HOOVER, Ala. — Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said no one should misinterpret the renegotiation of Bruce Pearl’s contract to coach the men’s basketball team.
“It doesn’t change our stance that we want Bruce Pearl to be our basketball coach for months and years to come,’’ Hamilton told the News Sentinel on Thursday. “The bottom line is the nature of what came to light in the (NCAA) investigation warranted termination of his previous contract as determined by legal counsel.
“That, coupled with the fact we are making changes to the compensation, led to the necessity of a new contract which he has in his hands already. We’re in the final stages of getting that signed.’’
UT announced at a Sept. 10 news conference it had received a letter of inquiry from the NCAA and that the men’s basketball and baseball teams were under investigation along with the football program.
As a result of preliminary findings in the basketball case — which included Pearl misleading NCAA investigators in a June 14 interview about a picture taken of him at his house with a recruit on an unofficial visit — UT announced Pearl would forfeit $1.5 million of his pay over the next five years.
Hamilton said Pearl knew his previous contract would be terminated as a matter of course before the Sept. 10 press conference took place.
Until Pearl’s new contract is signed, he’ll be working under what’s known as a “Letter of Appointment,’’ which is similar to other UT employees. Under those terms, Pearl could technically be fired or quit at any time, according to a WBIR TV report.
Pearl has told the News Sentinel that “No way” does he plan to resign.
Hamilton said the new contract is another five-year deal, but he said he was not at liberty to discuss the terms of the new contract because it has not yet been signed.
According to a Sept.10 UT release detailing the self-imposed sanctions, Pearl’s salary would be reduced $500,000 from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, and by another $600,000 from 2011 to 2012.
From 2012 to 2013, Pearl’s salary would be decreased $200,000, and there would be a $100,000 salary reduction from 2013-2014 and again from 2014-2015.
Additionally, the $500,000 retention bonus Pearl was due to get in 2012 is now scheduled to be paid out in 2015.
“Bruce had the new contract in his hands two weeks ago,’’ Hamilton said. “His lawyers have needed time to review it.’’
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Comments » 87
tartarsauce writes:
his job is prob. more secure than Hamilton's
GuidoVOL writes:
Bruce Pearl IS Tennessee Basketball!
tobytyler writes:
Im with plasticman, if pearls gone,Im gone!!! UT BASKETBALL IS RELEVANT NOW!!!! Besides I enjoy the battles he has with Calipari. I dont want that to end.
thereturnoftriumph writes:
if he does bolt, good luck trying to find a new one. i do not see him going anywhere
GOVOLZ1 writes:
Like....um....the death penalty? :0
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Don't know that we had a chance to get Adonis, but he is expected to announce next week. Wonder what this does in helping him decide where he will sign. I still expect Memphis to get him.
chrisw2967 writes:
Just sign the man and be done with it.This team has a SEC title to win this year.
volman2010 writes:
cool only one nut posted " DAT DOESN"T SOUND GOOD" Loll.. He is not punk Kiffen..He want leave in the gold mined he has now..He will be here 20 years or more...Take your time guys on the paper work and ensure all is well..I would hate the NCAA rip it apart and say that UT mislead them on the punishment.
shipperman#280095 writes:
Dude, get over the heckling of Mike Hamilton already. Big Jim Haslem likes him very much, nuff said
Engloid2 writes:
I would bet UT had to pay money to get out of that old contract. It will all end up that Pearl will get as much or more than he was getting to begin with, even after losing the 1.5million.
RoadTrip writes:
Having past involvement in many business contracts, I can attest that if this thing had been done in two weeks it would have set a record. This renegotiated deal will take some time. What if the NCAA comes back with stiffer penalties; what if they come back with light penalties; what if there is a secondary violation in the future; what if there is a major violation in the future; is there a buy-out clause and under what circumstance does it kick in; etc., etc. After all of the "what if's" are answered, then the contract language is negotiated through several drafts. This is how the attorneys churn their fees. Meanwhile his agent is probably sniffing around for a new home 2011 in case things get a little testy.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
You are not..
ivyvol writes:
Hopefully, the $1.5mm he has been docked by UT will be made up outside the UT contract by boosters/supporters etc. and everyone will keep their mouths shut about it.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
I guess MH is waiting to see how much the NCAA may further fine UT..Then he can pro-rate his new contract..
TennVolAlum writes:
The silver lining....if Pearl goes, so will Hamilton.
crimsonviper writes:
Give the color him gone line a rest, Zbob.
You lost the cred with the 63-3 write it down,deal....and you can write that down.
Lazybones writes:
A new contract for lyin' Bruce? Whoever said crime does'nt pay?
jgl#233810 writes:
Not sure I see any wisdom in signing a new contract until after the NCAA investigation wraps up, at least not one that covers more than the current season. What's the message here, win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat?
