Something Rotten in Charlotte

Coaches don't voluntarily drop down in salary and job prestige unless there is something else going on behind the scenes. Charlotte Head Coach Bobby Lutz appears to be contemplating just that sort of thing. He seems to be the front runner to take the South Alabama job.

Lutz has been the head coach of the Charlotte 49ers for 9 seasons and has taken them to the NCAA Tournament 5 times. The South Alabama Jaguars have been to the NCAA Tournament 7 times total.

Charlotte recently moved into the Atlantic 10 Conference, but has struggled with the adjustment. Still the A-10 always has potential for multi-bids. South Alabama plays in the Sun Belt Conference, and while the Jaguars may be the best gig in the conference, it is a one-bid place.

The Charlotte job is perhaps the fifth or sixth best college basketball job (depending on how you rank Charlotte and East Carolina) in a basketball state. South Alabama is the fourth best college basketball job in a football state.

Perhaps most importantly:

[South Alabama Athletic Director Joe] Gottfried has indicated that South Alabama is in position to offer its new coach a package worth approximately $275,000 to $300,000 annually. Lutz's total compensation at Charlotte has been reported to be in the $400,000 to $500,000 range. His contract with the 49ers runs through the 2008-2009 season.

That's a significant paycut.

Lutz was not happy with Charlotte leaving Conference USA for the A-10 a couple years ago as it wiped out the natural rivalry with East Carolina and really leaves the 49ers as the southern most outpost in a predominantly East Coast league. Member schools St. Louis, Xavier and Dayton do not hold the same objections.

South Alabama also appears to be interested in Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun Conference) Head Coach Scott Sanderson and Alabama assistant coach Philip Pearson. Pearson is an assistant for the South Alabama Athletic Director's son, Mike Gottfried. Lutz, though, is the prime target and the only non-alliteratively named candidate.