was shut down because of Covid?

I don't know why you keep bringing up Big Sky over and over again, unless the ultra-wealthy people who hang out there but have no other connection to MSU are going to all of a sudden start pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into higher education funding so that we can quintuple our coaching salaries to match what USU can offer. And while they're at it, get MSU an invite to the MWC so we're out of a one-bid conference that inherently limits how much the program can grow.

[Desert_Bobcat]

Why can’t we have nice things:

https://www.rrcatcast.com/2023/04/06/da ... -moves-on/

Utah State is a better program than MSU, and it’s not that close. But Utah State is also a stepping stone, if he succeeds there he won’t be there long either IMO.

https://utahstateaggies.com/facilities

https://msubobcats.com/facilities

I don't see a ski training area at USU nor do I see either of these:

https://bigskyresort.com/mountain-sports

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJ ... e&ie=UTF-8

Correct me if I'm wrong or can't locate it, but has USU ever hosed an NCAA Championship event such as the one MSU was hosting when the entire country was shut down because of Covid?

Are we talking about hiring a ski coach or a basketball coach? I might be wrong here but I don’t really don’t see how having a ski training facility would sway the mind of a basketball recruit?

[Catbasketball20]

Just talked to a good friend of mine who is a Utah State alum and huge basketball follower. He told me that Danny mentioned several times that he had two good players that would follow him. I don't like that part of this whole new transfer portal game. You are seeing it all over, kids are just coming and going as they please. To bad, as the entire recruiting system is going to change. High school recruits will be a thing of the past. Late bloomers or borderline recruits will have to go to smaller schools, develop, and then move up.

I love Danny. Really good guy and coach. If he guts our roster? I'll bad mouth him across the state.

Disagree whole heartedly. These guys committed to him. Not the town, the school or any of that. Players commit to the coach and the coaching staff then figure out the rest. I'm not sure if you saw Battle's instagram story yesterday but he said coach Sprinkle, "changed his life." Not Bozeman. If guys leave and wind up in Logan, it's because of the character Sprinkle has and that he believed in them more than any other coach in America.

[Cat Grad]

Why can’t we have nice things:

https://www.rrcatcast.com/2023/04/06/da ... -moves-on/

Utah State is a better program than MSU, and it’s not that close. But Utah State is also a stepping stone, if he succeeds there he won’t be there long either IMO.

https://utahstateaggies.com/facilities

https://msubobcats.com/facilities

I don't see a ski training area at USU nor do I see either of these:

https://bigskyresort.com/mountain-sports

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJ ... e&ie=UTF-8

Correct me if I'm wrong or can't locate it, but has USU ever hosed an NCAA Championship event such as the one MSU was hosting when the entire country was shut down because of Covid?

I don't know why you keep bringing up Big Sky over and over again, unless the ultra-wealthy people who hang out there but have no other connection to MSU are going to all of a sudden start pouring millions upon millions of dollars into higher education funding so that we can quintuple our coaching salaries to match what USU can offer. And while they're at it, get MSU an invite to the MWC so we're out of a one-bid conference that inherently limits how much the program can grow.

Who do you suggest MSU is going to get to fund their athletic facilities? Do the math:

How many former MSU football players are there? (What is the seating capacity of Bobcat Stadium?). I dare say most of the Saturday crowd at that place adjacent to Kagy got about as close to athletics after high school as Al Bundy...So that's not a very reliable source of funding.

I've never heard of the coaches heading to booster club meetings in the Twin Cities, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, etc. But I actually attended one in Glasgow along with about 15 others. Same thing in Great Falls. As long as the athletic department doesn't want to go where the graduates of the school actually live and work, what is wrong with tapping those folks for a few bucks? Hell, everytime I get on I-70 between Bonner Springs, Kansas and Lawrence, Kansas (about 40 miles give or take) I pay the troll $4.00 for the privilege of supporting the University of Kansas. The state will not put a toll road on U.S. 191 up the canyon or on I-90, so why not have the ones that fly into Belgrade, get in their rental car to go spend a couple weeks a year in their 10 to 53 million dollar cabin help pay for improvements? Christ, the convention center in Big Sky hosts some of the largest corporations in the world and Bozeangeles gets an OPI conference once in a while...

