Ongoing contract talks between Oregon men’s basketball coach Ernie Kent and new athletic director Pat Kilkenny reportedly began this week, nearly two weeks after Oregon’s run to the Elite Eight.
What’s to come of these talks is yet to be known, but whispers appear to indicate that there likely won’t be changes made any time soon, especially considering Kilkenny’s statement to reporters after Oregon’s season ended in St. Louis that he does indeed want Kent back.
Kent’s contract runs until 2010, but former athletic director Bill Moos did not roll it over last season – which would give Kent a guaranteed five years – following a 15-18 record, a second consecutive year missing the postseason, and off-court issues as well as highly prized in-state recruits Kevin Love and Kyle Singler choosing other destinations.
That marked the first time in Kent’s tenure that the rollover clause was not utilized and now leaves Kilkenny, Moos’ successor, with his first major move to make regarding personnel decisions.
Kent regained some favor and quieted some of his harshest critics this season with a 29-8 overall record along with an impressive run through the NCAA Tournament.
Though it’s dangerous to gauge a coach’s job security on a year-by-year basis, I’d be surprised not to see Kent on the Oregon sideline next season.
And here’s why:
For starters, Kilkenny risks creating a very slippery slope in terms of expectations at Oregon. Kent’s track record rivals any other Oregon coach, and he’s knocked on the door of the Final Four twice since 2002. How many other Pac-10 schools, aside from traditional powers in Tucson and Los Angeles, can claim that?
Critics need to question whether they are making Kent a victim of his own success and need to take a good, hard look at what kind of program Oregon is currently.
It’s acceptable for a tradition-rich program like Kentucky to allow a coach like Tubby Smith – who won a national title with the Wildcats, which would likely equate to job-for-life security at Oregon – to slip away because he failed to meet expectations in a “what have you done for me lately” climate.
Should fans have high expectations? Absolutely. But is Kent capable of meeting those at Oregon? Absolutely – and he’s shown that.
And please forgive my skepticism with the “grass is greener” argument – there’s no guarantee that anyone, not even Gonzaga’s Mark Few, will surely duplicate Kent’s success.
And the question of Kent’s recruiting abilities, primarily the inability to corral Love or Singler, is a moot point when you consider the wealth of talent he’s brought to this school and that this talent has represented this school with such class. Sure, you can list Ivan Johnson and Ian Crosswhite as possible exceptions to that, but both were dismissed. And it’s hard to argue with a list including, among others, Malik Hairston, Maarty Leunen, Bryce Taylor, Chamberlain Oguchi, Freddy Jones, Luke Jackson, Luke Ridnour and Aaron Brooks (the last two Washington natives taken right from under the Huskies).
While questions continue to surround whether or not Kent is a hindrance to the new arena project – a faction of donors may hold an unfavorable view of Kent, either due to poor past seasons or apparent marital infidelities – casual observation indicates that Kent is at least viewed in positive light by Oregon’s top donor, Phil Knight. Knight was seen clapping for Kent and players during the postgame press conference in the Sweet 16 against UNLV. My guess is, as the win column increases, so does the support from donors who may have even previously advocated against Kent.
Finally, you never truly know what you have until it’s gone. Kent loves Oregon, as tears shed during the postgame conference following the loss to Florida indicated. Kent is a Duck through and through, has a great rapport with current players who greatly respect him, and he deserves the respect to have speculation regarding his job status effectively ended.
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