Mike Davis had the most successful rookie coaching season in the history of IU men's basketball. Taking over from a legend could have proved difficult, but Davis led his team to the Big Ten tournament championship game and a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament in his first term as interim-head coach. Therefore, Davis was rewarded with a a four-year, $2.19 million contract. In his first official season as coach, Davis had a sophomore performance of leading the Hoosiers to a share of the Big Ten championship, a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament and a storybook run to the national championship game. IU was 12 points from becoming the first No. 5 seed to win the national title, ever. Give this man his well-deserved raise. As has been reported through the Indiana media, Davis and the IU athletics department have been in negotiations for a 6-year contract that will put Davis at the helm of the Hoosiers through the 2007-2008 season. The pay would put him toward the top of the Big Ten coaches salary scale, but not at the top, as he would be tied with Iowa coach and former IU standout, Steve Alford, as the fourth highest paid coach in the league. Davis deserves this raise and the athletics department is smart for giving it to him. Davis has made it no secret that he aspires to coach in the NBA. Many college coaches, including current University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino, Memphis University coach John Calapari and former Illinois coach Lon Kruger have made the jump to professional basketball to increase the amount in their bank accounts. IU made sure Davis doesn't depart the basketball program by negotiating this generous raise, and it's a good thing they did. With this raise, Davis is placed in the Big Ten coaching elite where he belongs. May it be noted that Alford ($800,000), Illinois coach Bill Self ($825,000), Ohio State's Jim O'Brien ($869,000) and Michigan State's Tom Izzo ($1.1 million) all make as much as or more than Davis while finishing below him in the final national rankings. With the success of the basketball program, the athletics department has the means to support such a lofty salary hike and it only makes sense. Earlier this month, three head coaches were fired for leading their team to mediocrity, therefore Davis should be rewarded for leading his team to excellence. IU basketball needs Mike Davis, and the athletics department made the right decision by giving a well-deserved raise to make sure that he stays a Hoosier.
yes - no - abstain