But I understand why the local yokel mentality doesn't want to allow somebody like the state's present governor move there and donate 50 million (one of his donations).

Participation trophies all around. Except for a few on the ski team, track and cross country, rodeo, film and television, computer science, microbiology and physics...

How many former jocks are there and what is the football stadium capacity? How many employees are on MSU's payroll? How many of them attend? What is the athletic fee? Not to mention how does the tuition compare to the National average?

Take the money and run. The non-residents who live and play in and around Gallatin County are more vested in the community than the ones who moved there thirty, forty years ago.

Bunch of NIMBYs. Too bad. The ones up the canyon are there and I don't believe they are going away.

[wbtfg]

Not sure if posted yet, but this is per Parker Cotton on Twitter.

Danny Sprinkle has received a 5-year contract at Utah State, with an initial base salary of $900,000 and an annual increase of $25,000, per an open records request.

Sprinkle's base salary with MSU was $185,711.

USU also pays the $250,000 buyout in Sprinkle's MSU contract.

$900,000/year versus $185,000 per year, pretty damn easy decision to make. Plus he will be able to afford a house. $185,000 a year might get you a decent 2 bedroom condo in bozeangeles.

I think Danny pulled in over $300k the past couple years with incentives. But yeah, still a huge pay raise.

Hopefully he agrees to rent out his Bozeman house at a reduced price to the new coach.

[Catfanatic84]

I'm bummed he's leaving, but super happy for him. Danny's done a remarkable job in a very short period. The Utah State fit is a good one for him. I'd not be surprised if he takes the Aggies deep into the NCAA tournament in the next 3 years....big things ahead for Coach Sprink.

[Cat Grad]

Not sure if posted yet, but this is per Parker Cotton on Twitter.

Danny Sprinkle has received a 5-year contract at Utah State, with an initial base salary of $900,000 and an annual increase of $25,000, per an open records request.

Sprinkle's base salary with MSU was $185,711.

USU also pays the $250,000 buyout in Sprinkle's MSU contract.

The five year contract ought to speak loudly to Montana BOR members and OPI. I can understand why an individual in their mid-40s would leave Montana in a heartbeat understanding the PEER-TRS funding formulas.

Compare Montana to Utah:

https://www.urs.org/mango/pdf/pehp/pdc/ ... 84C45D.pdf

No reason to put Montana up as we all know it's 1.66666 per year. So, nothing times nothing at the end of thirty years will get you half your highest three consecutive years.

I don't blame Sprinkle for leaving. On the other hand, I see what was inevitable with Gallatin County becoming a destination location. He had an opportunity to grow a program and build it into something extraordinary and have the same type of record Few has after 20 years, but at his age, take the financial security.

[Cataholic]

Just talked to a good friend of mine who is a Utah State alum and huge basketball follower. He told me that Danny mentioned several times that he had two good players that would follow him. I don't like that part of this whole new transfer portal game. You are seeing it all over, kids are just coming and going as they please. To bad, as the entire recruiting system is going to change. High school recruits will be a thing of the past. Late bloomers or borderline recruits will have to go to smaller schools, develop, and then move up.

I love Danny. Really good guy and coach. If he guts our roster? I'll bad mouth him across the state.

Disagree whole heartedly. These guys committed to him. Not the town, the school or any of that. Players commit to the coach and the coaching staff then figure out the rest. I'm not sure if you saw Battle's instagram story yesterday but he said coach Sprinkle, "changed his life." Not Bozeman. If guys leave and wind up in Logan, it's because of the character Sprinkle has and that he believed in them more than any other coach in America.

