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Jamie Dixon declines a second overture by USC

ESPN's Andy Katz is reporting that USC was once again turned down by Jamie Dixon...

USC made another run at Pittburgh's Jamie Dixon, but continued to be rebuffed, a source said Friday.

The Trojans targeted Dixon to replace Tim Floyd, who resigned last week. Dixon was in Colorado Springs coaching the FIBA U-19 USA basketball team this week and turned down another overture.

OK, so lets move along and focus elsewhere.

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Probably the biggest thing is after they talk with Garrett and his expectations

They walk away saying WTF is that guy on, get me some of that but everyone knows Mikey doesn’t share.

Paul D. Kelley

by so.cal.native1952 on Jun 19, 2009 11:08 AM PDT reply actions  

All it would have taken is

$2.5 Mill per year for 5 years… plus incentives!

by Locoweed 1.1 on Jun 19, 2009 12:23 PM PDT reply actions  

needed more years

Garrett is the big issue here…who wants a meddling AD

and Hw may not want to go up against his buddy BH…

by Paragon SC on Jun 19, 2009 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions  

Agree,

but thanks to his bungling, MG is on the way out. Dixon is a competitor and will face BH in the tournament as some point, so that’s not it either.

It’s all about the money, you can get a lot of bang for your buck in Pittsburgh and it’s not a bad city. With the State taxes we pay in California, the cost of housing and property taxes and lousy public schools, the offer would have to be nothing short of $2.5 Mill and 5 minimum.

by Locoweed 1.1 on Jun 19, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions  

Bong hit me on that one Loco

Cost of living I forgot about that it is really a big factor, I mean dude probably could be on cribbs in Pittsburgh. But for the same money here he would probably be Hartman’s class, 4000 sq. ft valley home.

Paul D. Kelley

by so.cal.native1952 on Jun 19, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

Here's some fun numbers to consider

At $2.5 million you lose almost all your itemized deductions so you end up keeping around 50% after state and federal taxes. That leaves $1.25 million to work with.
A nice 5000 sq. ft. house in the Palisades, Santa Monica, Brentwood area still costs $4 million, meaning you have to come up with $800,000 just for the down payment. You have $425,000 left now.
The loan principal on the house is $3.2 million and you can only get a 5 year interest-only mortgage at around 5.75% so your monthly payment is about $17,000 per month. Just for fun you have to pay $42,000 a year in property taxes. And if that isn’t enough, you-know-who is going to raise taxes in 2010; and with California in a mess you can bet they will follow his lead.
Now you have to add the cost of private schools (Brentwood School, Windward, Harvard-Westlake, Marymount) cost $30,000 a year per kid, or go to Catholic School for a more reasonable $10,000 a year.
The guy would have to be nuts to move here.
The question is: What the hell are any of us doing here?

by Locoweed 1.1 on Jun 19, 2009 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions  

But the weather sure is nice!

just sayin’ from here in Chicago…great capsulization as to why me and the wife are living in the Midwest as opposed to my home state. Thanks Locoweed.

by ucladj89 on Jun 19, 2009 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions  

Ha! We lived in Elmhurst for a couple of years

What a great little town, and a quick train ride to Chitown. Moving back home was a dumb move, I’d be retired by now.

by Locoweed 1.1 on Jun 19, 2009 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

But at that level

Salaries are structured so that you don’t lose 50% or your income. That’s why it always takes so long to ink these big money deals. I don’t think that’s the concern.

Dixon will command 2 to 5 mil if he coaches in LA or Lawrence, Kansas.

It’s a bigger concern for USC. We pay PC 4 to 5 mil, b-ball doesn’t sell out and under Floyd broke even, the economy is bad and giving and season ticket sales going to be down, Sample has pretty much told MG that the athletic department needs to break even and MG has been good about that. I don’t see us being able to meet Dixon’s asking price even in the best of times, certainly not under current circumstances.

I think the biggest reason is that there is no good reason for Dixon to leave Pitt. He can pick and choose the top programs in the country, and USC basketball is not one of the top jobs in the country.

by Zoulou on Jun 19, 2009 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

Do you mean

that if USC had “top program” Dixon would gladly leave his comfortable house and life in Pittsburgh to take $2.5 Mill and live in a Santa Monica condo? I’m not buying it Desmo.

by Locoweed 1.1 on Jun 19, 2009 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions  

Dixon ain't going to live in a Condo for 2.5 mil

He’ll live in a nice house in the South Bay, just like Pete. As I said, USC, being a private school has lots of flexibility in structuring a contract.

Your concerns do assistants. That can be an issue.

And have you spent any time in Pittsburgh?

by Zoulou on Jun 19, 2009 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions  

That's Why I Moved Back to TX!

Pros: wide open spaces, low property values, strong white collar economy, and NO state income taxes!

