[paradox]

First off, it doesn't sound like he's leaving. Hypothetically, if he does, Kent Austin would have to be the clear logical choice IMO.

[Kricket]

If Freeze leaves, Liberty will just hire Jon Gruden... I say that somewhat jokingly... But it wouldn't be the craziest thing that's ever happened.
Edit*** I guess he may be Catholic, not really sure.

Being Catholic would not necessarily be an issue.
Being John Gruden would.

There was a time people would have said that about Hugh Freeze... Just trying to stir the pot a little.

[Risewithus]

Did anyone else find it interesting that Coach Freeze was not at the C-USA press conference on Friday? He was probably out recruiting.

By week. Definitely family/recruiting time for all of the coaches.

[Purple Haize]

WVU looks like it’s gonna be open….

[olldflame]

Did anyone else find it interesting that Coach Freeze was not at the C-USA press conference on Friday? He was probably out recruiting.

By week. Definitely family/recruiting time for all of the coaches.

Dot was a natural pick for diversity. Ritchie or HF would have been the logical male representatives. Whatever the reasons, they went with Ritchie, and IMHO you can't go wrong having him rep us in any situation.

[Cider Jim]

Coach Dot did an amazing job talking about her mission and her Christian worldview.

[JK37]

WVU looks like it’s gonna be open….

He just got an extension.

[Purple Haize]

WVU looks like it’s gonna be open….

He just got an extension.

Which you know means nothing

[Just John]

New contract and raise for HCHF. Now making as much or more $ than 4 SEC coaches. To be announced tomorrow.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... ources-say

Liberty has reached a new deal with Hugh Freeze that will make him one of the highest-paid non-Power 5 coaches in college football, sources told ESPN on Tuesday night.

The university is expected to officially announce the new contract on Wednesday. Sources told ESPN that Freeze's total financial package would average more than $4 million annually over the length of the contract and run through the 2028 season.

Freeze's new deal at Liberty will be worth more or at least comparable to what five different SEC coaches are making.

[Purple Haize]

At this point he’d be foolish to go anywhere.

[Kricket]

At this point he’d be foolish to go anywhere.

Well, if he leaves it won't be for the money.

[paradox]

It would have to be a top gig of the highest order. And that's not happening. So, he stays.

[Just John]

Will be interesting to see what the buy-out is when it's announced.

[rtb72]

Like I've said before....I think his wife and family play a much bigger role in his decisions now. If his family is happy and satisfied on the mountain, I think he stays as long as that continues.

[Ill flame]

I think he is happy here but will eventually go somewhere he can chase a natty when the time is right for him and his family. This pay raise will make him the highest paid G5 coach after the four big 12 additions officially move up. I'm not sure how well our assistants are being paid but I hope they are getting hefty raises everytime the HC does.

[aredd33]

Does this mean HCHF has been at least flirting with other schools?
Seems like getting a new deal in back to back years would signify other schools have been sniffing around.
This is definitely exciting and hopefully will help with recruiting since other coaches can’t say to recruits that HCHF is just trying to move up and won’t be around all 4 years.

[Kricket]

I think this is probably a good thing for Liberty. We're way ahead of where we'd thought we'd be, at least we were last year. This year it feels like an underachievement to me, and it feels weird to give a coach a raise during a year of underachievement.

You can say, we just overachieved last year and set the bar too high for this year, which would definitely be warranted. But when you're paid like an SEC coach in C-USA, what will be the expectation for results? Is 7-5 gonna cut it? Is bowling good enough? The expectations communicated when offering the extension would be interesting to know.

[paradox]

That's true. And I wondered if we struggled with recruiting a little due to perceived instability of whether he would actually be here or not.

[Purple Haize]

That's true. And I wondered if we struggled with recruiting a little due to perceived instability of whether he would actually be here or not.

This.

[alabama24]

Does this mean HCHF has been at least flirting with other schools?

Not necessarily. It should be expected that his agent, Jimmy Sexton, is shopping him around... An agent's job is to get the coach the best deal for the coach. That may mean the most money and/or contract provisions at the current school or to find a new fit. One way to get more money at a current school is to make the administration think there might be interest by another party.

Seems like getting a new deal in back to back years would signify other schools have been sniffing around.

New deals every year are a common experience for in many of the better programs, even if it is just an extension.

This is definitely exciting and hopefully will help with recruiting since other coaches can’t say to recruits that HCHF is just trying to move up and won’t be around all 4 years.

It certainly doesn't hurt. However, this contract doesn't prevent Freeze from going to a bigger school. If, for example, LSU wanted him, they could make it work if Freeze were interested.

[JK37]

LSU, USC, Florida and Washington are four that would have zero trouble finding the money if it came to it.

[LUalum12]

I don't think money drives Freeze, I think family, quality of life, happiness and the ability to openly share his faith is why he will remain at Liberty. Money is always good but not the deciding factor for him in my opinion. I for one hope he retires on the mountain.

[Kricket]

If he's pulling in 4 million there's a chance he's making over triple or quadruple of any other C-USA coach by the time we join the league.

Conference USA
1. Seth Littrell, North Texas -- $1.9 million
2. Bill Clark, UAB -- $1.55 million
3. Butch Davis, Florida International -- $1.093 million
4. Mike Bloomgren, Rice -- $934,000
5. Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee -- $901,000

https://footballscoop.com/news/highest- ... abase-2021

[tyndal23]

If he's pulling in 4 million there's a chance he's making over triple or quadruple of any other C-USA coach by the time we join the league.

Conference USA
1. Seth Littrell, North Texas -- $1.9 million
2. Bill Clark, UAB -- $1.55 million
3. Butch Davis, Florida International -- $1.093 million
4. Mike Bloomgren, Rice -- $934,000
5. Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee -- $901,000

https://footballscoop.com/news/highest- ... abase-2021

Hopefully recruiting and staff budgets are also triple rest of CUSA.

[Kricket]

I mean, we should have no reason to worry about him leaving at this point. Not because he will never leave, but because at that pay scale we likely could hire someone close to as good or better.