Great post! Additionally, how can anyone say they are happy for Sprinkle, but not be happy for one of his players to make the same exact move? Excited for Sprinkle and excited for any player that has trusted and supported him to make that same exact decision!

I have every confidence in Leon and the school in making a new hire. A program with an NCAA tournament entry and conference championships the past two years will have no problem attracting top candidates. And dont be surprised if an outside hire has one or two of his past players follow him as well.

[Cataholic]

Why can’t we have nice things:

https://www.rrcatcast.com/2023/04/06/da ... -moves-on/

Utah State is a better program than MSU, and it’s not that close. But Utah State is also a stepping stone, if he succeeds there he won’t be there long either IMO.

https://utahstateaggies.com/facilities

https://msubobcats.com/facilities

I don't see a ski training area at USU nor do I see either of these:

https://bigskyresort.com/mountain-sports

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJ ... e&ie=UTF-8

Correct me if I'm wrong or can't locate it, but has USU ever hosed an NCAA Championship event such as the one MSU was hosting when the entire country was shut down because of Covid?

I don't know why you keep bringing up Big Sky over and over again, unless the ultra-wealthy people who hang out there but have no other connection to MSU are going to all of a sudden start pouring millions upon millions of dollars into higher education funding so that we can quintuple our coaching salaries to match what USU can offer. And while they're at it, get MSU an invite to the MWC so we're out of a one-bid conference that inherently limits how much the program can grow.

Who do you suggest MSU is going to get to fund their athletic facilities? Do the math:

How many former MSU football players are there? (What is the seating capacity of Bobcat Stadium?). I dare say most of the Saturday crowd at that place adjacent to Kagy got about as close to athletics after high school as Al Bundy...So that's not a very reliable source of funding.

I've never heard of the coaches heading to booster club meetings in the Twin Cities, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, etc. But I actually attended one in Glasgow along with about 15 others. Same thing in Great Falls. As long as the athletic department doesn't want to go where the graduates of the school actually live and work, what is wrong with tapping those folks for a few bucks? Hell, everytime I get on I-70 between Bonner Springs, Kansas and Lawrence, Kansas (about 40 miles give or take) I pay the troll $4.00 for the privilege of supporting the University of Kansas. The state will not put a toll road on U.S. 191 up the canyon or on I-90, so why not have the ones that fly into Belgrade, get in their rental car to go spend a couple weeks a year in their 10 to 53 million dollar cabin help pay for improvements? Christ, the convention center in Big Sky hosts some of the largest corporations in the world and Bozeangeles gets an OPI conference once in a while...

But I understand why the local yokel mentality doesn't want to allow somebody like the state's present governor move there and donate 50 million (one of his donations).

Participation trophies all around. Except for a few on the ski team, track and cross country, rodeo, film and television, computer science, microbiology and physics...

How many former jocks are there and what is the football stadium capacity? How many employees are on MSU's payroll? How many of them attend? What is the athletic fee? Not to mention how does the tuition compare to the National average?

Take the money and run. The non-residents who live and play in and around Gallatin County are more vested in the community than the ones who moved there thirty, forty years ago.

Bunch of NIMBYs. Too bad. The ones up the canyon are there and I don't believe they are going away.

I am super confused from your rant, but most new transplants to Big Sky are not going to automatically want to support a university they have no connection to. Your argument makes no sense.

[imacat]

Don't know why I responded earlier, but within that article is this one:

https://vault.si.com/vault/2012/03/19/b ... he-sleeper

I'm concerned for Sprinkle because what he's doing by going to Utah State reminds me very much of what Monson did to himself and his family. Money isn't everything when weighing your options.

If you don’t take a new opportunity because of fear of failure, you have already failed.

