We will all understand the Tommy Lloyd predicament in about a week. For the first time in 25 years, U of A is back in the Final Four thanks to the Arizona Wildcats’ head coach. Lloyd may soon be coaching his last game at Arizona, as the Michigan Wolverines and the titans are set to square off in the Final Four. He is seen as one of the best candidates to take over North Carolina.
Given the terms of Lloyd’s contract with Arizona, a buyout would have cost him $11 million if he had departed for a new position before April 1, as opposed to the $9 million it would presently cost for a team like North Carolina to possibly sign him. Obviously, UNC was unable to hire Lloyd at this time since Arizona was in the Final Four. However, Lane Kiffin recently left Ole Miss for LSU.
In a sense, Lloyd made and saved a ton of money by defeating Purdue in the Elite Eight.
North Carolina could be rewarded for its patience regarding Tommy Lloyd
Take a look. Lloyd’s visit to Chapel Hill is not certain. After this Final Four run, he might sign a new deal with Arizona. Nevertheless, it is believed that Lloyd and his supervisor, Arizona athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois, do not get along well. Arizona is having money problems. A governmental employee may only be granted a five-year contract. Brent Brennan might also require funds.
All of this suggests that North Carolina might be able to acquire Lloyd if the Tar Heels put up a sizable sum of money. Remember who his greatest mentor is, even though he is definitely a West Coast man. That would be Gonzaga’s Mark Few. Although Few has made the decision to remain in Spokane for the rest of his career, there was a brief period of time when Few might have succeeded Roy Williams at UNC.
Here’s what North Carolina needs to do right now, or what might happen. Lloyd will have to decide when Arizona’s season concludes. He will either remain in Arizona or travel to North Carolina. It would be great for UNC if he went to the ACC. Billy Donovan, the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, is an option if he stays put. He would accept the job.
North Carolina should be thankful that Lloyd’s buyout has dropped by $2 million at this point.
