gatorunvrsty
12-06-2007, 04:48 AM
Jim Grobe Set to Leave Wake Forest for Arkansas
Last Edited: Thursday, 06 Dec 2007, 1:15 AM EST
Created: Thursday, 06 Dec 2007, 1:14 AM EST
AP
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (WGHP) – By all indications, Jim Grobe is leaving Wake Forest to become the next head football coach at the University of Arkansas.
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas reported on its Web site Wednesday night Grobe would likely be introduced Thursday as Arkansas' coach. Harry King of the Arkansas News Bureau reports Grobe has been offered the job.
The Razorback Foundation, a private fund raising group, held an emergency meeting by conference call Wednesday night to approve the financial package for Grobe.
The Foundation raises money for Arkansas' athletic program and pays over and above the salaries coaches receive as state employees. For example, former Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt was paid $330,000 a year by the university. Nutt's total salary in 2007 was $1.5 million, most of it paid by the Razorback Foundation.
Ralph Bradbury, a member of the Razorback Foundation's board of directors, confirmed to The Associated Press Wednesday night the foundation had approved a deal for Grobe. He could not confirm Grobe's hiring was final because that issue remains in the hands of Grobe and Jeff Long, who will formally take over as UA Athletic Director on January 1.succeeding Frank Broyles.
Long was put in charge of finding a new football coach by Chancellor Charles White after Nutt resigned on November 26.
Part of Bradbury's hesitation to confirm Grobe's actual hiring might stem from Arkansas' search for a basketball coach earlier this year. The Razorbacks hired Dana Altman, who changed his mind and went back to Creighton the next day. "You can have a press conference and still not be the coach," Bradbury said.
Grobe received ACC and national Coach of the year awards in 2006 after leading the Demon Deacons to an ACC Championship and Orange Bowl bid.
Wake Forest hired Grobe in December 2000, where he had been head coach at Ohio University. His record at Wake is 45-39, and he is the first coach in school history to take the football team to two consecutive bowl games. Grobe signed a ten-year contract extension with Wake Forest in February. If he leaves before 2016, Grobe reportedly owes Wake Forest $2 million.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports as of Wednesday night, Wake Forest officials had not heard about Grobe leaving.
“We can’t offer a comment at this point,” Steve Shutt, Wake Forest media relations told the Journal. “But we will let everybody know if there’s something going on.”
The Associated Press and the Journal report phone messages to Grobe and WFU Athletics Director Ron Wellman were not returned.
Matthew Grobe, one of Grobe’s sons, told the Journal by phone from Las Vegas Wednesday night he hasn’t heard from his father about the latest reports.
“I know a lot of my friends have been calling me but I haven’t heard from dad,” Grobe said.
Sounds like a pretty good hire to me. Definitely better than Bowden. Thoughts?
Last Edited: Thursday, 06 Dec 2007, 1:15 AM EST
Created: Thursday, 06 Dec 2007, 1:14 AM EST
AP
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (WGHP) – By all indications, Jim Grobe is leaving Wake Forest to become the next head football coach at the University of Arkansas.
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas reported on its Web site Wednesday night Grobe would likely be introduced Thursday as Arkansas' coach. Harry King of the Arkansas News Bureau reports Grobe has been offered the job.
The Razorback Foundation, a private fund raising group, held an emergency meeting by conference call Wednesday night to approve the financial package for Grobe.
The Foundation raises money for Arkansas' athletic program and pays over and above the salaries coaches receive as state employees. For example, former Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt was paid $330,000 a year by the university. Nutt's total salary in 2007 was $1.5 million, most of it paid by the Razorback Foundation.
Ralph Bradbury, a member of the Razorback Foundation's board of directors, confirmed to The Associated Press Wednesday night the foundation had approved a deal for Grobe. He could not confirm Grobe's hiring was final because that issue remains in the hands of Grobe and Jeff Long, who will formally take over as UA Athletic Director on January 1.succeeding Frank Broyles.
Long was put in charge of finding a new football coach by Chancellor Charles White after Nutt resigned on November 26.
Part of Bradbury's hesitation to confirm Grobe's actual hiring might stem from Arkansas' search for a basketball coach earlier this year. The Razorbacks hired Dana Altman, who changed his mind and went back to Creighton the next day. "You can have a press conference and still not be the coach," Bradbury said.
Grobe received ACC and national Coach of the year awards in 2006 after leading the Demon Deacons to an ACC Championship and Orange Bowl bid.
Wake Forest hired Grobe in December 2000, where he had been head coach at Ohio University. His record at Wake is 45-39, and he is the first coach in school history to take the football team to two consecutive bowl games. Grobe signed a ten-year contract extension with Wake Forest in February. If he leaves before 2016, Grobe reportedly owes Wake Forest $2 million.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports as of Wednesday night, Wake Forest officials had not heard about Grobe leaving.
“We can’t offer a comment at this point,” Steve Shutt, Wake Forest media relations told the Journal. “But we will let everybody know if there’s something going on.”
The Associated Press and the Journal report phone messages to Grobe and WFU Athletics Director Ron Wellman were not returned.
Matthew Grobe, one of Grobe’s sons, told the Journal by phone from Las Vegas Wednesday night he hasn’t heard from his father about the latest reports.
“I know a lot of my friends have been calling me but I haven’t heard from dad,” Grobe said.
Sounds like a pretty good hire to me. Definitely better than Bowden. Thoughts?