[Cat Grad]

Don't know why I responded earlier, but within that article is this one:

https://vault.si.com/vault/2012/03/19/b ... he-sleeper

I'm concerned for Sprinkle because what he's doing by going to Utah State reminds me very much of what Monson did to himself and his family. Money isn't everything when weighing your options.

If you don’t take a new opportunity because of fear of failure, you have already failed.

You're absolutely correct. One could easily use that logic in what the young man is doing by taking the five year contract rather than rolling the dice and betting on turning the MSU basketball team into a mid-level power. But, in the final analysis, he's gone and taken the safe route. I don't blame him in the least. I wish him well and hope Logan is good for him.

I'll add this. Two kids, Sean McVay who was the quarterback for Marist High School put Billy Napier's dad out of the Georgia High School playoffs and Billy. First OC for Swinney at Clemson at 29 I believe. Billy went to Fort Collins for a couple weeks with Mike Bobo and returned to Alabama for a few more years. McVay has a Super Bowl and Billy finally left the Nick Saban nest. Did well at Louisiana but his first year in Gainesville? Billy's career reminds me of Few's predecessor, Monson at Gonzaga. I hope our former MSU Bobcat player and coach does not suffer the same career collapse. I'd rather see a Robin Selvig or Mark Few approach to building mid-major powers than someone taking the safe way out.

Let's not forget McElwaine. I'll concede Central Michigan is a hell of a lot nicer place than where he played high school basketball and went to college, but...

I just hope a really nice kid does not step into a place in absolute turmoil and suffer the same fate many of my former colleagues unfortunately experienced. The money looks nice to anyone raised in Montana but the reality is the program is in turmoil and the expectations are ludicrous.

[thefrank1]

Since the Utah State job is no longer open this thread shouldn't be either.

Thanks Danny and I'm rooting for your continued success.

[Cataholic]

Going to miss this guy. True class act!

[WalkOn79]

Firstly, congratulations to Sprinkle. What an amazing job he did here to resurrect our program. This hurts no doubt, but in the current position MSU is in, this is a good problem to have.

This really is a BIG accomplishment for Danny. I am trying to remember the last time a Bobcat MBB coach moved up. I guess you might consider Hank Anderson’s move to Northern Arizona as AD?

CONGRATULATIONS Coach. This is well deserved.

Now the ball is in Costello’s court to build on the momentum this program has developed. I trust he will make a great hire.

Coach has to do what is right for him, but honestly a bit disappointing that we couldn't hold on to him for a few years longer. This is not like FCS to FBS where even if the coach was an alum, you'd expect them to move up. USU is certainly a better job than MSU but it's not *that* great of a job. The way you build a power-house in a lower-tier conference like ours is getting a loyal coach (often an alum) who is willing to stick things out longer than strictly in his professional interest to build a powerhouse. Losing Sprinkle after four years doesn't really fit that bill.

But best of luck to Coach Sprinkle who definitely left the program in far better shape than he found it. Hopefully our next hire can continue the momentum.

I would say that 5 years at nearly $1M per guaranteed is a much better job. Where we're at in coach's salaries makes us Division 1 in name only. Not anyone's fault, just a fact.

[tetoncat]

Firstly, congratulations to Sprinkle. What an amazing job he did here to resurrect our program. This hurts no doubt, but in the current position MSU is in, this is a good problem to have.

This really is a BIG accomplishment for Danny. I am trying to remember the last time a Bobcat MBB coach moved up. I guess you might consider Hank Anderson’s move to Northern Arizona as AD?

CONGRATULATIONS Coach. This is well deserved.

Now the ball is in Costello’s court to build on the momentum this program has developed. I trust he will make a great hire.

Coach has to do what is right for him, but honestly a bit disappointing that we couldn't hold on to him for a few years longer. This is not like FCS to FBS where even if the coach was an alum, you'd expect them to move up. USU is certainly a better job than MSU but it's not *that* great of a job. The way you build a power-house in a lower-tier conference like ours is getting a loyal coach (often an alum) who is willing to stick things out longer than strictly in his professional interest to build a powerhouse. Losing Sprinkle after four years doesn't really fit that bill.