Cons: No beach, no mountains, no proximity to Vegas or Mexico, and landlocked on the prairie! But, the airport is close by. :-)

by DFWTrojan on Jun 19, 2009 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions  

See MTV Cribs - 10/17/06

JK. 5,200 sq ft in a great school district in central Dallas. But, the McMansions you can get out in the nice suburbs – 8,000 sq ft for $150/ft – are sick! Cost of living is sooooo low here, compared to LaLaLand. But, I miss my Trojans live. And, I only see the ocean when I watch Whale Wars on APL. And, the Indian casino in Oklahoma is no Vegas.

by DFWTrojan on Jun 19, 2009 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

Starting to Agree

Too many candidates, to whom we could offer meaningful raises, are declining interest from the get-go. They saw that admin give Floyd the cold shoulder when he needed their support. Floyd is well-respected and has lots of friends in the coaching fraternity.

Candidates appear to be very leery of working for Mike Garrett! Obstacle #1 is in our house!

by DFWTrojan on Jun 19, 2009 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

Garrett won't give him an "out-clause"??????

What in the world is going on in Mike Garrett’s head?

Lemme get this straight: contact has definitely been made with Jamie Dixon, current head coach of Pitt basketball; the Jamie Dixon, he of a 163 – 45 coaching record in Div. 1 basketball. He, who has coached his Pitt Panthers to 6 consecutive NCAA appearances- making it to the Elite 8 AND having his team ranked #1 in both the AP and Coaches’ Poll this past year. He, who has solid Southern California roots. Behold! He, who was the 2008=2009 Naismith College Coach of the Year!!!! And yet, still. . . .he, Jamie Dixon, has interest enough in becoming the new Trojan head coach and might be willing to leave the comfy-confines of the thriving metropolis of Pittsburgh, PA and all the success he’s built-upon since inheriting the reigns from Ben Howland’s 2003 departure – if only he’d be guaranteed an “out-clause” to leave the Trojan basketball program , SHOULD the NCAA HAPPEN to hit USC with harsh penalties resulting from the OJ Mayo/Louis Johnson allegations?

What’s not to like, MIKE? WTF’s up, CHUCK?

Give that man an out-clause, already. What? Are you seriously gonna make him honor his commitment to coach basketball for penalties placed on a program he had nothing to do with? Do you really think that’s fair? More importantly, do you really think coaching USC Basketball is ALL THAT, right now? If this guy wants a piece of Trojan rebuilding, lemme tell you, people: this is the guy who can very well do it- then give him nug and let him try! If, we should happen to get hammered by the NCAA, do the gentlemanly thing and let him go his on his way and thank him profusely for giving it “the old college try”.

Now I’m not saying USC basketball is bunk! I’m saying USC basketball is in shambles. This is as good a guy as any who has the acumen, tools, resources, track-record, and stellar resume who can handle whatever comes his way. And I say this without hesitation, he’ll probably not only handle it no problem- he’ll be the best hire as a USC basketball coach in YEARS! (if given a reasonable amount of time. . . .say- 2 – 3 years)

Mike Garrett is not only a total dunce, he’s obtuse, vain, deluded by self-importance, and way past his years of properly handling USC athletics as we know it.

Hey Mike? Whatever’s clever, Trevor! (and I’ve totally changed my mind about you. I like you better when “I’m drunk!”)

Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"

by BixBeiderbecke on Jun 19, 2009 8:36 PM PDT reply actions  

I dont have a problem with it

I want someone who wants to be at USC for the long haul. If he doesn’t want to make that commitment, then let’s find someone who does.

by frak on Jun 19, 2009 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

OK, I'm open with that "long-haul" condition. . . .

. . .name ONE coach with Jamie Dixon’s pedigree that will stick with a basketball program as it sifts through possibly years of probation, loss of scholarships, loss of underclassmen, loss of recruits, post-season bans, loss of exposure, and is tainted with a media-perception/fan-pillory of being a school of cheats? (again, this is all based on “potential fallout” from harsh NCAA penalties and a “possible” scenario that might play out. i’m not trying to be a devil’s advocate here, i’m merely attempting to see the USC head-coaching position through the eyes of Jamie Dixon or any other well-qualified applicant.)

Name one.

Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"

by BixBeiderbecke on Jun 19, 2009 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

You hit it on the head my verbose compadre!

I’m with you on this 100%, however there are out clauses and then there are OUT CLAUSES. If I’m Dixon, I demand a massive bonus in case a calamity triggers my option to exercise the latter. It’s all about options no? Show him the money I say, and if the NCAA strikes, you give him more to ease the suffering through a year or two in purgatory.

Howland makes about $2millon so you have to give Dixon another half-million, plus bennies and incentives. Where the hell is Nike when you need them? This should be a Nike vs. Adidas smackdown! The bRuins’ squeals will be deafening, worth every penny.

by Locoweed 1.1 on Jun 19, 2009 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

This "out clause" being a deal breaker. . .

. . . .leads me to believe “there’s a story in there” for Garrett.

If, he elects to allow for an “out clause”- and the shit hits the fan, as far as NCAA rulings and penalties are concerned, then he’s back at square one. I understand that. But. . . .considering he isn’t amenable to that arrangement tells Joe Public that THERE IS something in there in the investigations that would paint the basketball program AND/OR USC Compliance AND/OR USC Athletic Department “lack of control” or dereliction! It can be just one, or any two, or (God forbid) ALL THREE! Also, under consideration given Garrett’s stance on the issue (and- again, apart from being at square one should a new hire bolt) is the “silence” we’ve all been bantering about and discussing these past few weeks. Is Garrett or has Garrett been silent on these investigations, as well as keeping a muzzle on ex-Coach Floyd, not so much because it would taint the NCAA/USC dual investigations- but because there IS evidence uncovered that points to his guilt as our director of USC athletics?

