Martin Resigns…But Why?
There is big news coming down from Ann Arbor. Athletic Director Bill Martin is going to step down after this year. His kill date? September 4th 2010. Just long enough to see his last great impression on the University of Michigan officially unveil itself against UConn.
This notice of resignation definitely comes as a shock. But, does it reek of something more?
Bill Martin came in during a time of turmoil. Michigan Basketball was just getting out of a major infraction thanks to boosters and Chris Webber. He took the right steps to get that turned around within ten years. Making the right moves to save face with Tommy Amaker, (three NIT appearances with one championship) and then build upon that with John Beilein; a hire that led to a bid to the big dance in over a decade. He made people care about Michigan Basketball again for the first time in a long time. Don’t believe me? Say hello to the new program to expand/improve Crisler Arena along with space specifically designed for practice; before they had to split time to have practice space at Crisler.
Not only did he help out the basketball program he also helped out in other areas. Stephen M. Ross Academic Center, the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex, the new wrestling facility, the varsity tennis center, the Junge Family Champions Center, and oh yeah that small renovation on Stadium and Main. But, there are always two sides to a coin.
Granted there are many things to champion Martin for, but there are also things to berate him for as well.
The first thing that comes to mind, oh gee I don’t know, Coach Rodriguez. You know that other coach he hired. Like Beilein, Rodriguez too comes from West Virginia but with more “baggage” as some like to say. Baggage that includes the “messy” hiring from West Virginia that Martin agreed to pay 4.1 million dollars to settle, the first ever “infraction”, if you want to even call it that because it hasn’t been found to be true at all, to Michigan Football, and that whole GPA thing. Granted that GPA thing wasn’t Coach’s fault, but it’s a distraction nonetheless.
We’ve heard the saying this year: All in for Michigan. We’ve also heard rumblings throughout Rodriguez’s hire till now of people who aren’t. Granted, Martin didn’t want this job long term, even though 10 years is a pretty long time, but this abrupt end comes almost at a perfect moment. Is Martin the falling domino to something bigger?
To me this seems like a prequel. Does this send a reinforced message to Rich Rodriguez to win now or get out? I say “Yes”. It’s common knowledge that Athletic Directors like to bring in their own head coaches. People have thrown Rich into the hot seat since his 3-9 record. The burner got turned to High during this practice “scandal” but then back down to simmer after starting the season 4-0. With the so called “old guard” at Michigan holding fast in their ways, this will probably further send Rodriguez twisting in the wind. After all, who has his back now? Winning is the only cure. Rich knows this. He has said he would like to have a say in who gets hired, and for good reason. Head Coaches have a hard time surviving changes of this magnitude. One can only hope to see Michigan get to a January bowl. When Martin is gone next year, Rich will be in year three of four of his contract. If Michigan isn’t back to where most expect them to be, competing for a Big Ten Title, the New AD can win “traditionalists” back by making sure Rodriguez doesn’t get that extension or make the unpopular decision of granting him a much longer tenure in Ann Arbor.
So, Martin has come full circle coming in times of turmoil only to leave in much of the same.