But best of luck to Coach Sprinkle who definitely left the program in far better shape than he found it. Hopefully our next hire can continue the momentum.

I would say that 5 years at nearly $1M per guaranteed is a much better job. Where we're at in coach's salaries makes us Division 1 in name only. Not anyone's fault, just a fact.

Unfortunate it has gotten to this point. Important positions but should not be so out of line with rest of University. TV dollars have done it though and made it their businesses within University systems.

[imacat]

https://utahstateaggies.com/sports/mens ... rinkle/785

[MSU01]

https://utahstateaggies.com/sports/mens ... rinkle/785

Interesting, the last four paragraphs of this are taken straight from his bio on MSU's website.

[bobcatbob]

Why can’t we have nice things:

https://www.rrcatcast.com/2023/04/06/da ... -moves-on/

Utah State is a better program than MSU, and it’s not that close. But Utah State is also a stepping stone, if he succeeds there he won’t be there long either IMO.

https://utahstateaggies.com/facilities

https://msubobcats.com/facilities

I don't see a ski training area at USU nor do I see either of these:

https://bigskyresort.com/mountain-sports

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJ ... e&ie=UTF-8

Correct me if I'm wrong or can't locate it, but has USU ever hosed an NCAA Championship event such as the one MSU was hosting when the entire country was shut down because of Covid?

I don't know why you keep bringing up Big Sky over and over again, unless the ultra-wealthy people who hang out there but have no other connection to MSU are going to all of a sudden start pouring millions upon millions of dollars into higher education funding so that we can quintuple our coaching salaries to match what USU can offer. And while they're at it, get MSU an invite to the MWC so we're out of a one-bid conference that inherently limits how much the program can grow.

Who do you suggest MSU is going to get to fund their athletic facilities? Do the math:

How many former MSU football players are there? (What is the seating capacity of Bobcat Stadium?). I dare say most of the Saturday crowd at that place adjacent to Kagy got about as close to athletics after high school as Al Bundy...So that's not a very reliable source of funding.

I've never heard of the coaches heading to booster club meetings in the Twin Cities, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, etc. But I actually attended one in Glasgow along with about 15 others. Same thing in Great Falls. As long as the athletic department doesn't want to go where the graduates of the school actually live and work, what is wrong with tapping those folks for a few bucks? Hell, everytime I get on I-70 between Bonner Springs, Kansas and Lawrence, Kansas (about 40 miles give or take) I pay the troll $4.00 for the privilege of supporting the University of Kansas. The state will not put a toll road on U.S. 191 up the canyon or on I-90, so why not have the ones that fly into Belgrade, get in their rental car to go spend a couple weeks a year in their 10 to 53 million dollar cabin help pay for improvements? Christ, the convention center in Big Sky hosts some of the largest corporations in the world and Bozeangeles gets an OPI conference once in a while...

But I understand why the local yokel mentality doesn't want to allow somebody like the state's present governor move there and donate 50 million (one of his donations).

Participation trophies all around. Except for a few on the ski team, track and cross country, rodeo, film and television, computer science, microbiology and physics...

How many former jocks are there and what is the football stadium capacity? How many employees are on MSU's payroll? How many of them attend? What is the athletic fee? Not to mention how does the tuition compare to the National average?

Take the money and run. The non-residents who live and play in and around Gallatin County are more vested in the community than the ones who moved there thirty, forty years ago.

Bunch of NIMBYs. Too bad. The ones up the canyon are there and I don't believe they are going away.

I am super confused from your rant, but most new transplants to Big Sky are not going to automatically want to support a university they have no connection to. Your argument makes no sense.