I mean, earlier- we read opinions from fans and non-fans alike, with regards to Coach Floyd’s unusual stance of not publicly defending himself in the face of Louis Johnson’s allegation of witnessing Floyd passing off an envelope of cash to Rodney Guillory. With that said, I ask you to look at USC’s basketball equation. Where is it, right now as we comment? No head coach. The top half of our starting lineup is either “going pro”, some back-ups have quit (some might re-join?), the cream of our incoming class has asked for and have been granted their letter’s of release, we’ve got a state-of-the-art arena that hardly fills up for basketball games, and what the positional make-up of the team looks like right now? I hardly see anything to be optimistic about as far as being able to compete day-in-and-day-out at the PAC-10 level. There’s hope, yeah. There’s things going on that we can all pretty-up and ideally beautify which could make it “seem” things are gonna be alright for ‘SC basketball in the near future, but. . . . .really. Now as we become better aware of “our equation”, let’s factor in our universal “hope” that things aren’t entirely true as far as the remarkable allegations leveled by Johnson; and with it- let us also “pray” that Coach didn’t payoff Guillory on that fateful sunny Beverly Hills afternoon; as well as burn a few candles- lest the “compliance gods” should forget to grace (with diligence and keen oversight) our Athletic Department and Compliance Office these past 5 years; and lastly let’s spin our last yarns while defending the actions and inactions of our administrators, directors, coaches and players proudly representing the beloved cardinal-and-gold colors of The University of Southern California Trojans.

Now what? That’s a fair enough question, and to that I say- ask yourself, "Is Mike Garrett hiding something with regards to this combined NCAA investigation of Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo/Coach Floyd? Is there, for all intents and purposes, a likelihood that USC will be severely punished from the NCAA? Will it be “just” the basketball program? Or are football-related penalties going to occur as well? I mean, if we’ve done noting wrong from an enforcement and/or oversight standpoint, as far as supervising player conduct and athletic program machinations, why should we be overly worried about any unfavorable determinations from the NCAA investigations? In turn, why worry IF a coach opts to shrewdly guarantee his/her option to leave as a pre-condition of employment, if we are certain the USC Athletic Department and Compliance Office is not wholly at fault in these related issues?

In closing, the saying- “Put up, or shut up” comes to mind when it comes to the current dilemma of Mr. Heisman Mike G. If there’s nothing to hide, there’s nothing to fear. I’m sure there are plenty viable candidates out there in the college basketball coaching ranks. I’m sure there’s options in the pro coaching ranks too, who might be great candidates to take over our beleaguered b-ball program. However, there aren’t many who might be able to change the face, the culture, the attitude, and morale of our basketball program more than what hiring Jamie Dixon might do for us. From a PR standpoint? Total coup. From an organizational standpoint? Total top-notch. Again, nothing to not like here.

Before anyone gets all hot and bothered, I want to point out: this is not a Hire Jamie Dixon campaign! This is a: Hire Any Able Bodied and Well-Qualified Coach rant, even if the pre-condition in doing so requires USC to allow for an out-clause. It’s fair, it proves faith that our Athletic Department and Compliance Office has managed and acted responsibly despite accusations to the contrary, and it more than promotes hope among the many fans that USC football and basketball has little to fear in the face of mounting perception of impending doom from any and all NCAA investigations.

Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"

by BixBeiderbecke on Jun 20, 2009 2:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

Dixon Overrated?

In investing, find what the crowd is doing and do the opposite. So, here’s my contrarian view. Jamie Dixon is not ALL THAT. He is young. He has very limited breadth of experience with only one head coaching job. His only decent assistant job was also at Pitt under Howland. He has had only one elite coach mentor in his career that I could find – Ben Howland. His Pitt teams are notorious for underperforming in the NCAA tourney. He has only been beyond the Sweet 16 ONCE as a head coach. He has only one 1 Big East championship. None of his players have gone on to NBA success. He did not build the Pitt program; rather, he inherited it from Howland and sustained. There is simply no evidence that he has enough experience to build HIS OWN program.

Jamie Dixon is a very hot candidate. Might he be overrated? A pretty good coach in a great situation, or a great coach in a great situation? I’m not so sure it is the latter.

I do agree he might be the safest hire. I also agree that he is not financially feasible given the risk that he is not successful. There are other candidates with good risk/reward ratios.

by DFWTrojan on Jun 19, 2009 10:11 PM PDT reply actions  

look it's like this even Bibby had great years and so have others

It really isn’t a great program unless you do it for 6+ yrs straight and if you got the players you do better than most. I just want a coach that is competitive like TARK. Hey and if we get lucky and find a SAM GILBERT than the skies the limit.

Paul D. Kelley

by so.cal.native1952 on Jun 19, 2009 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

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