Charlotte (they're real sensitive about being called that as opposed to UNC-Charlotte) Basketball Head Coach Bobby Lutz decided to not to take the job offer at South Alabama. So, why did he listen?"When you only have two years left in your contract in this business and someone approaches you with an attractive situation, I thought I owed it to myself and my family and my staff to explore it," Lutz said.Family also played some role in why he stayed. His mother is in the Charlotte area, and has been having health issues. Lutz, took an unusually honest approach to explaining why he looked at a job that would pay less -- the lack of job security he sees at Charlotte.
"It would have been at least a six year contract and perhaps longer. The nature of our business led me to do that."
Lutz also sent an open letter to the media and fans of the 49ers, that Charlotte Observer sportswriter Jim Utter posted at his blog.
I am not a gambler by nature, but the bottom line is this. . . I AM ALL IN! PERIOD! I am not leaving any chips on the table. I am proud to be the basketball coach at Charlotte and I am all in. My family is all in. Our staff is all in. Our players are all in. And I am confident that our fans are going to join us and be all in as well.He's apparently going Jim Fassel this year.
For us, next season has already begun and we are ALL IN!
This still leaves a lot of questions about the Charlotte Athletic Department. The women's basketball coach just left for the Florida job. Lutz strongly looked at a job that would for less pay and prestige. There's still debate as to whether the school should move towards having a football program (love the t-shirts). There seems to be a growing rumbling that the school and the athletic department lacks a plan or any sort of vision for what it wants to be or do.
Previously at Fanhouse:
Something Rotten in Charlotte