TommyJack writes:
D-bags out in force tonite.
jmr68ut writes:
"preliminary findings in the basketball case — which included Pearl misleading NCAA investigators in a June 14 interview" - interesting use of the word 'misleading'. Isn't that what Bill Clinton did?
lshiple2 writes:
Bruce did not.... have ... sexual... relations... with....
.... oh, wait we're talking about that other thing Clinton did. My bad.
vandysucks writes:
Please terminate Mike Hamiltons contract. Bruce Pearl put the mend basketball program back on the map. Someone call the moving vans and send them to the Hamilton Residence!
kdub writes:
put your crackpipe down dude, lil' Pearl plays with heart and McBee hit shot to beat Kansas and will get better with time. CBP ain't going anywhere this is all just legal wrangling
ddayvolsfan#238252 writes:
I am going to make this perfectly clear, if UT fires Coach Bruce Pearl over this miniscule incident, I will never give them another dollar in donation and I will not purchase any more season tickets or individual tickets to any sporting event.
IN_Volfan writes:
"misleading" is more like promising weapons of mass destruction without credible evidence...
back to sports, I am hoping the NCAA doesn't look to make an example out of UT. With the depleted scholarship players on football, it is as if we are already on probation.
IN_Volfan writes:
"midleading" is more like promising weapons of mass destruction without credible evidence...
back to sports: I am hoping the NCAA does not drop the hammer and make an example of UT to investigate 3 sports. The self-imposed sanctions may soften the blow, but I fear post-season sanctions for basketball. The decreased # of scholarship football players feels like we are already on probation.
vol_chaz writes:
The timing is to our advantage.. nobody is looking steal a coach from us in October.
CoverOrange writes:
Other than the headline where does this article mention Pearl's contract being terminated? Obviously KNS changed it w/o changing the headline.
crimsonviper writes:
Like buzzards to road kill.
Or like naffy to a morally corrupt sheep.
CoverOrange writes:
I see, this article has been cross-linked to the "NCAA Investigation" article. Wonder where the original one is. Hey Phil Kaplan!
Volborn writes:
I love it how Republicans always refer to Clinton when discussing lies. They look past the "weapons of mass destruction" lies that probably have cost over 100,000 lives. Not sure how many people have died over Bill's cover his arse lies...
rudy123 writes:
You don't see him going anywhere?? Well, what if a program that down right now, such as Indiana, offers him a fresh start. If he remained here, he would lose the $1.5 over 5 years, but at a different school, he would not lose that money. He would at least get what he was getting here, with the $1.5 and possibly a bigger salary, if he left.
Other colleges see his potential and will try to take advantage of this situation and "Steal" him from us. I am sure that they will try!
TommyJack writes:
He was just helping her thru the fence.
Vol4Life03 writes:
look if they fire him that will be almost the dumbest thang hamilton has done cause he is one of the best coaches in the country and who else would u get???? nobody as good as him keep him everybody makes mistakes!!!! he wont ever do anything like that again!!! keep him and keep the basketball program still going cause pat cant coach both teams !!!!!
hellifiknow writes:
The Ernie Bernie Show. We have played b ball here b4 Pearl. and will after him. Got your back bruce.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say you and Crimpson making W_Ds belly hurt from laughing.
Bones never lie.
Madkels writes:
I'm a little tired of the trolls givng CBP the junk. Give the man credit for coming clean. In the world we live in today, most coaches or athletes would hide behind their attorney and deny, deny, deny until death. I'm behind CBP and pray that we put this contract issue and NCAA issues to bed quickly.
TIGERDAN writes:
Now we find out he is "coaching" with no contract= amazing.....boy this should ease a recruit and their family's minds... NCAA investigation, awaiting sanctions, no coach has no contract...hmmm
owlcity#660862 writes:
I hope you are correct, all Pearl has done for Tennessee is win. Also, if I was a Kentucky reporter, I would keep my mouth shut, because all the sh-- that Kentucky does. Pearl is a role model for ALL Tennessee fans and we need to keep him for many years.
crimsonviper writes:
Naffy will be baaaaaack soon.
amyinsparta writes:
why does the article I read here say nothing about Pearl's contract, but instead is all about the SEC Media Day? Obviously, the rest of you have read a different article from the one given me. what gives?
crimsonviper writes:
bwahahaha!!
mercuryvol writes:
Her? It was a he.
GerryOP writes:
Unlike your contract down at the King, there are a few more Ts & Cs to consider. In your case, burn the fries and you're gone.
crimsonviper writes:
Nappy is a loser...Not a chooser.
GerryOP writes:
Lil' zzgataboy had cred? I must have missed that.
crimsonviper writes:
1 st. post cred Gerry....Now he gets his respect down at the King....some fries would be good about now tho'.
jawga writes:
I wouldn't say CBP came clean. That's why UT is in this mess.
murrayvol writes:
Full moon tomorrow night.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Who actually pays bruce's salary??
I mean, where is the original source of the money?
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