Leon has been making inroads with the Yellowstone Club and Big Sky. I believe the Yellowstone Club hosted a dinner for the football team last Summer. Also, he has hosted people from there in his suite at the Stadium It only takes finding one of those whales who loves sports and takes an interest in MSU and it could land some really significant dollars. To most of those people there, a few million dollars is nothing.

[imacat]

Danny Sprinkle’s USU introductory press conference. It begins at about 10 minutes.

https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1kvJpmWREpMxE

[Cat Grad]

Why can’t we have nice things:

https://www.rrcatcast.com/2023/04/06/da ... -moves-on/

Utah State is a better program than MSU, and it’s not that close. But Utah State is also a stepping stone, if he succeeds there he won’t be there long either IMO.

https://utahstateaggies.com/facilities

https://msubobcats.com/facilities

I don't see a ski training area at USU nor do I see either of these:

https://bigskyresort.com/mountain-sports

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJ ... e&ie=UTF-8

Correct me if I'm wrong or can't locate it, but has USU ever hosed an NCAA Championship event such as the one MSU was hosting when the entire country was shut down because of Covid?

I don't know why you keep bringing up Big Sky over and over again, unless the ultra-wealthy people who hang out there but have no other connection to MSU are going to all of a sudden start pouring millions upon millions of dollars into higher education funding so that we can quintuple our coaching salaries to match what USU can offer. And while they're at it, get MSU an invite to the MWC so we're out of a one-bid conference that inherently limits how much the program can grow.

Who do you suggest MSU is going to get to fund their athletic facilities? Do the math:

How many former MSU football players are there? (What is the seating capacity of Bobcat Stadium?). I dare say most of the Saturday crowd at that place adjacent to Kagy got about as close to athletics after high school as Al Bundy...So that's not a very reliable source of funding.

I've never heard of the coaches heading to booster club meetings in the Twin Cities, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, etc. But I actually attended one in Glasgow along with about 15 others. Same thing in Great Falls. As long as the athletic department doesn't want to go where the graduates of the school actually live and work, what is wrong with tapping those folks for a few bucks? Hell, everytime I get on I-70 between Bonner Springs, Kansas and Lawrence, Kansas (about 40 miles give or take) I pay the troll $4.00 for the privilege of supporting the University of Kansas. The state will not put a toll road on U.S. 191 up the canyon or on I-90, so why not have the ones that fly into Belgrade, get in their rental car to go spend a couple weeks a year in their 10 to 53 million dollar cabin help pay for improvements? Christ, the convention center in Big Sky hosts some of the largest corporations in the world and Bozeangeles gets an OPI conference once in a while...

But I understand why the local yokel mentality doesn't want to allow somebody like the state's present governor move there and donate 50 million (one of his donations).

Participation trophies all around. Except for a few on the ski team, track and cross country, rodeo, film and television, computer science, microbiology and physics...

How many former jocks are there and what is the football stadium capacity? How many employees are on MSU's payroll? How many of them attend? What is the athletic fee? Not to mention how does the tuition compare to the National average?

Take the money and run. The non-residents who live and play in and around Gallatin County are more vested in the community than the ones who moved there thirty, forty years ago.

Bunch of NIMBYs. Too bad. The ones up the canyon are there and I don't believe they are going away.

I am super confused from your rant, but most new transplants to Big Sky are not going to automatically want to support a university they have no connection to. Your argument makes no sense.

Leon has been making inroads with the Yellowstone Club and Big Sky. I believe the Yellowstone Club hosted a dinner for the football team last Summer. Also, he has hosted people from there in his suite at the Stadium It only takes finding one of those whales who loves sports and takes an interest in MSU and it could land some really significant dollars. To most of those people there, a few million dollars is nothing.

You can't be serious! He needs to go to places like Fort Benton, Great Falls, Billings, Kalispell, Glasgow, Miles City where all the deep pocket filthy rich Montanans reside! Nobody who did not attend MSU will so much as buy a ticket for one of their games let alone fund new facilities! Ludicrous behavior...